Leeds

Leaving Tuel lock meant it would be river all the way to Leeds.  The Calder & Hebble Navigation, with the flow pushing us on, with a width probably six times wider than a canal, and plenty of water under the hull resulted in us travelling at a far greater speed than normal. The C&H took us through Halifax, Dewsbury and Wakefield before reaching Castleford where we turned west onto the Aire & Calder Navigation heading for Leeds only 8 miles away, but now slowing, as the flow was against us.

Entering Wakefield on the Calder & Hebble Navigation.
 

These rivers were canalised in the mid 18C to allow commercial river traffic to support what was then the beginning of the industrial revolution in the UK. These larger craft meant that lock size was considerably larger than canal locks, as can be seen in the next four pictures showing Bacchus at Lemontroyd Lock just short of Leeds.

Leaving the wide Aire & Calder Navigation to enter the Lemontroyd Lock.

 

Flo emptying the lock - note the pressure of water leaving the lock.

 

Bacchus entering the lock.

 

Flo's in charge of the lock operation.

Leeds is a modern city that was born out of the industrial revolution. It stamped its name from the vast mills and warehouses that thrived along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. Now clothing, printing, brewing and engineering plus a vast array of the arts makes it leading city not only of the north but of the whole of the UK.

We spent three days wondering around and doing the normal tourist things. The Town hall, civic hall, cathedral, city museum and the royal armouries museum, to name just some of what’s on offer.  Oh, and a little shopping.

The Civic Hall



Clarence Dock

In 1777 this robust stone building was constructed as a terminal warehouse for the Leeds & Liverpool canal. Started in 1770, the canal was finally completed in 1816 at a cost if £1,200.000 nearly five times the original estimate.  This lock saw us leave the river for the last time and to join the Leeds & Liverpool Canal as we left Leeds for Saltaire.