Fun day to mark 21st birthday of Huddersfield Narrow Canal’s restoration

Birthday celebrations are being held to mark 21 years since the rebirth of a canal in West Yorkshire containing one of the seven “wonders of the waterways”.
By Alexandra Wood
Published 29th Apr 2022, 06:00 BST
The Huddersfield Narrow Canal at Standedge Tunnel and Visitor Centre at Marsden near Huddersfield Picture: Tony JohnsonThe Huddersfield Narrow Canal at Standedge Tunnel and Visitor Centre at Marsden near Huddersfield Picture: Tony Johnson
The Huddersfield Narrow Canal at Standedge Tunnel and Visitor Centre at Marsden near Huddersfield Picture: Tony Johnson

The rebirth of Huddersfield Narrow Canal and the “wonderful” Standedge Tunnel against all the odds is considered one of the outstanding successes of the canal restoration movement.

After standing derelict for 50 years, the canal reopened to boats in 2001, thanks to the efforts of the Huddersfield Canal Society (HCS), council and waterways partners, following 27 years of campaigning and a major restoration programme.

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People are being invited to a family fun day at Standedge Tunnel and Visitor Centre, in Marsden, on Bank Holiday Monday from 11am to 5pm, where there will be a bar, bands, street food, games and free activities.

The 5.2km Standedge Tunnel is inspected once every five years.At its deepest point, it runs around 200 meters underground and is located around 200 meters above sea level, making it the the UK's longest, deepest and highest canal Picture: Danny Lawson/PA WireThe 5.2km Standedge Tunnel is inspected once every five years.At its deepest point, it runs around 200 meters underground and is located around 200 meters above sea level, making it the the UK's longest, deepest and highest canal Picture: Danny Lawson/PA Wire
The 5.2km Standedge Tunnel is inspected once every five years.At its deepest point, it runs around 200 meters underground and is located around 200 meters above sea level, making it the the UK's longest, deepest and highest canal Picture: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Robbie Cumming, star of BBC’s Canal Boat Diaries, will launch the society’s new Marsden e-Shuttle which will provide short return trips from outside the visitor centre.

There will also be boat trips into the tunnel – the longest, deepest and highest in the country – guided by Canal & River Trust volunteers.

Luke Clark, from the charity, said: “This 21st anniversary of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal’s reopening is not only a celebration, but also a great way to show people the work that we do are doing to ensure our historic waterways are protected and preserved for boaters and the local community to use and enjoy.”

Related topics:West YorkshireMarsden