Description and History of Site:-
When built, there were a few above ground features, notably stone built aqueducts carrying the pipes across other watercourses, one example was the crossing of Wilsden Beck, but it seems likely that none remain. Now all is underground. The aqueduct runs from the Hewenden dam to the Chellow Dean reservoirs via Wilsden and Sandy Lane. The distance run is about 8km, and the fall from Manywells to Chellow about 30m. The aqueduct (or conduit) was build to carry drinking water from the Manywells Spring (WYK02359) at Hewenden to a storage reservoir at Chellow Dean (Lower) (WYK02388). Chellow Dean (Upper) reservoir was constructed later. Initially, the contract for laying the pipes was awarded to Michael Wilson of Huddersfield, but later (by June 1844) was given to Smith and Chapman of Herne Bay, Kent. The iron pipes were obtained from Staveley Ironworks near Chesterfield (not without some wry comments in the press), and were stored after delivery at a site on Thornton Road 'nearly opposite the Odd Fellows hall'.

By January of 1845, the Bradford Observer reported the progress at that time: "The process of laying the pipes is steadily advancing. They are laid and covered in from Chellow Dean onwards to the beck, i.e. this side, of Norr Hill. Here their progress is checked by a narrow, but deep dip, in the middle of a field, which requires stone-work to be thrown across it, in order to carry the pipes forward. But though the onward movement is thus temporarily prevented, yet, to save time, the company are making progress backwards, a very pleasant progress in this case, by beginning a line of pipes to meet those laid up to the mason-work now constructing. This line begins at Wilsden beck, at the bottom of the village, over against Dickenson's farmyard, and is already continued towards Norr Hill as far as Coplaw lane. In some fields the men are covering in the pipes finished laying, in others they are caulking and leading the joints, and in others they are placing and fitting them. Thus all is busy. The point of obstruction at the back of Norr Hill is about a half a mile beyond Sandy Lane Bottom, where the pipes cross the road and the beck just below the chapel. When this line is thus completed, we presume the aqueduct, which is also to be a viaduct for the company's purposes, will he constructed over Wilsden beck, so as to continue the pipes across Dickenson's farmyard, through a field in his occupation, at the back of the laith, into the Wilsden and Harden road; and thence round Pye Bank, Birchenell's End, Bents Head, and Hewenden Brow, where they will again cross the Bradford and Haworth road onwards to the reservoir below Birchin's Lee. It is quite possible that, to save time, a line of pipes may be begun at some point to meet the aqueduct over Wilsden beck, while that is building, Should there be no very severe fronts, we surmise, that we may slake next summer's thirst with the clear, wholesome, and refreshing stream from Many Wells; at least. We feel that, at the very thought, our palate grows moist, and our mouth waters at the imagination of so soon quaffing the brilliant waters of our longing expectation."

By June 1845, the line of pipes was said to be essentially complete, except for some joints which still needed to be made.

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Key Words :- potable water aqueduct underground

Address :- Wilsden, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD15 0BS
Grid Ref :- SE 0912 3674
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.826849 , Long -1.862929
Local Authority :- City of Bradford
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site extant - Protected status unknown
Site Condition :- Operational site, in use for original purpose
Site Dates :- 1845 -
Record Date :- 26 November 2019

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