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Upper Calder Valley
The Upper Calder Valley Renaissance was the first of Yorkshire Forward's RMT programmes. Covering the towns of Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd and Sowerby Bridge, it is also one of the largest. Part of the Calderdale district of West Yorkshire the towns are situated in a line along the beautiful Upper Calder Valley.
The towns are situated in a line along the beautiful Upper Calder Valley in West Yorkshire, and are well-served by the Caldervale rail line and major arterial routes to Leeds, Manchester and central Lancashire.
Hebden Bridge
Hebden Bridge lies close to the Pennine Way and the well conserved region of Hardcastle Crags and is popular for outdoor pursuits such as walking, climbing and cycling.
Hebden Bridge is noted for having significant numbers of artists, alternative New Age types and a gay community. The Arts Festival and [The Fringe Arts Festival] take place every year in the late spring, the traditional Pace Egg plays are an annual Easter event, and the midsummer Hebden Bridge Handmade Parade is a vivid, non-commercial variation on the small town parade. Hebden Bridge attracts artists and admirers alike from many miles around.
Find out more at www.hebdenbridge.co.uk
Mytholmroyd
Mytholmroyd lies 1.5 miles east of Hebden Bridge and 6.7 miles west of Halifax. The town is perhaps best known as the birthplace of the poet Ted Hughes. He became the Poet Laureate and married the American poet Sylvia Plath who is buried at nearby Heptonstall.
Find out more at www.mytholmroyd.net
Sowerby Bridge
Sowerby Bridge is situated on the edge of Halifax, about three miles from its centre. The name Sowerby Bridge references the area's use as a crossing point over the River Calder to the older settlement at Sowerby. The town is at the junction of the Rochdale Canal and the Calder and Hebble Navigation and the whole 18th century canal basin and buildings are listed.
Find out more at www.sowerby-bridge.org.uk
Todmorden
Todmorden town centre occupies the confluence of three steep sided valleys in the Pennines and as such the valleys constrict the shape of the town. The historic county boundary between Yorkshire and Lancashire was marked by the River Calder which runs through the centre of the town. The historic border remains but the administrative border was altered by the Local Government Act 1888, whereby today all of Todmorden lies within West Yorkshire.
Todmorden has many attractions. It lies alongside the Pennine Way, Pennine Bridleway, Mary Towneley Loop and Calderdale Way and is popular for outdoor pursuits such as walking, mountain biking and bouldering. Its thriving indoor and outdoor markets sell a wide range of locally produced food. Visual arts are particularly strong in the town; annual events include a carnival, agricultural show, beer festival, music festival and the traditional Easter Pace Egg plays.
Find out more at www.visittodmorden.co.uk
Watch our film about the pedestrianisation of Hebden Bridge
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Contact:
Adrian Rose
Calderdale Council
Planning Services
Regeneration & Development Directorate
Northgate House
Halifax
HX1 1UN
Tel 01422 392246
Steph Hiscott
Rural Renaissance Manager – Rural Capitals
Mercury House
4 Manchester Road
Bradford
BD5 0QL
Tel 01274 386 908
Email: (stephanie.hiscott@yorkshire-forward.com)
Upper Calder Valley Projects
Find out more about Renaissance Market Towns projects in Upper Calder Valley.
Upper Calder Valley Strategy
On this page you can find documents which relate to the UCVR Partnership town team, the town’s delivery plan and other documents.
Upper Calder Valley Town Team Minutes
Upper Calder Valley town team is called Upper Calder Valley Renaissance (UCVR) Partnership. You can download their meeting minutes from this page.
Hebden Bridge Pedestrianisation Scheme case study
A pedestrianisation scheme was implemented in the heart of Hebden Bridge to create a safer and more attractive environment.
Fielden Wharf case study
Thanks to a much-needed facelift, Fielden Wharf has been transformed from a derelict site into high-quality public space.
Ted Hughes’ Birthplace case study
The birth-place of Ted Hughes has now been transformed into a writers' retreat.
Mytholmroyd Shared Space and Enterprise Centre case study
Click here to read our case study about the new Shared space and Enterprise Centre in Mytholmroyd
Sowerby Bridge Copley Valley Transformational project
As part of the consultation process for the Copley Valley project, residents of Sowerby Bridge and Copley together with Local Authority partners contributed their opinions and concerns about the development. Watch our short film to find out more about this process.
