River Spen
Encyclopedia
The River Spen is a river in the county of West Yorkshire
, England
and is a tributary of the River Calder
. It rises north of Cleckheaton
, runs through Liversedge
and flows into the River Calder, West Yorkshire
south of Dewsbury
at Ravensthorpe. The average rainfall for the river valley is between 600-1000mm per annum. Combined with the steep narrow river channel, this makes the Spen susceptible to regular flooding.
. It flows south past local Industrial premises parallel to a dismantled railway line before turning south east on the outskirts of Liversedge
. It continues flowing in this direction through the heart of the Industrial centre of the town before returning southwards along the edge of Heckmondwike
. On the outskirts of the village of Ravensthorpe it turns south east again before joining the River Calder
.
There are several non-native species of plant found along the river including Giant Hogweed
, Himalayan Balsam
and Japanese knotweed
. Bistort, wild garlic
, nettles and dandelions are found in abundance in the meadows betweenthe conurbations.
to Oakenshaw
near Bradford
. The path is home to a collection of artworks, including A flock of Swaledale Sheep, constructed from recycled industrial scrap by Sally Matthews, and Rotate by Trudi Entwistle which comprises 40 giant steel hoops set in a circle.
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and is a tributary of the River Calder
River Calder, West Yorkshire
The River Calder is a river in West Yorkshire, in Northern England.The Calder rises on the green eastern slopes of the Pennines flows through alternating green countryside, former woollen-mill villages, and large and small towns before joining the River Aire near Castleford.The river's valley is...
. It rises north of Cleckheaton
Cleckheaton
Cleckheaton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated south of Bradford, east of Brighouse, west of Batley and south-west of Leeds...
, runs through Liversedge
Liversedge
Liversedge is a township in the former parish of Birstall, in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. Liversedge lies between Cleckheaton and Heckmondwike about southwest of Leeds.-Settlements within Liversedge:...
and flows into the River Calder, West Yorkshire
River Calder, West Yorkshire
The River Calder is a river in West Yorkshire, in Northern England.The Calder rises on the green eastern slopes of the Pennines flows through alternating green countryside, former woollen-mill villages, and large and small towns before joining the River Aire near Castleford.The river's valley is...
south of Dewsbury
Dewsbury
Dewsbury is a minster town in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England. It is to the west of Wakefield, east of Huddersfield and south of Leeds...
at Ravensthorpe. The average rainfall for the river valley is between 600-1000mm per annum. Combined with the steep narrow river channel, this makes the Spen susceptible to regular flooding.
Course
The river becomes the Spen at the confluence of Hunsworth Beck and Nann Hall Beck in CleckheatonCleckheaton
Cleckheaton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated south of Bradford, east of Brighouse, west of Batley and south-west of Leeds...
. It flows south past local Industrial premises parallel to a dismantled railway line before turning south east on the outskirts of Liversedge
Liversedge
Liversedge is a township in the former parish of Birstall, in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. Liversedge lies between Cleckheaton and Heckmondwike about southwest of Leeds.-Settlements within Liversedge:...
. It continues flowing in this direction through the heart of the Industrial centre of the town before returning southwards along the edge of Heckmondwike
Heckmondwike
Heckmondwike is a small town in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees, which is located geographically at the centre of West Yorkshire, England, south west of Leeds. Close to Cleckheaton and Liversedge, it is part of Cleckheckmondsedge, a name invented by J.B. Priestley to represent a West Riding...
. On the outskirts of the village of Ravensthorpe it turns south east again before joining the River Calder
River Calder, West Yorkshire
The River Calder is a river in West Yorkshire, in Northern England.The Calder rises on the green eastern slopes of the Pennines flows through alternating green countryside, former woollen-mill villages, and large and small towns before joining the River Aire near Castleford.The river's valley is...
.
Natural History
The river is mainly an urban waterway and has suffered from sewage effluent and industrial waste, though levels of pollutants and mine water discharges have decreased since 1999. Heavy rain can cause pollutant levels to rise and the river suffers from tipping and urban litter.There are several non-native species of plant found along the river including Giant Hogweed
Giant Hogweed
Heracleum mantegazzianum, commonly known as giant hogweed, cartwheel-flower, wild parsnip, wild rhubarb, giant cow parsnip, or giant cow parsley, is a plant in the family Apiaceae. It typically grows to heights of , sometimes reaching...
, Himalayan Balsam
Himalayan Balsam
Impatiens glandulifera is a large annual plant native to the Himalayas. Via human introduction it is now extant across much of the Northern Hemisphere.-Etymology:...
and Japanese knotweed
Japanese knotweed
Japanese Knotweed is a large, herbaceous perennial plant, native to eastern Asia in Japan, China and Korea...
. Bistort, wild garlic
Garlic
Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion genus, Allium. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and rakkyo. Dating back over 6,000 years, garlic is native to central Asia, and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region, as well as a frequent...
, nettles and dandelions are found in abundance in the meadows betweenthe conurbations.
Leisure
The disused railway line next to the riverbank is used as part of the Spen Valley Greenway (National Cycle Route 66) from DewsburyDewsbury
Dewsbury is a minster town in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England. It is to the west of Wakefield, east of Huddersfield and south of Leeds...
to Oakenshaw
Oakenshaw
Oakenshaw can refer to three villages in England:*Oakenshaw, County Durham*Oakenshaw, Lancashire*Oakenshaw, West Yorkshire*Oakenshaw, WorcestershireIt may also refer to the geographically different...
near Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
. The path is home to a collection of artworks, including A flock of Swaledale Sheep, constructed from recycled industrial scrap by Sally Matthews, and Rotate by Trudi Entwistle which comprises 40 giant steel hoops set in a circle.
Settlements
- CleckheatonCleckheatonCleckheaton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated south of Bradford, east of Brighouse, west of Batley and south-west of Leeds...
- LiversedgeLiversedgeLiversedge is a township in the former parish of Birstall, in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. Liversedge lies between Cleckheaton and Heckmondwike about southwest of Leeds.-Settlements within Liversedge:...
- HeckmondwikeHeckmondwikeHeckmondwike is a small town in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees, which is located geographically at the centre of West Yorkshire, England, south west of Leeds. Close to Cleckheaton and Liversedge, it is part of Cleckheckmondsedge, a name invented by J.B. Priestley to represent a West Riding...
- RavensthorpeRavensthorpe-United Kingdom:*Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury in West Yorkshire**Ravensthorpe railway station*Ravensthorpe, Northamptonshire*Ravensthorpe, Peterborough in Cambridgeshire-Australia:*Ravensthorpe, Western Australia**Shire of Ravensthorpe**Ravensthorpe Airport...
Crossings
- A643, Cleckheaton
- Thornton Street, Cleckheaton
- A638, Rawfolds Bridge, Cleckheaton
- Cartwright Street, Cleckheaton
- Primrose Lane, Cleckheaton
- Radulf Gardens, Liversedge
- Knowler Hill, Liversedge
- Valley Road, Liversedge
- A62, Liversedge
- A649, Wakefiled Road, Liversedge
- Wormald Street, Liversedge
- Union Street, Liversedge
- Beck Lane, Liversedge
- Smithies Bridge, Station Lane, Liversedge
- A644, Huddersfield Road, Ravensthorpe