The horse drawn barges in this picture provided the heavy transport of the day, carrying the barley and coal to the various maltings located alongside the canal.
Although little, if any, evidence remains today that Mirfield was once a major producer of malt providing this basic ingredient of beer to breweries all over Britain.
Between the early 1800's and 1990's up to some 16 malsters have operated  in the Mirfield area. This came to an end in the 1990's with the closure of Bass Maltings in Station Road.
This picture is taken from the towpath alongside Crowther's Maltings (later to be Bass) in Station Rd. The site is now occupied by housing and the Lidl supermarket.

<<  >>