WE'RE IN THE HEAVY WOOLLEN DISTRICT.

 In this post, we're heading for Dewsbury, the centre of the Heavy Woollen District. We're taking a bit of a roundabout route and you can find it on this map. 

First, though, we're exploring a bit of the lost lines of the Great Northern Railway, starting at Alverthorpe station.

Flushdyke is our next stop.

Here's Chickenly Heath station, GNR.

Another GNR station at Earlsheaton.

A steam wagon came to grief in Earlsheaton, 1906.

I'm not certain what the real ale situation is today at the Park in Earlsheaton.

Now we're Calderside at Earlsheaton, by the (now closed) railway viaduct.

The Savile Arms at nearby Thornhill has some decent beer.

To the north, the Dewsbury branch of the Calder & Hebble Canal terminates about a mile south of the town itself.

By the basin, actually in Savile Town, the Leggers Inn, known for its cask beer.

Not far away, still in Saville Town, the main depot of Yorkshire Woollen District. Here's one of their earliest buses.

A few more YWD vehicles here, as we enter the National Bus Company era.

Daimler Fleetline 606 outside the depot in NBC red, 1980.

A selection of buses in the yard, after the merger with West Riding.

Along with a couple of YWD trams, we cross Savile Bridge into Dewsbury town centre.

Dewsbury once had three railway stations. This is the GNR one, long since vanished.

The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway had its own establishment, Dewsbury Market Place.

Only one station survives, the former London & North Western Railway one, called Dewsbury Wellington Road (Now just plain Dewsbury)

A BRCW DMU calls at Dewsbury in 1983.

In the early years of the 21st century, class 158 units were used on Trans Pennine services.

The current Trans Pennine franchise has operated three types of train on this route.

Northern also run some local services.

Beside the westbound platform, the West Riding Refreshment Rooms. Not to be missed! Access from the platform or the station approach.

That's a good place to conclude this post. More of Dewsbury next time.

HORBURY & OSSETT

The name of the railway station which purported to serve both towns sums up where we're going in this post. Don't forget, there's a map of the route and it can be found here. We've left South Yorkshire behind and find ourselves back in West Yorkshire. Our first stop is Horbury Junction, where the Barnsley branch left the L&YR main line. 

The LMS built a two platform wooden station here.

The River Calder is close by.

Further to the west, at the other end of the triangle of lines, was Horbury & Ossett station.

It was an important place on the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway.

As we enter the town of Horbury, we find the rather fine Cricketers Arms, a bit of a real ale paradise.

Horbury is dominated by its church.

Here's the High Street, with a West Riding tram.

Boon's is a free house these days, but was once tied to Clarks of Wakefield.

The Kings Arms was a Marston's pub when photographed back in 2000.

Down, now, to Horbury Bridge, over the River Calder.

The Bingley Arms is at Horbury Bridge, but it's a bit more modern than seen here. It still serves cask beer.

To the northwest was Healey Mills marshalling yard and associated diesel depot.

Back in 1905, there was a foot ferry across the Calder.

The Brewers Pride at Healey (since changed its name, but still in business) was once home to Ossett Brewery, which has since moved elsewhere.

Let's head along Station Road towards Ossett town centre.

The Great Northern Railway had its own station in central Ossett.

Ossett Market Place was served by West Riding trams.

Today, the major bus operator into Ossett bus station is Arriva.

Station Coaches run a service to Wakefield.

Close to the bus station, the Bier Huis, an off-license really, but one can drink inside. A great selection to choose from.

Just around the corner, the Horse & Jockey, a good example of a Samuel Smith's house.

The Red Lion is, I'm told, still worth visiting.

On the edge of the town centre, The Tap, effectively the showpiece outlet for Ossett Brewery.

The area was once riddled with coal mines and it's appropriate that we conclude this post at one - Roundwood Colliery, near Ossett (not to be confused with Roundwood near Rotherham).

Next time, onwards to Dewsbury.