Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal

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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 undergoing restoration work. 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.

1 History
2 Regeneration
3 References
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] History

The 1936 breach above Prestolee Locks is shown here. Click for more information.

Blocks of stone litter the end of the canal just outside Bury town centre. This photograph is taken looking south, toward Hinds Lane. The canal bed is heavily overgrown on the centre-right of the image, the towpath is the cobbled leading to the horizon.

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]

The canal used 17 broad locks, some in staircases (Prestolee for instance). It was originally 15¼ miles in length.

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

The coping stones of the east bank of the canal, as it heads north towards Daisyfield Viaduct.

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

This image shows Daisyfield Railway Viaduct, through the 2nd or 3rd archway to the right, the canal once flowed. Wellington Street is on the extreme left, visible through the archway.

Prestolee Locks

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.

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 difficult to find Ringley Locks.

[edit] Regeneration

Middlewood locks, 4th April 2007, picture taking looking west from East Ordsall Lane

Middlewood locks, 4th April 2007, looking east into Manchester from near Oldfield Road

Middlewood locks, 4th April 2007, looking east into Manchester from near Oldfield Road. The canal curves around to the left, and heads underneath the railway. As of writing, this section has yet to be dug out.

Restoration at Salford began in September 2006. It is hoped that the full length of the canal will be eventually restored to operation by 2010. The locks and part of the canal at Middlewood have already been dug out and revealed. The total restoration of the canal is estimated at costing £50m.

The Bolton arm of the canal is restricted by the absence of the Hall Lane Aqueduct at Darcy Lever. This Aqueduct was demolished in 1950 to make way for the widening of the road it crossed, and it is unlikely to be rebuilt.

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