England's steepest street

Pstotto · Post by **Pstotto** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 4:45 pm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-38568893" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Interesting article (see link) about the search to find England's steepest street. I've put forward the suggestion of Spion Kop in Padiham. This is a street between Grove Lane and Cliffe St, just up from Ingham st.

I only know that bit is called Spion Kop, from what Google Instant Streetview calls it. I haven't a phto and I can't screengrab from that page, but I wonder if anybody knows how steep that (unnammed?) street is? It's now closed to traffic but as a child I'm convinced houses used to be on that street, or I have a false memory of it.

A friend in the locale told me that a man once died trying to fix his car on the street as it rolled back over him and from then on it was closed off.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 4:50 pm

Must be a few in Colne and Haworth.

Pstotto · Post by **Pstotto** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 4:54 pm

Well I've put forward the Padiham street and I don't know a steeper one around the locale. As a cyclist I've suffered some pretty steep climbs, especially one from Hebden Bridge back to the Long Causeway. If you know of one specifically and have a pic... I still think the one in Padiham, though.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 5:04 pm

I can tell you the walk up from the Wetherspoons but to the ground at Buxton is steep - I think it's Holker Road.

get stuck in tracy · Post by **get stuck in tracy** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 5:05 pm

Id say the road that runs up from Shaw? on the way to Tod. up to the windmills is a bit severe.

Pstotto · Post by **Pstotto** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 5:12 pm

Definitely a road and not a footpath? If I knew how to screen-grab from google instant streetview and everyone else, we need some pics for this.

bobinho · Post by **bobinho** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 5:17 pm

Whitworth street in smelly is quite steep. The bottom bit is anyway. It used to lead from Southfield street up to jimmy Nelsons.

There is also a very steep one in colne. Newmarket street I think???

Longsider · Post by **Longsider** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 5:22 pm

bobinho wrote:Whitworth street in smelly is quite steep. The bottom bit is anyway. It used to lead from Southfield street up to jimmy Nelsons.

There is also a very steep one in colne. Newmarket street I think???

This is the one that sprang to mind for me too. Didn't it have a hand rail running up the bottom steepest bit of it because it was so steep. ?

box_of_frogs · Post by **box_of_frogs** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 5:27 pm

Steep Hill in Lincoln is pretty steep....

Royboyclaret · Post by **Royboyclaret** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 5:27 pm

Anything steeper than Spion Kop Padiham would need to be incredibly steep. As a nipper used to sledge down it every winter, where enough momentum was gained to continue down Ingham St all the way down to Wyre St at the bottom. A fantastic experience but of course there was very little in the way of traffic back in the 50's/60's.

No houses at all on Spion Kop, only ever allotments.

normandeeley · Post by **normandeeley** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 5:32 pm

Longsider wrote:This is the one that sprang to mind for me too. Didn't it have a hand rail running up the bottom steepest bit of it because it was so steep. ?

Wickworth Street I think it is and a couple of years ago still had the handrail

Hazzyclaret1955 · Post by **Hazzyclaret1955** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 5:32 pm

Prinny Hill in Haslingden and the Rake in Ramsbottom are very steep, both have hand rails for pedestrians.

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 5:39 pm

Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset.

Also known for the baker's lad pushing his bike up it in the Hovis ad.
Edit...Just seen it in the link.

hampsteadclaret · Post by **hampsteadclaret** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 5:47 pm

The main cobbled street running down through Clovelly in Devon has got to be a runner.

TheFamilyCat · Post by **TheFamilyCat** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 5:48 pm

I think the two steepest roads in England are Hardknott Pass and Rosedale Chimney but not sure that is roads and not residential streets (i.e. Steeper over longer distances rather than short, sharp sections)

There's a couple of steep ones in Matlock; Steep Turnpike (the clue's in the name) and Bank Road. They certainly take a bit of puff to cycle up.

starting_11 · Post by **starting_11** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 5:52 pm

Pstotto wrote:Well I've put forward the Padiham street and I don't know a steeper one around the locale. As a cyclist I've suffered some pretty steep climbs, especially one from Hebden Bridge back to the Long Causeway. If you know of one specifically and have a pic... I still think the one in Padiham, though.

Mytholm Steeps?

Try coming down it in a 7 seater full of fat gits and see how much you enjoy that too!

pureclaret · Post by **pureclaret** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 5:55 pm

Rose street in Bacup is fairly steep rails attached to the houses, also several in Colne Newmarket street etc

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 5:56 pm

There's quite a few coming off the main drag through Colne.

Glad i don't stagger home from the pub along those.

bobinho · Post by **bobinho** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 6:13 pm

Longsider wrote:This is the one that sprang to mind for me too. Didn't it have a hand rail running up the bottom steepest bit of it because it was so steep. ?

Certainly did. Was a bugger in winter. Cobbled too, which added to the difficulty in getting up and down it.

Lord Beamish · Post by **Lord Beamish** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 6:15 pm

There's certainly a few contenders in Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, and Halifax

bobinho · Post by **bobinho** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 6:15 pm

normandeeley wrote:Wickworth Street I think it is and a couple of years ago still had the handrail

Think you're right with the name Norman...

cutsy123 · Post by **cutsy123** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 6:21 pm

That guy rode up it on freddie flintoffs chip van programme

dibraidio · Post by **dibraidio** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 6:23 pm

ElectroClaret wrote:Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset.

Also known for the baker's lad pushing his bike up it in the Hovis ad.
Edit...Just seen it in the link.

What you mean they lied to us and it's not in Yorkshire!

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 6:25 pm

dibraidio wrote:What you mean they lied to us and it's not in Yorkshire!

Yes. They're like that, baker's.

RicardoMontalban · Post by **RicardoMontalban** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 6:26 pm

If like me you've got a screw loose and you're into cycling up these steep 'uns Trooper Lane in Halifax is worth a go. Steep and cobbled for a fair portion of it.

http://cyclinguphill.com/trooper-lane/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Pstotto · Post by **Pstotto** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 6:55 pm

The bottom of Trooper Lane on the link, looks like the climb out of Hebden Bridge west near the turning circle over to Burnley. it's a 1 in 3 for about a mile and it beat me.

Quickenthetempo · Post by **Quickenthetempo** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 7:02 pm

Just for you Pstotto
You can just makeout Royboy on his sledge.

Claret-On-A-T-Rex · Post by **Claret-On-A-T-Rex** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 7:08 pm

Spion Kop

Pstotto · Post by **Pstotto** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 7:15 pm

Fantastic pictures! I've just gone back to google instant street view and if you put in Spion Kop it goes directly to it. I never knew it was called that. it looks a helluva lot steeper on your picture, Claret-on-a-t.rex. I'll post it, by way of contrast, anyway. That snow picture is absolutely superb, it looks like famously good, the girl in, all of it. More from the album, please!

: Spion Kop.jpg (357.67 KiB) Viewed 9292 times

minnieclaret · Post by **minnieclaret** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 7:18 pm

Before reading the link I would have gone for Sheffield. It's all up and down.
From the coast back uphill in Robin Hoods Bay is a bugger.

Paul Waine · Post by **Paul Waine** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 7:23 pm

Offering a "quiet" shout for Shear Brow in Blackburn.

Quickenthetempo · Post by **Quickenthetempo** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 7:29 pm

Pstotto wrote:Fantastic pictures! I've just gone back to google instant street view and if you put in Spion Kop it goes directly to it. I never knew it was called that. it looks a helluva lot steeper on your picture, Claret-on-a-t.rex. I'll post it, by way of contrast, anyway. That snow picture is absolutely superb, it looks like famously good, the girl in, all of it. More from the album, please!

Spion Kop.jpg

Unfortunately not my album. If you're a Thickneck and on facebook then Ye Olde Padiham is a must, where I pinched the photo from.

Royboyclaret · Post by **Royboyclaret** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 7:36 pm

Superb photo there from Quickenthetempo.

It was a brilliant area to have fun as a nipper with Spion Kop the highlight in winter for sledging.

Looking at that photo, the street you can see to the very left is Lawrence St and back in the day my bedroom used to back onto grassland which eventually became Main Gas Appliances. The view from my window was unobstructed and I watched in awe in the summer of '55 as Alan Brown and a few of the Clarets first team constructed what was the ORIGINAL training ground.......Memories eh.

Diesel · Post by **Diesel** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 7:56 pm

Highfield Crescent, Hebden Bridge.

Foooking ridiculously steep.

6 Highfield Cres

https://goo.gl/maps/BWyva7j7Y4o" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Quickenthetempo · Post by **Quickenthetempo** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 7:58 pm

I presume the cricket and football pitches weren't where Main Gas is when you were a nipper?

Royboyclaret · Post by **Royboyclaret** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 8:11 pm

"I presume the cricket and football pitches weren't where Main Gas is when you were a nipper?"

Indeed they were Quicken and it was the home ground of Padiham FC before they moved to the Arbories.

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 8:37 pm

ClaretTony wrote:I can tell you the walk up from the Wetherspoons but to the ground at Buxton is steep - I think it's Holker Road.

Holker Rd is right, CT.
Walked down it today.
We've two or three similar in town.

Quickenthetempo · Post by **Quickenthetempo** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 8:40 pm

Royboyclaret wrote:"I presume the cricket and football pitches weren't where Main Gas is when you were a nipper?"

Indeed they were Quicken and it was the home ground of Padiham FC before they moved to the Arbories.

This is professional Sam Moss at the cricket club ground in around 1910. Photo taken on my phone from Padiham cricket clubs book 63 yrs not out.

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 8:41 pm

ClaretTony wrote:I can tell you the walk up from the Wetherspoons but to the ground at Buxton is steep - I think it's Holker Road.

Holker Rd is right, CT.
Walked down it today.
We've two or three similar in town.

: Screenshot_2017-03-20-20-40-48-043.jpeg (1.92 MiB) Viewed 8877 times

CV

That shots about half way up.
A bugger when you in a rush to make KO.

Diesel · Post by **Diesel** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 8:45 pm

The street I mentioned earlier is steeper than all the other suggestions.

Royboyclaret · Post by **Royboyclaret** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 8:50 pm

That's brilliant QTT, I take it you're from Padiham also?

My recollection is that the football pitch was in the area of MGA Press shop alongside the river and onto land where Cooke's oil drums are situated.

Quickenthetempo · Post by **Quickenthetempo** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 8:58 pm

Yeah I'm a Padiham lad. Just love the old photos how the town has changed.

Royboyclaret · Post by **Royboyclaret** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 9:07 pm

"Just love the old photos how the town has changed."

There was a photo doing the rounds on Fb recently of Lawrence St when it was first built back in 1895 I think. At that time it was the nearest street to Gawthorpe Hall where the Shuttleworth family lived for many years. They had a son called Lawrence and the street was named after him. My son still lives in the street.

Quickenthetempo · Post by **Quickenthetempo** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 9:11 pm

I'm struggling to find any photos of the old football ground but on Wikipedia it states the ground had 9k on for a game against Burnley.

Sorry for hijacking the thread Pstotto

BleedingClaret · Post by **BleedingClaret** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 9:33 pm

get stuck in tracy wrote:Id say the road that runs up from Shaw? on the way to Tod. up to the windmills is a bit severe.

It is but isn't it Shore Road

Royboyclaret · Post by **Royboyclaret** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 9:34 pm

"I'm struggling to find any photos of the old football ground but on Wikipedia it states the ground had 9k on for a game against Burnley."

I'm thinking that would be one of the games between Padiham and Burnley in the 1884/85 season. Local derbies were all the rage that year and the two clubs played against each other four times, two of the games being at Bentwood Gate.

RMutt · Post by **RMutt** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 9:48 pm

This street in Whitby is pretty steep.

: AFC8C97A-73F6-4D79-982F-92E687F69AD4-448-0000004B6221BDF6.jpeg (93.76 KiB) Viewed 8593 times

mkmel · Post by **mkmel** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 9:48 pm

One or two of the roads in St Ives in Cornwall are pretty steep if my memory serves me well.

Diesel · Post by **Diesel** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 10:04 pm

Yes, yes..all steep but not as steep as the one I posted about.

FFS.

Damo · Post by **Damo** » Tue Mar 21, 2017 12:00 am

Driving out of Halifax up to queensbury is ridiculous. Range Lane I think it's called