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The town of Shipley nestles in the Aire Valley and is just four miles from Bradford and next door to the World Heritage Site of Saltaire. It is believed it got its name from the Saxon 'Sheep Field.' The town developed as a textile centre around the time of Bradford's industrial boom. Today, Shipley is a bustling place with local shops clustered around the open market square that is dominated by the clock tower. There has been a great debate recently regarding the future of the clock tower with many people calling for it to be demolished. It has become a well-known landmark over the years. The town has a growing reputation for good food and boasts English, Asian, Chinese, Thai and Mediterranean cuisines. The late DJ John Peel loved Shipley and visited it often. His wife Sheila was a local lass. Coronation Street's 'Alf Roberts' was also a local man.
The Market Square |
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Leeds -Liverpool Canal |
The town is the starting point for cruises along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. Here you can take a trip on a traditional narrowboat waterbus along the 200-year-old canal. West Yorkshire's oldest and the only Trans-Pennine canal still completely open to navigation. Five stopping points allow you to join the trip for one or more stages or the full round trip, which takes in the famous Five Rise lock at Bingley. Shipley
Glen is nearby and an ever popular attraction is a ride into the
open countryside on a Victorian tram. The cable hauled trams trundle
up and down the hillside through a tunnel of woodland greenery
brushed with cascades of bluebells and other wild flowers according
to the season.
Wildlife abounds throughout this natural woodland.
The Glen was immortalised in the song - 'Meet Me Gwen In Shipley
Glen.'
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