CiRC 152. 



THE DISTRICT.— Mr. T. W. Woodhead, F.L.S., writes :— The valleys 

 of the Colne and Holme are carved deeply out of the Millstone Grit by the inky 

 streams which bear these names ; between the two lies the smaller, well-wooded 

 valley of Meltham. Each has its origin in the high moorland tract of the Pennine 

 Chain, which offers a never failing supply of water to the villages and towns below. 

 The three valleys converge towards Wessenden Head ; from this point to the north, 

 south, and west, as far as the eye can reach, is one immense stretch of wild moorland 

 hills ; to the east we look upon the limits of cultivation. The streams arising among 

 these hills cut their way through thick beds of Peat, and alternating Grits and Shales. 

 The shaley banks of the lower slopes are planted with trees — Pine, Birch, Oak, and 

 Sycamore. To the right is the narrow valley of Bilberry, with its reservoir below, 

 the bursting of which wrought such terrible destruction to life and property in 1852. 

 Lower down, this is joined by the stream from the Ford Valley. Harden Clough is 

 a well-wooded picturesque valley, joining Meltham to the moors; it opens out 

 below near the site of the old Bull Ring. The main road to Meltham from Wessen- 

 den Head passes beneath West Nab, a rocky peak 1642 feet high, covered with 

 Cloudberry. The eastern slope is strewn with huge gritstone blocks, the result of a 

 landslip. Near the plantation on the farm below are traces of a Roman Camp. 

 On these moorland slopes abundant evidence has been found that the ground was 

 formerly covered by trees. A century ago the unearthed trunks of pine, etc., were 

 cut up into long splinters by the villagers and used extensively in place of candles. 

 Water from this area is conducted to the reservoir at Blackmoorfoot, three miles 

 away, by a culvert crossing the road, and the contour of the ground is such as to 

 produce the illusion that the water flows uphill. Within a mile of Crosland Hall is 

 the pretty waterfall Folly Dolly, where there is a good section of a Fault. The 

 Wessenden Valley turns sharply to the left and is a fine example of wild moorland 

 scenery. In the peaty bogs are patches of Cotton-grass, on dryer ground Whortleberry 

 and Crowberry are abundant, while on the higher knolls are wide stretches of Cloud- 

 berry. The reservoirs in the upper part of the valley are favourite haunts of wild 

 fowl. Below, two large reservoirs are in course of construction by the Huddersfield 

 Corporation, and geologists may find much of interest here. Running parallel with 

 the Colne is the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, which after traversing a tunnel three 

 miles in length, emerges from the foot of the Standedge Hills. The sides oi the 

 valley are steep, with rough, close cropped, and often barren pastures, frequently 

 broken by sandstone quarries. At right angles to the main stream are numerous 

 'doughs,' down which run rapid streams during heavy rains. The chief of these 

 on the north side is Drop Clough. The stream rises on the moors near Cupwith 

 Hill, 1000 feet high, and comes tumbling down its rocky bed in a series of 

 picturesque little waterfalls. Most of the plants mentioned in the circular occur here. 



ROUTES.— 



i.^ — From Slaithwaite Station (L. & N.W. Railway) on arrival of 11-32 train, 

 up Booth Bank, over Hill Top into Drop Clough ; cross Colne Valley, to Black- 

 moorfoot Reservoir, Folly Dolly, and Crosland Hall. Leaders : Messrs. T. W. 

 Woodhead, F.L.S., and A. W. Sykes. 



2. — From Marsden Station (L. & N.W Ry.) on arrival of 11-40 train, up 

 Wessenden Valley to Isle of Skye, return by train from Meltham, 4 p.m., to Healey 

 House. Leaders: Messrs. S. L. Mosley, F. E.S., and C. Bulmer. 



3. — From Brockholes Station (L. & Y. Ry.) on arrival of 12-4 p.m. train, 

 through Hagg Wood, Ford Valley to Harden Moss, down Harden Clough to 

 Meltham for 4 p.m. train, as above. Leaders : Messrs. W. Tunstall, F.E.S., and 

 Harry Mellor. 



All these routes are of general interest, but, if any distinction may be made, 

 botanists are recommended to No. I ; geologists are recommended to join route 

 No. 2 — they will then see the landslip at West Nab, and the sections exposed at 

 the New Waterworks of the Huddersfield Corporation in the Wessenden Valley ; 

 and entomologists to No. 3. 



NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS IN HUDDERSFIELD. 



— Members arriving in Huddersfield from Leeds, lo-io a.m. ; Bradford, 10 a.m. ; 

 Halifax, 10-16 a.m. will be met at the station by the President, and Mr. S. L. 

 Mosley, who will conduct them to examine the Natural History Collections at the 

 Technical College, Queen Street South (ten minutes' walk from the station), by 

 kind permission of Mr. S. G. Rawson, D.Sc, F. I.C., the principal. They include 

 the late Mr. Joseph Whitwham's fine conchological collection, the late Mr. Samuel 



