Harden Moor

Before the St Ives estate was formed, Harden Moor stretched from Bingley in the east to Cullingworth in the west. In 13th century deeds, Ellar Carr Beck (which drains down from Lees Moor and skirts the northern edge of Cullingworth) was defined as the western edge of Harden.{{sfn|Villy|1921|p=6}} This area included Catstones Moor and north up to Hainworth Shaw. Opinions vary as to what the boundaries of Harden Moor are; 18th and 19th century texts describe Harden Moor as including Altar Rock (Druid's Altar) and the land surrounding.{{cite web|title=Parish of Bingley (History of Craven)|url=http://www.skiptoncastle.co.uk/craven-history/16_Parish-of-Bingley.pdf|website=skiptoncastle.co.uk|access-date=21 December 2016|page=199|format=PDF}} In modern archaeological data, Adrian Chadwick describes Catstones Ring on Catstones Moor as being on the southwestern edge of Harden Moor.{{cite web|last1=Chadwick|first1=Adrian|title=Fields for Discourse|url=http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-991-1/dissemination/pdf/Appendix_G_W_Yorks.pdf|website=archaeologydataservice.ac.uk|access-date=21 December 2016|location=Appendix G: West Yorkshire|page=844|format=PDF}}

The history of Harden Moor goes back to the Bronze Age and this is evidenced by the cairns on the moor that have been listed with Historic England. The cairns, which can date from anywhere between 2000-700BC, are examples of Bronze Age burial mounds.{{NHLE|num=1018238|desc=Cairn 290m north of Woodhead on Harden Moor|access-date=20 December 2016}}{{cite web|title=Landscape Character Supplementary Planning Document Volume 9: Wilsden|url=https://www.bradford.gov.uk/media/2987/vol9_wilsden_october2008.pdf|website=bradford.gov.uk|publisher=Bradford Council|access-date=20 December 2016|page=7|format=PDF|date=October 2008}} These cairns and the ring on Catstones Moor were listed by English Heritage in 2010 as being at risk of falling into decay.{{cite news|last1=White|first1=Clive|title=Bradford and district historic buildings and conservation areas highlighted in English Heritage report|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8261509.Threatened_sites_at_risk_of_falling_into_decay/|access-date=21 December 2016|work=Telegraph & Argus|date=8 July 2010}}

The Brigantes, who occupied the territory before the Roman invasion, used a gritstone outcrop that overlooks Bingley as an altar in what is believed to be a form of Druidism.{{sfn|Horsfall-Turner|1897|p=20}}{{cite book |last1=Stephens |first1=John Victor |last2=Mitchell |first2=G H |last3=Edwards |first3=Wilfrid |title=Geology of the country between Bradford and Skipton |date=1953 |publisher=H.M.S.O. |location=London |page=65 |chapter=VII; Structure|oclc=5097198}} Cup and ringlet marks have been found carved in Altar Rock (also popularly known as Druid's Altar). There is a Roman Road which crosses Harden Moor on a south west/north east axis. This road originated in Manchester (Mamucium) and continued north to Ilkley going through Riddlesden, Morton Banks and Rombalds Moor to what was the Roman encampment known as Olicana.{{sfn|Horsfall-Turner|1897|p=25}}{{cite book|last1=Speight|first1=Harry|title=Through Airedale from Goole to Malham|url=https://archive.org/details/throughairedalef00spei|date=1891|publisher=Walker & Laycock|location=Leeds|page=[https://archive.org/details/throughairedalef00spei/page/175 175]|chapter=Bingley|oclc=5824116}} A second Roman road passed through Harden village and crossed Harden Beck by the Malt Shovel inn. It then went in a north westerly direction passing near to the hamlet of Ryecroft and crossing the moor near to Ryecroft Road. Remains of this road can still be seen on the stretch of moorland that is near to the Guide Inn public house.{{cite web|title=Harden Parish Council - Harden's History|url=http://www.hardenparishcouncil.gov.uk/Core/Harden-PC/Pages/Hardens_History_1.aspx|website=www.hardenparishcouncil.gov.uk|access-date=2 January 2017}} The Malt Shovel Inn in Harden village was also the place where travelling judges would pass sentences on criminals. Those who received the death penalty were hung on Harden Moor.{{cite book|last1=Thomas|first1=Peter|title=Yorkshire's historic pubs|date=2005|publisher=Sutton Publishing|location=Stroud|isbn=9780750939836|page=[https://archive.org/details/yorkshireshistor0000thom/page/48 48]|url=https://archive.org/details/yorkshireshistor0000thom/page/48}}

Fairfax Entrenchment, a curved trench believed to have been the site of a skirmish between the two warring sides in the English Civil War, was on Harden Moor. Although there is no known documentary evidence of a fight, it is known that Thomas Fairfax stayed at Harden Grange and most likely he ordered a trench to be dug as a defensive measure. The site is now part of the St Ives estate which has also been converted partly into a golf course. At the time of the supposed skirmish, the site was part of Harden Moor{{cite news|title=Civil War camp may have been home to Fairfax|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/1011167.Civil_War_camp_may_have_been_home_to_Fairfax/|access-date=20 December 2016|work=Telegraph & Argus|date=9 November 2006}} and the area was left undeveloped by the Ferrand family (the local landowners) in deference to the rumour that bodies of fallen civil war soldiers were buried there.{{NHLE|num=1001707|desc=St Ives Estate|access-date=20 December 2016}} Large scale mapping indicates the shape and curve of the trench with the soldiers graves being behind the northern curve of the trench and just south of Altar Lane.{{cite map|title =Airedale CC1|map =CC1|date =1935|scale =1:2,500|publisher =Ordnance Survey|location =Bradford Local Studies Library|ref =201.1}}

Due to finds of coins and other artifacts, it is believed that the Jacobite army of 1745 passed over Harden Moor in November of that year en route to Preston.{{sfn|Speight|1898|p=283}} The moorland was enclosed in stages from 1816{{cite book|last1=Kain|first1=Roger J.P.|last2=Chapman|first2=John|last3=Oliver|first3=Richard R.|title=The enclosure maps of England and Wales, 1595-1918|date=2004|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge [etc.]|isbn=0-521-82771-X|page=338|edition=1. publ.}} with full enclosure being completed in 1855. In the maps of the Enclosure Act in Airedale, Harden Moor is listed as the section between Bingley and Hainworth Shaw (a hamlet just to the north of present-day Harden Moor).{{cite book|last1=Dodd|first1=Edward Ernest|title=Bingley : a Yorkshire town through nine centuries|date=1958|publisher=Bingley|location=Yorkshire|pages=120–121|oclc=13445858}}

As with other neighbouring moorlands, Harden Moor was used for military training during the Second World War. Empty shell casings and tail fins from mortar rounds have been found scattered across these moors.{{cite web|title=WW2 Training Areas|url=http://www.watershedlandscape.co.uk/heritage-landscape/updates/2011/ww2-training-areas/|website=watershedlandscape.co.uk|publisher=Watershed Landscape|access-date=20 December 2016}} On the St Ives Estate is an old hut where the Home Guard used to meet up and were called out to search for enemy parachutists dropping down onto Harden Moor (though there is no documentary evidence that anyone did actually parachute onto Harden Moor).{{cite web|title=Walks in parks and woodlands; St Ives|url=http://www.bradforddistrictparks.org/sites/documents/St%20Ives%20Walks.pdf|website=bradforddistrictparks.org|publisher=Bradford Council|access-date=20 December 2016|page=1|format=PDF|archive-date=25 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725100348/http://www.bradforddistrictparks.org/sites/documents/St%20Ives%20Walks.pdf|url-status=dead}} In 1945, four Keighley teenagers were walking across the moor when one of them found a mortar and without realising it was live, threw the mortar against a wall. An explosion followed and all suffered injuries (three of them seriously) and they were taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary for treatment.{{cite news|title=Harden Moor Explosion|url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19450507/187/0006|access-date=30 December 2016|newspaper=The Yorkshire Post|publisher=British Newspaper Archive|date=7 May 1945|page=1|url-access=subscription}} A further three explosions of unattended ordnance followed during the summer of 1945, and one of which resulted in the death of 13 year old Frank Charles Smith (of Keighley).{{cite news|title=Troops search moor for bombs|url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19450726/060/0003|access-date=30 December 2016|newspaper=The Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer|publisher=British Newspaper Archive|date=26 July 1945|page=3|url-access=subscription}} This prompted Bingley Urban District Council, who owned the moor at the time,{{cite news|title=Harden Moor Deaths|url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19450724/170/0006|access-date=30 December 2016|newspaper=The Yorkshire Post|publisher=British Newspaper Archive|date=24 July 1945|page=1|url-access=subscription}} to initiate a burn policy across parts of the moor to allow mine detectors to be used in the search for unexploded ordnance.{{cite news|title=Harden Moor Bomb Search|url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19460409/163/0006|access-date=30 December 2016|newspaper=The Yorkshire Post|publisher=British Newspaper Archive|date=9 April 1946|page=1|url-access=subscription}}

Quarrying has been prominent on the western edge of what is now Harden Moor adjacent to Ryecroft Road{{cite news|last1=Walton|first1=Jonathan|title=Quarry protestors win battle|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/local/airelocal/1064584.Quarry_protestors_win_battle/?ref=arc|access-date=20 December 2016|work=Telegraph & Argus|date=8 December 2006}} for over 300 years, with many of the quarrymen residing in the nearby hamlet of Ryecroft.{{cite web|title=Ryecroft Conservation Area Appraisal|url=https://www.bradford.gov.uk/media/2495/ryecroftcaa.pdf|website=bradford.gov.org|publisher=Bradford Council|access-date=20 December 2016|page=13|format=PDF|date=December 2005}} The sandstone from these quarries (Yeadonian, which is rough rock and rough rock flags) was used to construct the iconic buildings in Saltaire and other local towns and villages.{{cite web|title=West and South Yorkshire's building stone atlas|url=https://www2.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/download/EHCountyAtlases/West_and_South_Yorkshire_Building_Stone_Atlas.pdf|website=bgs.ac.uk|publisher=English Heritage|access-date=30 November 2021|page=14|format=PDF|date=2017}} The last operational quarry was Midgeham Cliff End Quarry which was satisfying a demand for a type of sandstone (known as blockstone) that is used in locally constructed housing. The quarry had ceased activity by 2012, but was granted a licence to recycle construction and demolition waste. However, the site must be safe and fully restored by 2022.{{cite news|last1=Knights|first1=David|title=Cullingworth councillors to keep an eye on any quarry expansion plans|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/14153402.Cullingworth_councillors_to_keep_an_eye_on_any_quarry_expansion_plans/|access-date=20 December 2016|work=Telegraph & Argus|date=17 December 2015}}

Altar Rock (also known as Druid's Altar) is a sandstone outcrop that juts out above the western edge of Airedale and overlooks Morton, Crossflatts, Bingley and Keighley with wide panoramic views up and down the Aire Valley.{{cite news|last1=Clayton|first1=Emma|title=Plenty of outdoor fun at St Ives|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/lifestyle/taleisuredaysout/10861728.Plenty_of_outdoor_fun_at_St_Ives/|access-date=31 December 2016|work=Telegraph and Argus|date=7 December 2013}} The rock is mentioned in Disraeli's novel Sybil. Disraeli had visited the rock in 1844 when he was staying with his friend William Ferrand,{{sfn|Speight|1898|p=282}} who was the then owner of the St Ives Estate which borders Altar Lane to the south.{{cite book|last1=Cattell|first1=Alan|title=Bingley and Surrounds; forgotten moments from history|date=2011|publisher=Overt Marketing|isbn=0957114303|pages=52–55|chapter=Disaraeli's visit to Bingley and Druids Altar}} Disraeli had been greatly influenced by Altar Rock and in Sybil, he had a meeting of Chartists at a rocky outcrop in his fictional setting. This may have had some basis in fact as Chartist rallies were being held around this time in the Aire Valley, with one meeting being reported on Harden Moor. A body of men was organised to go onto the moor and disperse the meeting only to find that it was a meeting of Methodists.{{sfn|Speight|1898|pp=236-237}}

Traditionally, the site of Altar Rock has been on Harden Moor, although it is now part of the St Ives Estate despite Altar Lane, which stretches between Ireland Bridge in Bingley and Aire View Farm on the Harden to Keighley Road, being a natural boundary to the northern edge of the St Ives Estate. Older sources describe Altar Rock as being part of Harden Moor, and even as recently as 1995, when a murdered 15-year-old girl was found at Altar Rock, it was described as being on Harden Moor. The 15-year-old girl in question was Nobantu Zani (also known as Mandy) who had emigrated to Bradford from South Africa with her mother and two brothers after her father was killed.{{cite news|last1=Palmer|first1=Allun|title=The double tragedy in the life of Mandy's mum|work=Telegraph & Argus|date=5 October 1995|page=3|issn=0307-3610}} Zani's mother believed her to be staying with friends and she may have been missing for up to three weeks before her body was found strangled with her own chiffon scarf.{{cite news|last1=Palmer|first1=Allun|title=Why did no-one look for Mandy|work=Telegraph & Argus|date=3 October 1995|page=1|issn=0307-3610}}

It was later revealed that she had been living a double life and had not attended school for some time, and when she had attended, the time spent there was sporadic. A school truancy councillor was due to call at her mothers house but on the day of the appointment had called in sick.{{cite news|title=Evidence of Mandy's double life|work=Telegraph & Argus|date=4 October 1995|page=3|issn=0307-3610}} Zani's mother was unaware of this meeting as due to the nature of truancy, it was intended as a surprise. A December 2015 Freedom of Information request showed that Zani's death was classified as undetected by West Yorkshire Police.{{cite web|title=FOI Unsolved murders since 1948|url=https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/sites/default/files/files/building-projects/foi_2778-15_-_unsolved_murders_since_1948.pdf|website=westyorkshirepolice.uk|publisher=West Yorkshire Police|access-date=31 December 2016|ref=02778/15|format=PDF|date=31 December 2015}} An inquest into her death in 1999 returned an Open Verdict as decomposition prevented an established cause of death.{{cite news|title=Mystery of girl on moors|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8065556.display/|access-date=31 December 2016|work=Telegraph & Argus|date=30 April 1999}}

The site is typical of a South Pennine Moorland with gritstone and sandstone (Millstone Grit Yeadonian sandstone outcrops) underlying the soil.{{cite web|title=Harden Moor Deep Cliff Wood|url=http://www.bradforddistrictparks.org/sites/parks/woodlands.php?ID=129|website=bradforddistrictparks.org|publisher=Bradford Council|access-date=20 December 2016}}{{cite web|title=Landscape Character Supplementary Planning Document Volume 9: Wilsden|url=https://www.bradford.gov.uk/media/2987/vol9_wilsden_october2008.pdf|website=bradford.gov.uk|publisher=Bradford Council|access-date=20 December 2016|page=3|format=PDF|date=October 2008}} The moor has several springs and marshes and in its central section is drained by two streams (Deep Cliff Hole and Midgram Beck) which both flow through Harden (meeting up under the houses built on the former mill site in the village) and flowing through Harden park to meet up with Harden Beck in the Woodbanks area at the eastern end of the village. Deepcliffe Wood is a small valley that is bordered on its northern, western and eastern edges by heather moorland. The wood, through which Deep Cliff Hole drains, is a remnant of an ancient woodland{{cite web|title=Landscape Character Supplementary Planning Document Volume 9: Wilsden|url=https://www.bradford.gov.uk/media/2987/vol9_wilsden_october2008.pdf|website=bradford.gov.uk|publisher=Bradford Council|access-date=20 December 2016|page=13|format=PDF|date=October 2008}} which sits on a fault extending southwards towards Wilsden{{sfn|Speight|1898|p=12}} and is noted for its oak trees, badgers, woodpeckers, bats and cuckoos.

The heather on Harden Moor is noted to be free of disease and parasites and so has been used to re-seed other moorland habitats in Yorkshire when they have been at risk. Ilkley Moor was re-seeded by cuttings and seedlings from Harden Moor in 2006 after a significant moorland fire.{{cite news|last1=Greaves|first1=Amanda|title=Ilkley Moor starts to rise out of the ashes|url=http://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/1093433.ilkley_moor_starts_to_rise_out_of_the_ashes/|access-date=20 December 2016|work=Ilkley Gazette|date=28 December 2006}} The heather ling and brambles on Harden Moor are also a haven for the tormentil mining bee. The bee's population has decreased rapidly and the Yorkshire and Humber area is noted as having an 'important population' of the bees that excavate burrows to live in.{{cite news|title='Public can plant to save bees'|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/environment/public-can-plant-to-save-bees-1-5663696|access-date=20 December 2016|work=The Yorkshire Post|date=13 May 2013}}{{cite web|last1=Evans|first1=Rebecca|last2=Potts|first2=Simon|title=Iconic bees; Yorkshire & the Humber - Tormentil Mining Bee|url=https://www.foe.co.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/bees_yorkshire_humber.pdf|website=foe.co.uk|publisher=Friends of the Earth|access-date=20 December 2016|pages=3–5|format=PDF|date=April 2013}}

The whole of Harden Moor is designated as common land and besides being used for walking and horse riding, the moorland is also used by motorbikers and push-bikers for trials and competitions.{{cite web|title=Landscape Character Supplementary Planning Document Volume 9: Wilsden|url=https://www.bradford.gov.uk/media/2987/vol9_wilsden_october2008.pdf|website=bradford.gov.uk|publisher=Bradford Council|access-date=20 December 2016|page=10|format=PDF|date=October 2008}} The former quarry workings provide a good backdrop for testing courses for the riders.{{cite web|title=Save Harden Moor|url=http://www.spenvalleytrials.co.uk/spenwp/archives/4198|website=spenvalleytrials.co.uk|publisher=Spen Valley Motorcycle Club|access-date=20 December 2016|date=20 September 2015}}{{cite news|title=Harden Moor hosts Tyke Trial|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/1736505.Harden_Moor_hosts_Tyke_Trial/|access-date=20 December 2016|work=Telegraph & Argus|date=4 October 2007}} The moor is also a popular location to go orienteering, with events held regularly by local orienteering clubs.{{cite web|title=Harden Moor: YHOA Middle Distance Championships & Superleague|url=http://www.aire.org.uk/events/yhoa-middle-distance-championships-superleague-2016-05-08|website=aire.org.uk|publisher=Airienteers|access-date=20 December 2016}} When the Ferrand family still owned the St Ives Estate, they used Harden Moor for hunting with dogs and invited along friends and aristocracy.{{cite web|title=Walks in parks and woodlands; St Ives|url=http://www.bradforddistrictparks.org/sites/documents/St%20Ives%20Walks.pdf|website=bradforddistrictparks.org|publisher=Bradford Council|access-date=20 December 2016|page=1|format=PDF|archive-date=25 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725100348/http://www.bradforddistrictparks.org/sites/documents/St%20Ives%20Walks.pdf|url-status=dead}}

Motorised model aircraft flying is also permitted on the northern edge of the moor, where a strip of grassed land is provided to enable modellers to safely take off and land their aircraft. Flying of model aircraft on the moor has been in existence since at least 1935.{{cite web|title=The story so far|url=http://keighleymodelflyers.co.uk/about-kadmac/kadmac-history/kadmac-history-the-story-so-far/|website=keighleymodelflyers.co.uk|publisher=Keighley and District Model Aircraft Club|access-date=20 December 2016}}

There are panoramic views from Harden Moor northwards and eastwards over Airedale, westwards towards the moors above Cullingworth and Denholme and southwards towards the hills above Wilsden.{{cite web|title=Landscape Character Supplementary Planning Document Volume 9: Wilsden|url=https://www.bradford.gov.uk/media/2987/vol9_wilsden_october2008.pdf|website=bradford.gov.uk|publisher=Bradford Council|access-date=20 December 2016|page=12|format=PDF|date=October 2008}} A Trig Point was located at the highest point on the moor just west of the moor across Ryecroft Road on Catstones Moor. This stands at {{convert|959|ft|order=flip}} high.{{cite web|title=Harden Moor (Open Country)|url=https://www.bradford.gov.uk/media/2086/hardenmoor.pdf|website=bradford.gov.uk|publisher=Bradford Council|access-date=20 December 2016}}

Being an open country parkland, Harden Moor is accessible all year round. It has a bridleway that runs along the northern edge of the moor, which also crosses Keighley Road at the eastern end of the moor and runs into Altar Lane.{{cite map|title =South Pennines|map =OL21|date =2008|scale =1:25,000|series =Explorer Map|publisher =Ordnance Survey |edition =A2|isbn =978-0-319-24012-0}} This then goes past Druid's Altar and takes the walker or mountain biker down to Bingley along the northern edge of St Ives Estate.{{cite map|title =Bradford & Huddersfield|map=288|date =2015|scale =1:25,000 |series =Explorer |publisher =Ordnance Survey|edition=B2|isbn =978-0-319-24485-2}} Part of the bridleway crosses into St Ives further south as part of the Keighley leg of the Calder/Aire footpath.{{cite web|title=Keighley Link to the Calder/Aire Bridleway Route at Bingley St. Ives|url=http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/sites/default/files/calderairelink.pdf|website=nationaltrail.co.uk|publisher=Bradford Council|access-date=20 December 2016|format=PDF}} Harden Moor is bounded on the west and east by local unclassified roads which have car parks or parking available. The moor is accessible on foot via Hainworth Shaw from the north, St Ives Estate in the east and on pathways from the south through Ryecroft and Harden.{{cite map|title =Leeds & Bradford|map =104|year =2016|scale =1:50,000 |series =Landranger |publisher =Ordnance Survey|isbn =978-0-319-26202-3}}

File:Former quarry workings on Harden Moor.jpg|Former quarry workings on Harden Moor near Keighley in West Yorkshire

File:Former Trig Point site on Catstones Moor.jpg|Former Trig Point site on Catstones Moor near to Keighley in West Yorkshire

File:Lesser cairn on Harden Moor.jpg|Bronze Age Cairn on Harden Moor near to Keighley in West Yorkshire

File:Model aircraft dispersal area.jpg|Take off and landing area for motorised model aircraft on Harden Moor near to Keighley in West Yorkshire

File:Roman road on Harden Moor.jpg|Roman road on Harden Moor in Keighley, West Yorkshire

{{reflist|40em}}

• {{cite book | title=Ancient Bingley: or, Bingley, its history and scenery| first = J| last = Horsfall-Turner|year=1897| publisher=T Harrison, Bingley | oclc=7198070}}
• {{cite book | title=Chronicles and stories of old Bingley. A full account of the history, antiquities, natural productions, scenery, customs and folklore of the ancient town and parish of Bingley, in the West Riding of Yorkshire| url=https://archive.org/details/chroniclesstorie00speiiala| first = Harry| last = Speight|year=1898| publisher=Elliot Stock | oclc=13540380}}
• {{cite book | title=The Bradford antiquary : the journal of the Bradford Historical and Antiquarian Society VI. The slag-heaps of Harden| first = Francis| last = Villy|year=1921| publisher=Bradford Historical and Antiquarian Society | oclc=715205627}}

{{Bradford}}

Category:Geography of the City of Bradford

Category:Mountains and hills of the Pennines

Category:Hills of West Yorkshire

Category:Moorlands of England