The Dog & Gun, Oxenhope - Out and About

The Dog & Gun nestles in the midst of beautiful moorland above above the West Yorkshire village of Oxenhope, with magnificent views of the hills and valleys to the west.  This 17th Century village represents a merger of the local hamlets of yesteryear including our own hamlet, Leeming, one of four interlinked conservation areas in the district.

Although originally only inhabited by summer grazing cattle (Oxenhope means "valley of the oxen") and then farm settlements during medieval times, the hamlets formed into textile manufacturing areas between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries and the Dog & Gun was born during this period.

Nearby Leeming Reservoir, which was built during the 1870s to supply water to local industry, can be used as the base for some fine walks with lovely views over moor and through village.

Although the mill industry, which prospered throughout much of the twentieth century, has declined, it has left some excellent and interesting architecture with most of the buildings, and indeed boundary walls, roofs and pavements, made of local sandstone or gritstone.

The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway was brought into Oxenhope from Keighley in 1867.  Initially franchised to, and then owned by, The Midland Railway, the line became part of London, Midland & Scottish Railway in 1924 and then British Railways some twenty four years later.  The line was closed in 1962 but by 1968 the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Preservation Society had formed and opened the Keighley to Oxenhope line with steam trains running on a regular basis.  The volunteer operated railway now runs steam trains most days during the summer months and most weekends during the rest of the year, usually operating a classic diesel service at the start of the day.

Oxenhope Station has come a long way since the line was closed in 1962.  At that time the station had deteriorated to almost nothing but now the track has been extended to allow double locomotives and there are sheds for carriage restoration and static displays of locomotives.

Further information can be obtained from Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.

Just one stop up the line from Oxenhope is Haworth, home to the Bronte Parsonage Museum, where literary Brontë family spent much of their lives.  The Brontë sisters Charlotte, Emily and Anne are the famous authors of some of the best known English language books including Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

To the south west of Oxenhope, some 8 miles from the Dog & Gun via rugged moorland is Hebden Bridge.  Hebden Bridge is a Pennine town in the Upper Calder Valley also based on textiles but the transport system on which it grew included the canals as well as the railways.  It is now an interesting town with tall houses built on the steep valley sides with Hebden Water running through the middle with the old packhorse bridge crossing.  The Rochdale Canal has been restored to its former glory but is now home to tourism rather than industry.

On the Denholme road out of Oxenhope, the Dog & Gun is also within striking distance of Bradford's National Media Museum and Halifax's Eureka! Museum for Children.