Sowerby Bridge
West Yorkshire
Sowerby Bridge is a place where watercourses and transport routes come together.
The River Ryburn flows into the River Calder at Sowerby Bridge and the Calder and Hebble Navigation joins into the Rochdale Canal, the latter reopened to through navigation in 2002.
Just along the line to the east of Sowerby Bridge station the railway does much the same with a line continuing along the Calder valley through Elland towards Brighouse while another crosses the valley to take the climb towards Halifax.
Like many West Yorkshire towns, Sowerby Bridge saw massive growth around the end of the 19th century, when the area had textile mills and engineering works to provide mill machinery. There was a major increase in the residential area of the town which has continued since that time.
Sowerby Bridge does, however, have one of the Calderdale district's newest swimming pools and fitness centres at Station Road, while community group Sowerby Bridge Fire and Water has ambitious plans to use the town's old swimming pool, adjoining council offices and fire station at Hollins Mill Lane as a new community resource centre.
Town features
















Travel
Sowerby Bridge station


External link to National Rail live departure board for services at this station (opens in new tab).
Bus travel
The town has buses to neighbouring towns and villages.
Road travel
Sowerby Bridge can be reached via the A646 A58 A6142 A6026
Places to Visit
Shibden Hall
The hall, dating from 1420, is located alongside Shibden Park, which was formed from its estate. Exploring the house reveals a variety of architecture from the various periods of its history and an insight into the people who lived there over the years. One of those was Anne Lister, whose diaries in the early 18th century were the inspiration of the recent BBC period drama series "Gentleman Jack", written by Sally Wainwright. Much of the series was filmed in the real-life location at Shibden Hall. The house also has a 17th century barn housing a carriage collection. Shibden Hall is managed by Calderdale Council museums.
For more information see the

Locate on map:

Hardcastle Crags
off Midgehole Road, Hebden BridgeFind out more at the

Eureka! The National Children's Museum
Discovery Road, This modern museum near to Halifax railway station is full of interactive exhibits in themed galleries aimed at inspiring younger children to learn.
More information at

Wainhouse Tower
Wakefield Gate, off Skircoat Moor Road, King CrossLocate on map:

Emergency services
West Yorkshire Police 
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Local government
Metropolitan district council
Calderdale Council is centred in
Part of the district includes seven civil parish councils, four of which are small single ward councils.
Calderdale has 51 elected councillors, 3 per ward across 17 wards. Each councillor serves a 4-year term with one councillor per ward elected each year in 3 out of 4 years.
Link to
Calderdale Council website.

Political composition after May 2024 election is:
51 members


County strategic authority
West Yorkshire Combined AuthorityCovers some combined services of the five metropolitan district councils of






Elected mayor:

Police and Crime Commissioner
The Police and Crime Commissioner for West YorkshireThis role has become one of the many responsibilities of the West Yorkshire elected mayor since May 2021.

Fire Authority
West Yorkshire Fire AuthorityThe fire authority is made up of elected members of each of the five metropolitan district councils of West Yorkshire - Bradford, Calderdale, Leeds, Kirklees and Wakefield.

Parliamentary constituency
HalifaxElected MP: