Description
Hidden under Bradford’s bustling streets flows the Bradford Beck, an underground river rich in history and mystery. Follow a trail of 15 striking dark slate plaques marking its secret path, each one offering a poetic clue to the beck’s story.
Each plaque features two lines from a beautiful poem by Jane Callaghan, winner of a 2015 public poetry competition, along with an arrow pointing out the beck’s hidden course.
As you walk the trail, jot down the lines to piece together the full poem and uncover the lyrical story of Bradford’s buried waterway. It’s part scavenger hunt, part history walk, and part poetic adventure, perfect for curious minds and city explorers alike.
This underground tour calls for sturdy footwear and weather-ready clothing.
About the Host
Barney Lerner
Barney Lerner is Chair of the Friends of Bradford’s Becks, a group that has been raising awareness of and improving the becks (streams) in and around Bradford since 2012. He started work in a predecessor to the Environment Agency, then worked for an engineering consultancy. He became an academic teaching and researching about water and pollution, finishing up as Professor of Environmental Engineering at the University of Sheffield and Professor of Catchment Science at SUSTech in Shenzhen (China). He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and was awarded an MBE for services to the environment in Bradford By King Charles in December 2023.
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