Hebden Beck and the Miners' Bridge
When the Hebden Moor Mining Company began to exploit the lead veins of Bolton Gill in 1853, there was no track up Hebden Gill, the only access to the site from Hebden being up the Raikes to the left of Eddy's Barn at Hole Bottom onto the moorland pasture at the top, and then back down towards Bolton Gill.
Better communications were required, and in 1855 the company improved access from Hebden to Hole Bottom, which including cutting through the moraine at Scale Haw to ease the gradient.
However, they needed access to the other side of the beck from Hole Bottom to enable them to drive a track up the east bank of the gill. They applied in October 1856 to the Duke of Devonshire's agent, Stephen Eddy, to purchase a small plot of land on the west bank, and he, sensing a seller's market, offered to sell it for an extortionate £50, which the company declined.
By July 1857, the price had fallen to £15, and it was purchased. This enabled them to build the beautiful and iconic Miners’ Bridge, and hence drive their track up to the mine.
Hebden Beck and the Miners' Bridge
When the Hebden Moor Mining Company began to exploit the lead veins of Bolton Gill in 1853, there was no track up Hebden Gill, the only access to the site from Hebden being up the Raikes to the left of Eddy's Barn at Hole Bottom onto the moorland pasture at the top, and then back down towards Bolton Gill.
Better communications were required, and in 1855 the company improved access from Hebden to Hole Bottom, which including cutting through the moraine at Scale Haw to ease the gradient.
However, they needed access to the other side of the beck from Hole Bottom to enable them to drive a track up the east bank of the gill. They applied in October 1856 to the Duke of Devonshire's agent, Stephen Eddy, to purchase a small plot of land on the west bank, and he, sensing a seller's market, offered to sell it for an extortionate £50, which the company declined.
By July 1857, the price had fallen to £15, and it was purchased. This enabled them to build the beautiful and iconic Miners’ Bridge, and hence drive their track up to the mine.