until the boundary reformation by the local government act 1888, the lancashire-yorkshire boundary ran through the centre of todmorden, following the river calder to the north-west and the walsden water for less than to the south before turning south-eastwards across langfield common. the town hall, which was presented to todmorden by the fielden family and opened in 1875, straddles the walsden water; thus, from 1875 to 1888 it was possible to dance in the town hall ballroom, forward and back, across two counties of england.