River Ryburn - History

History

The bridge on the B6113, Elland Road, in Ripponden was once part of the Elland Turnpike in 1815. It was originally built in 1772 and widened and altered in the nineteenth century. Next to this bridge is the original Ripponden Old Bridge which has been around since at least 1313.

Baitings and Ryburn reservoirs were built for Wakefield Corporation. Baitings was opened on 14 November 1956 after eight years work and a cost of £1.4 million. It is 64 acres large with a volume of 775 million gallons reaching a depth of 155 feet (47 m). The dam at the east end of the reservoir is 1,550 feet (470 m) across and 185 feet (56 m) high. At low water levels, the old road and bridge become visible. Ryburn Reservoir was the first to be opened on 7 September 1933 after eight years construction at a cost of £240,000. The dam at the east end of the reservoir is approximately 100 feet (30 m) high. It has a volume of 220 million gallons and covers 26 acres which includes the submerged village of Bogden.

Local landowner John Rawson (1813-1899) was responsible for the planting of much of the woodland along the River Ryburn valley.

Read more about this topic:  River Ryburn

Famous quotes containing the word history:

    I believe my ardour for invention springs from his loins. I can’t say that the brassiere will ever take as great a place in history as the steamboat, but I did invent it.
    Caresse Crosby (1892–1970)

    If you look at history you’ll find that no state has been so plagued by its rulers as when power has fallen into the hands of some dabbler in philosophy or literary addict.
    Desiderius Erasmus (c. 1466–1536)

    History does nothing; it does not possess immense riches, it does not fight battles. It is men, real, living, who do all this.... It is not “history” which uses men as a means of achieving—as if it were an individual person—its own ends. History is nothing but the activity of men in pursuit of their ends.
    Karl Marx (1818–1883)