Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal

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The 1936 breach above Prestolee Locks is shown here. The image is taken standing above the breach, the water would have flowed away from the camera, down the steep hill towards the river Irwell which is below the horizon. The significance of the breach is demonstrated by the remains of the towpath and canal walls, to the left and right of the image. Although not obvious from this image, there is still much debris from the breach on the hillside. The wide angle of the shot may be deceiving - the photographer is actually stood on the same level as the canal bed. The landslip between the broken walls is clearly visible. Prestolee locks, pictured below, are just to the right of and below this vantage.

The Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal is a canal in Greater Manchester, in the north west of England, between Salford, Bolton, and Bury. It is currently being renovated. The canal passes through the Irwell Valley, skirting the towns of Radcliffe and Kearsley and originally passing through Salford before emptying into the Irwell near to the Regent Road Bridge. This last section, through Salford was filled in during the late 20th century, and there is little evidence of its existence here.

The Act of Parliament for the construction of the canal was passed in 1791 and the work finished in 1808 although significant parts of the canal had been finished by 1796. The canal was designed by Matthew Fletcher. The principle suppy of water for the canal was Elton reservoir.^[1]

Just outside Bury - the towpath in places is very badly overgrown, as is the canal infrastructure generally.

Just outside the culvert in Radcliffe, this picture shows the level of infestation from Water Soldier (Stratiotes aloides).

Prestolee Locks - the boats dropped down from the Bury and Bolton arms through the series of 6 locks on the left, before swinging around to head over the Prestolee Aqueduct (visible from this vantage, although you cannot see the span).

The canal suffered several major breaches, the worst of which occurred in 1936 at Nob End, close to Prestolee locks, at the junction of the 3 arms of the canal. This breach was never repaired, and although the canal saw continued use between this breach and Bury, it eventually closed in 1961.

There remain many obstacles to the canal's restoration as a navigable waterway. Bury Wharf is now a modern trading estate. The section between this and the first part of the canal still in water at Daisyfield Viaduct is more accessible. The canal beyond this viaduct and up to Water Street in Radcliffe is still in water, although strewn with weeds. Water Street now blocks the canal, which continues underneath via a small culvert - this road would need to be removed, and a new bridge built. The breach at Nob End needs repairing, parts of the canal into Bolton need digging out, a new aqueduct would be required into Bolton, and a new wharf built. On the Manchester arm, the locks at Prestolee, Ringley, and Salford require significant amounts of work. Many parts of the canal on the Manchester arm have been either filled in, or built over. New aqueducts would be required to cross the river Irwell.

Restoration at Salford begins in September 2006. It is hoped that the full length of the canal will be eventually restored to operation by 2010.

The canal just south of Prestolee Locks - although still in water at this point, the canal is badly overgrown and beyond this section it is extremely difficult to find Ringley Locks.

There are many interesting features on this canal, including Prestolee aqueduct and Clifton aqueduct.