Snowfall Silence: Allan Park, Sowerby Bridge

Location: Allan Park Bowling Green, Sowerby Bridge, Calderdale Date Taken: 18th March 2018 Camera: Nikon d3300

Allan Park Bowling Green in Winter

Sometimes, the most dramatic light isn't the sunrise or sunset, but the soft, diffused light of a winter day. This picture, taken in mid-March 2018 at Allan Park in Sowerby Bridge, captures that profound silence that only a fresh layer of snow can create.

A Temporary Blank Canvas

Allan Park is one of Sowerby Bridge's cherished green spaces, and the bowling green is usually a hub of activity or, at least, a perfectly manicured lawn. On this cold morning, however, it was transformed into a wide, immaculate white canvas. The snow has smoothed out every imperfection, creating a striking foreground of pure texture.

The contrast between the white expanse and the dark, dense backdrop of the wooded hillside is what makes this image so compelling.

• The Backdrop: The hillside is typical of the Calder Valley—steep and heavily treed. The trees, mostly bare birch and dense evergreens, hold a dusting of snow and provide a vital sense of vertical scale and shadow.

• The Structure: The simple lines of the bowling pavilion, with its dark trim and crisp white walls, stand out sharply against the winter scene. It looks perfectly tucked away and dormant, awaiting the spring and the return of the players.

This photograph, to me, represents the patience of the Calderdale landscape. It's a pause in the season, a moment of stark, clean beauty before the bustle of the warmer months begins again. It reminds us that even our local parks hold a unique, photogenic drama when winter takes hold.

The Stone Path: An Homage to Bill Brandt

Location: Dean Clough, Halifax Date Taken: 3rd July 2022 Camera: Nikon d3300

A Snicket in Halifax 2022

There is a specific, gritty geometry to the industrial towns of the North that few captured as evocatively as Bill Brandt. His famous 1930s photograph, "A Snicket in Halifax," with its stark contrast, deep shadows, and imposing textures, has always stuck with me. It is more than a picture of a path; it is a portrait of an era, a mood, and a way of life.

When I captured this image of a steep cobbled rise here in Calderdale, I couldn't help but feel the echo of Brandt's work. The elements are all there: the oppressive weight of the soot-stained stone wall on the right, the relentless incline of the worn setts, and the monolithic mill building looming in the background, a silent sentinel of the valley's industrial past.

Like Brandt's snicket, this path is a stage emptied of its actors, yet thick with their presence. You can almost hear the clatter of clogs from a bygone shift. The harsh black and white processing emphasizes the textures—the rough stone, the smooth cobbles, the rigid lines of the handrail against the organic form of the tree branch. It’s a scene stripped bare, revealing the hard, enduring bones of the landscape.

In emulating Brandt's aesthetic, the goal isn't just to copy a style, but to tap into that same sense of atmospheric history. To look at a familiar scene and see not just a path, but a narrative of labour, time, and stone.

The Quiet History of Brearley: The Former Baptist Chapel

Location: Brearley, Mytholmroyd, Calderdale, West Yorkshire Date Taken: 14th August 2016 Camera: Nikon d3300

This image captures the imposing yet serene presence of the former Baptist Chapel and Sunday School at Brearley, nestled just off the valley floor near Mytholmroyd.

Former Brearley Baptist Chapel

A Building That Tells a Story

The architecture is striking—a testament to the wealth and religious fervour of the Victorian era here in Calderdale. What stands out to me is the sheer scale of the Sunday School building on the left, with its impressive arched windows and multiple storeys. It hints at the huge importance of non-conformist congregations in this region during the 19th century, serving not just as places of worship but as vital community hubs for education and social support.

• Architectural Features: The light-coloured stonework, the symmetrical rhythm of the windows, and the dark slate roof all contribute to its grand, almost institutional appearance, balanced by the surrounding mature trees and rolling hills.

• The Setting: Taken on an overcast day in mid-August 2016, the lush green foreground contrasts beautifully with the muted tones of the building and the dense woodland backdrop. This typical Calderdale light gives the scene a dramatic, contemplative atmosphere.

Where Faith Met the Fells

Standing here, you can almost feel the echoes of the hundreds of children who would have passed through those Sunday School doors and the congregations who worshipped in the attached chapel (the section on the right). It is a powerful reminder that while the industry defined the valley's economy, these chapels shaped its moral and social fabric.

Though the building has long since been converted for residential use, its character and history are undeniably preserved in its stone. It continues to be a landmark for anyone travelling through this part of the Calder Valley.

I will continue to try and capture these historic buildings that are so much a part of the Calderdale story.