Skip to main content

The charity making life better by water

Meet Lucy, Annie, Eden & Ted at Standedge Tunnel

Family and friends at Standedge Tunnel

I only moved here earlier this year, before baby Ted was born, so I'm quite new to the Marsden area. We wandered down the canal quite soon after we moved in because we live so close to it. I think this is one of the first places we found. My husband, Eden and I sat down here by the water and we thought, 'it's just lovely'.

I come with Eden every couple of weeks now to Standedge Tunnel. There's a soft play area in the Visitor Centre here and it's really good for Eden in there, she loves it. The canal comes right inside the building which makes it really interesting. I like going to places with Eden and Ted to see interesting things and I'm happy wherever we go if I can get a cup of coffee. So coming here is perfect for me.

Meeting up with friends at Standedge Tunnel

Annie and I are friends and we both live locally, so we quite often arrange to meet here for a coffee and a chat.

Local highlights

Annie - I come here about once a month, and a bit more often in the summer. Every year I teach a different group of students, who come from overseas and stay with me. I teach them English and I always bring them here. This is definitely one of our local highlights to show the students. The canals have great local history with such a story behind them and Standedge Tunnel is a great feat of engineering. My students are all ages from 16 upwards, and they all really love it here at Standedge. They can read about it and pick up so much from the experience of coming to visit.

I haven't been on a boat trip into the tunnel yet. I'm claustrophobic so I'm not sure I'd like it in there.

Lucy - I've been on a boat trip inside the tunnel. Yes, the tunnel sides are as close as the pictures in the adverts say. I was pregnant with Ted at the time so I wasn't as comfortable as my husband and Eden. They thought it was great. Eden wore a little hard hat and really loved looking through the great big glass windows on the boat.

We've been feeding the ducks today because they're starting to get hungry at this time of year. The summer is over so we're lucky it's nice and sunny and we can sit outside with our drinks.

Lucy, Annie, Eden & Ted, Standedge Tunnel, Huddersfield Narrow Canal

Duck activity guide

Download your free duck guide

Enjoy family friendly duck-themed activities by the water or at home with our free guide

photo of a location on the canals
newsletter logo

Stay connected

Sign up to our monthly newsletter and be the first to hear about campaigns, upcoming events and fundraising inspiration