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Out & About : Filming Locations

View from the top of Wainhouse Tower Halifax UK, the tallest folly in the world

Wainhouse Tower is unique! Originally designed to be a chimney for a dyeworks, the creativity of the architect Isaac Booth got ever more bold and it never achieved its original purpose. John Edward Wainhouse, the owner of the dyeworks, was very influential in the architectural design of the local area and this masterpiece took from 1871-1875 to build. It became the most famous landmark in Halifax offering views from the balconies over the whole of Calderdale into the Pennines. Unfortunately it also overlooked the estate of his neighbour Sir Henry Edwards and locally became known as “the tower of spite”. Reputedly, on days with excellent visibility, it is said that having climbed the 369 steps, you are rewarded with a view to Blackpool Tower over 40 miles away. It is 84 metres tall, with a square base, an octagonal shaft and 2 balconied viewing platforms, the upper one not open to the public.

It is now owned by Calderdale Council who arrange special open days when tickets can be booked. In 2024 these were on the third Saturday and the first Wednesday of each month and some Bank Holidays. For more information visit https://www.visitcalderdale.com

Philip Fearnley, a local photographer and owner of Halo Vue Aerial Photography https://www.halovue.co.uk has published an extensive series of stunning photographs taken by drone from the top of Wainhouse Tower in all directions. Dyer’s Holiday Cottage Halifax is proud to feature in the left part of the first photograph which is looking South West towards Sowerby Bridge and in the distance are the Pennines. These photographs are available in a book with more information about Wainhouse Tower called Calderdale From The Air Wainhouse Tower by Philip Fearnley and would make an amazing Christmas gift for anyone who has a connection to Halifax and Calderdale.

Photos credited to Philip Fearnley Photography. Dyer’s Holiday Cottage is in the centre left of this photo just before the bend in Edwards Road, next to a large Victorian building with a slate roof which was formerly the home of John Edward Wainhouse and known as West Air. It is now the very popular pub The Wainhouse Tavern and has won accolades as one of the best real ale pubs in Calderdale and the food is well worth a mention too.

If you would like to see more of Philip’s work, please take a look at the virtual tour on our website https://www.dyerscottageyorkshire.co.uk which takes you around the cottage and then offers you an opportunity to see more of Halifax and Calderdale from the air. He also has worked with tv production companies, notably on ‘Gentleman Jack’ and ‘Canal Boat Diaries’.

The Magna Via also known as The Wakefield Gate Halifax: a great walk from Hipperholme to Halifax

This ancient road, connecting Halifax to Wakefield is a fascinating reminder of the illustrious past and until the 18th century was the only route East. Carrying animals, wool and textiles by packhorse, this footpath enables walkers to really experience how difficult life must have been in times gone by.

The walk from Hipperholme to Halifax, which we took by bus from Dyer’s Holiday Cottage into Halifax and bus to Hipperholme, is provided in the walks section of our guest information folder at Dyer’s Holiday Cottage Halifax but briefly consists of a downhill section from Station Road, then an upward path following Dark Lane, which is one of the best preserved Medieval holloways, up to 12 metres deep in parts, carved out by many centuries of traffic. At the summit, above Shibden Hall, home of Anne Lister aka ‘Gentleman Jack’ from the television series written by Sally Wainwright, the track levels out offering splendid views across the Shibden Valley to Queensbury on the opposite ridge. Look out for the old mineshaft before descending into the remnants of the woods of Beacon Hill. Here the track becomes setted again. The cobbles were laid in the 1720’s to provide an all weather surface but the gradient was too steep for wheeled vehicles. Excavated and restored by Halifax Civic Trust in 1984. we can now see the beauty of their workmanship.

The 1741 Turnpike Trust meant that gradually the Magna Via was used less to carry goods as the toll paying Halifax Old Road was built following a lower but longer more Northerly route between Halifax and Hipperholme.

It remains a great memorial of past times for walkers to enjoy and took us 1.5 hours, approximately 3 miles.

For more information have a look at www.milestonesociety.co.uk

www.visitcalderdale.com

www.calderdale.gov.uk

Information Board near Dark Lane Hipperholme
Dark Lane
Choose your route
Shibden Valley
The track descends into the woods on Beacon Hill Halifax
A work of art!

Nearly there!

Gentleman Jack

Filming is currently taking place of the latest BBC/HBO historical drama Gentleman Jack at Shibden Hall. Based in 1832 on the true story of Anne Lister who lived at the house, Suranne Jones plays the lead role. Again it is another Sally Wainwright creation. Look out for it in 2019.

Where is Ackley Bridge Filmed?

Ackley Bridge is filmed at the former St Catherine’s RC High School in Halifax, but exterior scenes are filmed across Halifax including Skircoat Moor close to Dyer’s Holiday Cottage. a C4 production based on a fictional school formed from the merger of two schools and the ensuing tensions.  Starring Jo Joyner and Paul Nicholls, series 3 is in production. To keep up to date with this popular drama, please see the Channel 4 website.

Happy Valley

Also written by Sally Wainwright, Happy Valley again stars Sarah Lancashire, this time as a police sergeant, and both the BBC drama and its leading lady won the major BAFTA award 2017 for series 2. Series 3 is planned. It is totally filmed in the local area with most of the film locations in Halifax and other parts of Calderdale such as Sowerby Bridge, Mytholmroyd and Hebden Bridge. One scene in series 2 featured views from the top of Wainhouse Tower which included Dyer’s Cottage. We were somewhat surprised to see it.

Series 3 is planned to appear on BBC1 towards the end of 2019/start of 2020. See the BBC website for more information.

Last Tango In Halifax

First screened by BBC1 in 2012, and written by local girl Sally Wainwright, Last Tango In Halifax is filmed in both Yorkshire and Cheshire. Starring Anne Reid, Sir Derek Jacobi, Sarah Lancashire and Nicola Walker, local scenes to Halifax have been filmed at Holdsworth House, Shibden Hall and Skircoat Moor just up the hill behind the cottage. We were fortunate to come across filming for the 2016 Christmas show there.

A new series of Last Tango is due to be filmed in late 2019.

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