Todmorden
West Yorkshire
The town straddled the border between Yorkshire and Lancashire until a local government reorganisation in 1889. It was then placed entirely within the West Riding of Yorkshire when the historic Riding became an administrative county. It continued as part of West Yorkshire in 1974.
The grade one listed Todmorden Town Hall is an iconic feature of the town in the style of a Greek temple.
When it opened in 1875 it was on the boundary of Lancashire and Yorkshire and its frontage has an impressive pediment featuring groups of Lancashire cotton workers to the Lancashire side and Yorkshire engineering and farm workers to the Yorkshire side and at the centre two figures on a pedestal linked in friendship.
The industrial revolution saw the development of cotton mills in Todmorden, a feature more typical of Lancashire towns while woollen mills were prevalent in towns of the West Riding of Yorkshire. Many of the mills in Todmorden were, however, at the Yorkshire side of the historic county boundary.
The building of the canal was soon followed by the Manchester and Leeds railway, the full route of which opened through Todmorden with the completion of the Summit Tunnel in 1841. George Stephenson's seven-arch railway viaduct over the town is grade two listed. A branch was opened between Todmorden and Burnley in 1849, a couple of years after the railway had become part of the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway.
The railway still provides an important and very popular link to towns along the long and winding Calder Valley where the only travel alternative is the busy single carriageway road running along the narrow valley floor.
A pioneering project known as Incredible Edible was started by a small group of Todmorden folk in 2007 and has spawned more than 100 groups across Britain and around the world. The project grows herbs, fruit and vegetables for everyone to share using community plots of land such as those used for flower beds in the past.
Town features




















It was partly in Lancashire before 1889.
Travel
Todmorden station


External link to National Rail live departure board for services at this station (opens in new tab).
Bus travel
The town has a bus station.
Road travel
Todmorden can be reached via the A646 A6033
Places to Visit
Stoodley Pike Monument
Langfield Common, near Hebden Bridge and Todmorden
Heptonstall churches
Church Street and Northgate, Heptonstall
Heptonstall Methodist Church in Northgate is among the oldest octagonal chapels of the Methodist Church and is believed to be the oldest Methodist Church to have continued use. Although Methodism in the village was founded after the preachings of William Darney, John Wesley became a frequent visitor to Heptonstall and visited at the time of the building of the chapel in 1764. The chapel was later extended in 1802.

Hardcastle Crags
off Midgehole Road, Hebden BridgeMore information at the

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:

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

Emergency services
West Yorkshire Police 
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Local government
Civil parish council
Todmorden Town CouncilProvides some local services in the area.
Link to council website:

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
Calder ValleyElected MP: