Industrial History Online

Industrial History Online

Sowerby Bridge Wharf, Salt Warehouse (No. 3)

Description and History of Site:-
3 storey transhipment warehouse straddling the wharf area between the Calder & Hebble Navigation wharf and the Rochdale Canal. The northern end includes a wet dock, whilst a second wet dock is now flagged and the entrances blocked off. An archway leads through the building to provide access to the rest of the wharf. The salt Warehouse was erected to the designs of the then Navigation's resident engineer, Thomas Bradley and was originally intended to accommodate the requirements of Richard Milnes a maltster and important carrier on the waterway. Building work commenced in June 1797 and appears to have been completed by mid 1799. Following Milnes' bankruptcy, the building was instead let to the Rochdale Canal Company which had completed its own waterway as far as Todmorden by August 1798. Straddling as it does, the area between the wharfs of the Calder and Hebble Canal and the Rochdale Canal the building acted as an important focus for the transhipment of goods between the 'West Country' boats of 57' 6" length and the longer Rochdale vessels of 70'.


Further Reading and References:-
Minutes of the Committee of the Calder & Hebble Navigation Company;


Help us improve this entry

The compilers welcome corrections or additional information on all sites.
Any information provided will be verified before appearing on the web site.

Email comments

Key Words :- canal river navigation

Viewing the Site :- Contains business premises and a restaurant. Can be viewed from the canal wharf.

Address :- Wharf Street, Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX6 2AF
Grid Ref :- SE 06488 23687
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.709567 , Long -1.903184
Local Authority :- Calderdale Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II
Historic England List No - 1134472,
Site Condition :- Site refurbished to industrial / commercial use
Site Dates :- 1799 -
Contributor :- Peter Robinson - 9 August 2016

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Peter Robinson