"New road"

it was an immense undertaking when workmen first laboriously cut through this hillside in the reign of George IV.
Originally the main route into Halifax from Hipperholme was via the Wakefield Gate or Via Magna, over Beacon Hill, which used a far steeper ascent and descent.
Then, before 1756, a new turnpike road was driven through above Shibden Hall from Hipperholme.
The making of Godley cutting for the now A58, began in 1827 and was completed in 1830.
A considerable amount of land for the new road was bought from the Listers of Shibden Hall. The cutting is about 790 yards long and the greatest depth 60 feet. The material from the cutting was used to build up a high embankment across the Shibden Valley below, making the road much as it is today. a stone bridge was soon provided across the gulf created by the cutting (replaced by the present iron Godley Bridge in 1900)