Sowerby Bridge
West Yorkshire
Sowerby Bridge is a place where watercourses and transport routes come together.
The River Ryburn flows into the River Calder at Sowerby Bridge and the Calder and Hebble Navigation joins into the Rochdale Canal, the latter reopened to through navigation in 2002.
Just along the line to the east of Sowerby Bridge station the railway does much the same with a line continuing along the Calder valley through Elland towards Brighouse while another crosses the valley to take the climb towards Halifax.
Like many West Yorkshire towns, Sowerby Bridge saw massive growth around the end of the 19th century, when the area had textile mills and engineering works to provide mill machinery. There was a major increase in the residential area of the town which has continued since that time.
Sowerby Bridge does, however, have one of the Calderdale district's newest swimming pools and fitness centres at Station Road, while community group Sowerby Bridge Fire and Water has ambitious plans to use the town's old swimming pool, adjoining council offices and fire station at Hollins Mill Lane as a new community resource centre.
Town features
The town is on the River Calder
Sowerby Bridge is on the Calder and Hebble Navigation. Sowerby Bridge is on the Rochdale Canal. 
Sowerby Bridge has a choice of pubs. 
The town has a range of shops and supermarkets.
Sowerby Bridge holds a traditional outdoor market - Tuesday and Friday general market, Thursday and Saturday second-hand.
The town has pharmacies.
The town has a Post Office.
Sowerby Bridge has takeaway food outlets.
Sowerby Bridge has a selection of places to eat.
The town has a leisure centre with swimming pool.
Sowerby Bridge has a community centre. 
The town has a library. 
Sowerby Bridge has schools.
Places of worship: Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, other.
Travel
Sowerby Bridge station
Station managed by: NORTHERN. Operator/s: NORTHERN. 
NATIONAL RAIL - Departure and station infoExternal link to National Rail live departure board for services at this station (opens in new tab).
Bus travel
The town has buses to neighbouring towns and villages. 
Road travel
Sowerby Bridge can be reached via the A646 A58 A6142 A6026 Places to Visit
Shibden Hall
The hall, dating from 1420, is located alongside Shibden Park, which was formed from its estate. Exploring the house reveals a variety of architecture from the various periods of its history and an insight into the people who lived there over the years. One of those was Anne Lister, whose diaries in the early 18th century were the inspiration of the recent BBC period drama series "Gentleman Jack", written by Sally Wainwright. Much of the series was filmed in the real-life location at Shibden Hall. The house also has a 17th century barn housing a carriage collection. Shibden Hall is managed by Calderdale Council museums.
For more information see the
Calderdale Museums - Shibden Hall Locate on map:
Shibden Hall 
Hardcastle Crags
off Midgehole Road, Hebden BridgeFind out more at the
National Trust - Hardcastle Crags 
Eureka! The National Children's Museum
Discovery Road, Halifax This modern museum near to Halifax railway station is full of interactive exhibits in themed galleries aimed at inspiring younger children to learn.
More information at
Eureka! website.
Wainhouse Tower
Wakefield Gate, off Skircoat Moor Road, King CrossLocate on map:
Wainhouse Tower 
Emergency services
West Yorkshire Police West Yorkshire Police West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust 
Local government
Metropolitan district council
Calderdale Council is centred in Halifax and also covers many other towns and villages, principally along the upper Calder Valley, including Brighouse , Elland ,
Part of the district includes seven civil parish councils, four of which are small single ward councils.
Calderdale has 51 elected councillors, 3 per ward across 17 wards. Each councillor serves a 4-year term with one councillor per ward elected each year in 3 out of 4 years. All councillors were elected in 2026 after a ward boundary review.
Link to Calderdale Council website.
Calderdale Council Political composition after May 2026 election:
54 members
Political composition after May 2024 election is:
51 members
See our Yorkshire.guide Gazetteer for more about the 
Calderdale metropolitan district and places within it.County strategic authority
West Yorkshire Combined AuthorityCovers some combined services of the five metropolitan district councils of
Bradford , Calderdale , 
Leeds , 
Kirklees and 
Wakefield — which were at one time provided by a West Yorkshire metropolitan county council, with the addition of the non-contiguous unitary authority area of the City of 
York council as well as the unelected Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership. Since 2021 it has operated with an elected mayor as chairman and decision-maker for some responsibilities. These include transport, housing and planning and finance powers. The responsibilities also include those of Police and Crime Commissioner, a role substantially delegated to an appointee deputy mayor. Elected mayor:
West Yorkshire Combined Authority Police and Crime Commissioner
The Police and Crime Commissioner for West YorkshireThis role has become one of the many responsibilities of the West Yorkshire elected mayor since May 2021.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority Fire Authority
West Yorkshire Fire AuthorityThe fire authority is made up of elected members of each of the five metropolitan district councils of West Yorkshire - Bradford, Calderdale, Leeds, Kirklees and Wakefield.
West Yorkshire Fire Authority Parliamentary constituency
HalifaxElected MP: