Helmshore
Helmshore is a village 16 miles north of Manchester that flourished in the industrial revolution. The original village, and its numerous mills, was strung out along the valley of Ogden River, and what we will start at the pub at the bottom of the valley and walk up the road to the pub at the top, then come back down again along the old railway. So here is the Cotton House, its name a tribute to the local industry. Despite how it looks, I think it is open; there was a smell of food. It stands on the west bank of the river. This is the view upstream. Going the other way, the river joins the Irwell less than a mile to the south. Station Road runs along the east bank. We will get to the station later, here we will just note that it was never on Station Road. Half way along, Station Road jumps over to the west side of the river. Station Road rises up to meet Holcombe Road, and for a short distance they run parallel, with just a wall between them. In this photo, the white car in the centre i...
