Blackstone Edge
Blackstone Edge rises fairly rapidly to tower over Littleborough with the current main road rising from 474 ft (157 metres) next to Littleborough’s Viaduct to a maximum of 1,275 Ft (389 m) at its summit next to Blackstone Edge Reservoir. One of 5 built for the Rochdale Canal Co at the turn of the 18th Century and improved in the late 1920s by Rochdale and Oldham Councils. The current or new road joins that part of the old or ‘Coach Road’ still open to normal traffic at the Bar House. It stands at 824 feet (251 m) and was where tolls were collected. From the Bar House, Horse Drawn Coaches which had already climbed 350 ft had to climb a further 414 ft (126 m) to reach the White House where the horses were changed or rested and the passengers enjoyed warmth and refreshments (and still do!). The new road was adopted by the Royal Mail in the 1825. It is known that Ann Lister from Halifax went to meet a friend at the White House in the early 1820s and therefore the coach would have travelled up the coach road, a much steeper climb than today’s road..
Littleborough and Blackstone Edge are noted for the listed, so called ‘Roman Road’ see Roman Era. Whether it is Roman or the first Turnpike Road, the turnpike or road climbs for some 750 feet (231 m) from Rough and High Peak to the road’s summit just beyond the ‘Aiggin Stone’ a way-marker or stone with incised cross. Both ‘Roman’ Road and the main road fall some 800 feet of more to Ripponden.. Besides the road and Calder builders the intrepid military surveyors climber a further 300 feet (90 m) to plant the ‘Trig Point’ on ‘Robin Hoods Bed’.
Visitors. Travellers, residents and Quarrymen
From stone age, through the Roman era to the English Civil War, mankind has crossed over, lived on and worked the resources of Blackstone Edge wether animal or mineral and at times an unforgiving landscape with often cold and wet weather generating treacherous bogs. But as Littleborough developed so too did the need for building materials including steam engine beds (large and heavy stone blocks). Even now the many quarries are visible scars on the landscape better seen when snow covers the ground.
Quarrying gradually ceased in the mid-18th Century when the tax on bricks ended and brickworks sprung up in Summit and Rock Nook next to the Todmorden to Littleborough Turnpike and the Rake Brickworks adjacent to the Coaching Inn of the same name.
In the 19th and 20th Centuries Blackstone Edge was the location of numerous political and sometimes religious meetings with huge crowds attending, Bunfires were also lit there to celebrate coronations. Today, the roads are probably busier than ever with the Pennine Way and shorter walks attracting numerous visitors from UK and abroad pitting their enjoyment against whatever the weather may decide. But when it is clear the view to North Wales and the Cheshire plain is a delight and the night-time view is possibly unmatched in the area..
Why not get hold of these to Booklets - from Kelsall’s bookshop in Littleborough Square or the White house of contact the History Centre via lborohist@gmail.com
Turvin Road closed through snow - Blackstone Edge Reservoir left also covered in snow (above)
29th Century Bunfire ready on
Blackstone Edge (right)
