Castle Carr Fountains. A rare day out.

[dizzyblonde]

Sorry it took so long Geodude and LPH, but as requested.......


Castle Carr was a beautiful home built in the Upper Luddenden Valley of Halifax, unfortunately demolished in the early 60s, all that remains is a tower, with residential sheep. This valley sits on the tip of Bronte Country, the moorland itself is part of the fabled Wuthering Heights story, and another house remnants of Halifax(High Sutherland Hall) is where it is said the book was based.
The land it stands on is vast, and is accessed by two lodges, which are occupied by private residents. The land is owned by one farmer and has many abandoned farmhouses dotted around the hills, long ago dwelled in by many enjoying the surroundings.
The reservoir and fountains themselves are owned by Yorkshire water, which I'm sure given the right incentive would open this gorgeous place more often, sadly Mr Farmer is a bit more stingy, and to gain access you have to ask his permission to enter his land surrounding it. if you don't go up on one of these organised days, it is said he will try shooting you......how nice :smt120

Upper Lodge, we started the walk some 3 miles away in Wainstalls to gain access to the grounds. The Lower Lodge will be accessed on our next trip.
Although only 7 miles walk, that stick helped Peg on the way home, I had to walk at snails pace, step by step his leg gave up. Hes still crippled two days later. Poor Peggyleg has walked a personal marathon :(

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The Castle itself nestles on the other side of the valley

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The view from the Castle


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The remains of the tower, and the house
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The fountains themselves were a folly built because originally the whole valley was planned to be flooded and turned into a reservoir, but plans were abandoned, so the original owner of the house was a bit miffed at his view from the front door being taken away, so he built his own instead!

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More to come....... things are a bit slow to copy across, if these don't work, please let me know and I will upload from elsewhere.

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[dizzyblonde]

The landower is very protective of his land it seems, there was rather a lot of these scattered around the place. I do know a lot of urban explorers sneak in at times. I am lead to believe that the water gardens are pretty dry unless these events are organised, as I've seen videos and photos of under the fountain tunnels!

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[dizzyblonde]

Now you really wouldn't think all that was hidden down under the green leaves below the wall :smt045

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And away we went to explore the farm stood on top of the valley, whilst everyone else was given a history lesson.

Stood staring out, is Durham Farm, as someone told me yesterday. A bit of local knowledge, this was last occupied around the 50s.

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unfortunately all that lives there now is sheep......and boy oh boy could you smell them! This was as far as I dare step for fear of being sucked into the bog of eternal sheep poo stench!!
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A renovators dream, and a stunning view......shame greedy farmer won't share his land with others!
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Overlooking this would have been awesome in its hey day

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Dunno what it is, but its old

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....and there the farm sits, staring out over the valley

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A bit of history
http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~calderdalecompanion/mmc293.html

And a link to old photos, of what it used to look like, scroll down the page
http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~calderdalecompanion/ph190.html

[Roberrrrt]

Nice write up dizz, it's a shame that these old sites are going to fall even further into ruin.

[dizzyblonde]

Thanks Robert.

I wouldn't mind but its a grade II listed building, and sod all is being done to stop ot falling completely. Apparently its not historic enough! I think in its time twas compared in size to Gawthorpe Hall over the t'other side o the hill.

Theres loads of places like this all over the place...... lots of places knocked down all in the name of progress too, Halifax is steeped in history, but all its grand jewels have been knocked down to out horrendous things in their spot.
Its nice to explore whats on offer, and most folk wouldn't know that places like these are on their own doorsteps!

[Geodude]

Great pictures and write up Lou, thanks for sharing :) Glad you got your day out and no rain by the looks of it either. Such a shame they demolished half the place.
If i had loads of money i would save places like that because once there gone and all that :( I would really love a place like that farm. Away from all the hastles of the world id have a workshop/art studio so i could play all day oh and a private race track for fun :) I like Pegs Heathcliff impression looking out over his folly, did he shout Cathy ;)
Hope his knee gets a bit better soon. He needs some Dumbarton water to drink to make him strong :p (always tasted funny that stuff wonder what was in it)

xGx

[BanannaMan]

Awesome pics and write up!

What a crime keeping all this away hidden away and going to ruin.
The fountains are some of the most beautiful in the world.




That old thing is a cultivator.
One that size would be mainly used for breaking up the soil before planting but could also be used to remove weeds from around crops.
I'd guess postwar from the 40's. It's of an early design but appears to have hex bolts. Most pre-war farm equipment used square head bolts.

[dizzyblonde]

I thought it might be something like that......although to me it looks like something from the dark ages!

Thanks for the info :)

It is a crime for it to be hidden away, but as the house itself is not important enough, it will just gradually fall away to dust and history. The fountains have a better chance of being kept going. Theres only the main one that works now, the four that sit around the main pool have been left since around 1989, as they decided they were going to cost far to much to repair.
I think the pipes are cast iron, and had deteriorated to such a state, it was not economically viable........bet if someone offered the water company brass, they'd do it though!!!

People keep saying it should be made into a visitors centre, like Shibden Hall(another of our historical houses here)and gardens, which is set in a public park, or Hardcastle Craggs, again set in beautiful countryside, a hikers paradise and of local importance....but sadly for some reason people of power don't think so. :(