Harden Beck facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Harden Beck |
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Goit Stock Waterfall in Goit Stock Wood
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| Country | England |
| Counties | West Yorkshire |
| District | Bradford |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Hewenden Reservoir, West Yorkshire |
| River mouth | Beckfoot, Bingley, West Yorkshire |
| Length | 14.55 km (9.04 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 33.228 km2 (12.829 sq mi) |
| Tributaries |
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Harden Beck is a stream in West Yorkshire, England. It flows from Hewenden Reservoir, past the amazing Goit Stock Waterfall. The beck then joins the River Aire in Bingley. Before it becomes Harden Beck, its waters start as other small streams. These include Denholme Beck, Hewenden Beck, and Hallas Beck. Its water comes from several reservoirs like Thornton Moor, Stubden, Doe Park, and Hewenden.
Harden Beck was formed a very long time ago. It was carved out by melting ice during the last Ice Age. A part of the beck, after the waterfall, is known as 'The Hidden Valley'. This area is a special place for local people.
Some maps show Harden Beck starting where Hallas Beck and Cow House Beck meet. However, other official papers say it begins at the dam of Hewenden Reservoir. An old book called Chronicles of Old Bingley also agrees it starts where Hallas and Cow House Becks join. This book also says Harden Beck used to be a boundary line for old parishes and areas.
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History of Harden Beck
The name Harden Beck has a long history. In old books, it was called Heredene, Heredenbroc, or Hardenbrok. These names might mean "Rock Valley" or "Hare Valley Beck". A dictionary from the 1800s described Harden Beck as a "powerful" stream. It was full of trout and powered three mills. These mills made worsted cloth, and many people worked there.
There were actually six mills along the beck at one time. These were Hewenden Mill, Bents Mill, Hallas Bridge Mill, Goit Stock Mill, Harden Bridge Mill, and Beckfoot Mill. Today, Hewenden, Bents, and Beckfoot mills are now homes. Hallas Bridge Mill was destroyed by fire. Goit Stock Mill became a café and ballroom, but it also burned down in 1927. Its tall chimney can still be seen today. Harden Bridge Mill is still used as a printing business.
Hewenden Reservoir was built to help the mill owners. When Bradford Corporation started taking water from Manywells Spring, the mill owners needed a way to keep their mills running. So, the reservoir was built to make sure the beck always had enough water.
Where Harden Beck Flows
The water journey begins near the A629 road in Denholme. Here, small springs feed Denholme Beck, which flows into Doe Park Reservoir. Doe Park also gets water from Stubden and Thornton Moor reservoirs. Water from Doe Park then flows into Hewenden Reservoir. From there, it becomes Hewenden Beck.
Near Hallas Bridge, it changes its name to Hallas Beck. When it enters Goit Stock Wood, it officially becomes Harden Beck. This happens where Cow House Beck and Hallas Beck meet. From this point, it flows mostly east. Midgram Beck and Mytholmes Beck join it near Ruin Bank Wood. The beck then goes around the northern edge of Shipley Golf Course. It flows through a ford and under a bridge at Beckfoot. Finally, Harden Beck joins the River Aire in Bingley.
Bridges Over the Beck
Many bridges cross Harden Beck, some of them very old.
Hewenden Viaduct
The Hewenden Viaduct is a large railway bridge near Hewenden Reservoir. It was built in 1884 for the Great Northern Railway. After the railway closed, it became part of a walking and cycling path called the Great Northern Trail.
Historic Bridges
Hallas and Goit Stock have footbridges for walkers. There is also a bridge near The Malt Shovel Public House in Harden. This bridge connects Harden village with Wilsden. It is a Grade II listed structure, meaning it's an important historic building, and it dates back to the 1700s.
Another Grade II listed footbridge is found between Ruin Bank Wood and Harden Grange. This bridge is on the northwest side of Shipley Golf Course and was listed in 1974.
Beckfoot Bridge
Beckfoot Bridge is also a Grade II listed crossing. It was listed in 1974 and crosses the beck just before it joins the River Aire in Bingley. This bridge is a Packhorse Bridge, which means it was built for horses carrying goods. It dates back to at least 1723. Next to the bridge is a ford, which is a shallow place to cross the water. However, this ford can be very deep and the water flows fast. It is not safe to cross it, even in a 4x4 vehicle.
Nature and Environment
Harden Beck flows through Goit Stock Wood. This wood is a great example of a broadleaf woodland, full of different kinds of trees. The water creates the beautiful Goit Stock Waterfall, which is 20 ft (6.1 m) high. This waterfall was once called Hallas Lumb.
Even though the beck has faced pollution in the past, trout and crayfish can now be seen in its waters. Goit Stock Woods and Harden Beck are recognized as a Site of Ecological and Geological Importance by Bradford Council. This means they are very important for nature and geology. However, the beck also has problems with invasive plants. These include Himalayan Balsam and Japanese Knotweed in a section upstream of Harden village.
In 2017, a part of the weir at Beckfoot Mill was removed. A weir is a small dam. This change allowed fish like grayling to swim further upstream. Since the mill is now private homes, the weir was no longer needed. Removing it helped the fish move freely.
Literary Connections
Harden Beck has inspired poets and writers. John Nicholson, known as The Airedale Poet, lived near the beck in the early 1800s. He often walked along the beck and visited Goit Stock Waterfall, even at night, to find ideas for his poems.
In 2012, the walk along Harden Beck became part of the Stanza Stones Poetry Trail. This trail was created by poet Simon Armitage. It's a long walk across moorland and water, designed to inspire people who walk it.
Images for kids
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Goit Stock Waterfall in Goit Stock Wood
