Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal

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 This article or section contains information about an inland waterway currently under restoration.
It may contain information of a speculative nature, and the content may change dramatically as restoration progresses and new information becomes available.
Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal
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Woodhill Road - Bury Arm
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A58 Bolton Street
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Bury Wharf
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Daisyfield Viaduct
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Daisyfield Dam
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Elton reservoir
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Bank Top Bridge
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Rothwell Bridge
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Withins Bridge
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Whittaker's Bridge
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Water Lane
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Radcliffe Wharf
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Water Street Bridge
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Victoria St Footbridge
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Scotson Fold Bridge (School St)
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Nickerhole Bridge (Cams Ln)
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Sion Bridge
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Steam Crane
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Ladyshore Bridge (Hayward Av)
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Ladyshore Colliery
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Ladyshore Dam
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Creams Paper Mill
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Bailey Bridge (Mytham Rd)
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Canal breached
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Junction of 3 arms of canal
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Nob End Cottages - Bolton Arm
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Prestolee Locks
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Basin - Salford Arm
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Dry dock
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Salt Wharf
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Prestolee Aqueduct
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Hall Lane Aqueduct
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Prestolee Bridge
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Ringley Locks
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Ringley Canal Bridge/Ringley Road
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Fogg's Aqueduct
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Giants Seat Locks
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Rhodes Lock
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Damside Aqueduct
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M60 motorway
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Clifton Aqueduct
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Junction with Fletcher's Canal
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Clifton Viaduct
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Burnden Viaduct
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Lumm's Lane Aqueduct
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Church Wharf - Bolton Arm terminates
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Agecroft Road
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Peak House Bridge Road
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Cock Robin bridge
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Broughton Road
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Frederick Road
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Windsor Bridge Wharf
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A6 Salford Crescent/Windsor Bridge
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Oldfield Road
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Lock 6
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Salford Terminus
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Salford tunnel no.2
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Turning basin
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Locks 5 and 4
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Salford tunnel no.1
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Lock 3
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River Locks 2 and 1
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Bloody Bridge
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River Irwell - Salford arm terminates
The canal north of Agecroft Road, still in water at this point. The towpath here has recently been cleared of overgrowth.
The canal north of Agecroft Road, still in water at this point. The towpath here has recently been cleared of overgrowth.

The Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal is a canal in Greater Manchester, in the north west of England. It runs between Manchester, Bolton, and Bury. It is currently disused, unnavigable, and undergoing restoration. The canal begins in Bury, passing through Radcliffe and through the Irwell Valley before branching northwest to Bolton, and southeast to Manchester. The canal also joined with Fletcher's Canal at Clifton Aqueduct. The Salford arm of the canal emptied into the Irwell near to the Regent Road Bridge. This was the only point of access from the rest of the waterway network.

Contents

[edit] Features

There are many interesting features along the canal, including Prestolee Aqueduct and Clifton Aqueduct, both Grade II listed structures. At the junction of the three arms of the canal at Nob End, two sets of three staircase locks, separated with a passing basin, form Nob End Locks (sometimes referred to as Prestolee Locks). The locks lowered the level of the canal 64 feet (20 m) over a distance of 600 feet (183 m). The upper staircase is still visible, however most of the lower staircase has been filled in and much of the stonework removed.

The 1936 breach of the canal at Nob End demonstrates the impressive engineering used in the construction of the retaining wall of the canal. Railway lines are clearly visible, used to increase the strength of the walls.

The iconic steam crane (also the logo used by the canal society) sits rusting and unused at Mount Sion, on the Bury arm. Built in 1884, the crane was used to move goods between the boats on the canal and a loading yard far below.

[edit] History

The initial proposal for the canal probably came from a group in Bolton with the support of the Mersey and Irwell Navigation[1]. A survey by Matthew Fletcher was commissioned in 1790. Further surveying was then carried out by Hugh Henshall[1]. Work began in 1791 following the passing of an Act of Parliament for the construction of the canal. Designed by Matthew Fletcher, significant parts of the canal were completed by 1796. The canal opened in 1797, although the locks at Salford were not completed until 1809.

The principal supply of water was Elton reservoir at Bury[2] which was fed by floodwater from the River Irwell[1]. The Bury and Bolton arms are on one level, however the Salford arm used 17 broad locks, some in staircases (Nob End for instance). Originally 15.25 miles (25 km) in length, the canal descended 187 feet (57 m) from the summit in Bury to the lowest point at Salford. The canal was originally designed to be a narrow canal with narrow locks, however during construction it was planned to link the canal to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, and therefore broad locks were built to accommodate this traffic. The route of the Leeds and Liverpool canal was changed however, and the planned link never materialised.

Ladyshore Colliery in 1968
Ladyshore Colliery in 1968

Although the canal carried passenger services (popular until the advent of railways), most of the traffic transported coal from the many collieries that existed along the length of the canal, including Outwood Colliery and Ladyshore Colliery. Some of these collieries were linked by road, and some were linked by short tramlines.[3] Other materials were also transported along the canal, including Nightsoil.

In 1830 the canal company started to promote a proposal to build a railway along the line of the canal and in 1831 the company obtained an act of parliament to turn itself into a railway company [1]. However when in 1832 they obtained an act to build a railway it didn't follow the exact line of the canal and the canal stayed open [1].

The coal trade remained brisk until the 1930s when the effects of colliery closures reduced traffic [1]. Bank bursts in 1936 were not repaired and in 1939 a half mile section in Agecroft was ordered piped by the ministry of transport to reduce the risk of bomb damage to the canal affecting the Magnesium Electric Company’s site [1].

A little traffic below the piped section continued until the early 1950s and the canal was fully abandoned in 1961 [1].

[edit] Breach

The canal suffered several major breaches, the worst of which occurred on July 6th 1936 at Nob End, close to Nob End locks, near the junction of the 3 arms of the canal. This breach was never repaired, and although the canal saw continued use between Ladyshore Colliery and Bury, it eventually closed in 1961. The Manchester Evening News reported the breach on July 7th 1936:


“ CANAL BURSTS ITS BANKS - Barges Smashed and River Dammed "When the Bolton-Manchester Canal burst its banks at Little Lever yesterday millions of gallons of water cascaded 300 feet into the River Irwell, carrying down hundreds of tons of earth and stones. The river rapidly became blocked on the Bury side and the banked-up water flooded the surrounding land. "Like Niagara" was the description applied by one resident in the vicinity. Bricks and iron reinforcements of the side of the canal were torn away and carried into the river. Canal barges were smashed up as they too swept over the falls. Fortunately there are no houses in the neighbourhood, and no one was hurt. It is feared that work at a paper mill and a chemical works which depend upon the canal for transport will be affected. Mr John W. Martin, of Loxham Street, Bolton, said: "I was cycling along the bank when I suddenly saw signs of a subsidence begin on a bend in the canal. I could not stop and my only chance was to ride furiously along the two feet of earth which remained. As I passed over the earth fell away behind the back wheel of my bicycle and I was thrown off. "The noise was deafening. A few yards from me tremendous quantities of water, rock, and earth were moving bodily from the canal. A gap about 100 yards long has been opened in the canal embankment. A few years ago there was a similar landslide near the spot." ”

[edit] Timeline

1789 – Planning and design begins on the purpose, route and construction of canal

1791 – Act of Parliament passed for the construction of the canal and work begins

1796 – Significant parts of the canal completed

1797 – Canal opened to traffic

1809 – Middlewood locks opened and access to the River Irwell is achieved, canal construction complete

1812 – First dividends paid out to investors

1831 – Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal company changes name to Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal Navigation and Railway Company, and begin building a railway alongside the canal

1838 – Manchester to Bolton railway line completed, passenger services on the canal cease

1846 – Company taken over by the Manchester and Leeds Railway Company

1880 – Repairs undertaken to damaged sections caused by subsidence

1920 to 1930 – More damage caused by subsidence, mainly from mining activities

1924 - Significant reduction in use of Bolton arm

1935 – Fletcher's Canal closed

1936 – Major breach at Nob End

1941 – 7 miles of the canal abandoned by London, Midland and Scottish Railway, including the Bolton arm.

1961 – Remainder of Canal closed and abandoned, some traffic continues to use the Bury arm

1968 – All traffic ceases as the last boat carrying coal from Sion Street to Bury moors for the final time.

1987 - Formation of The Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal Society by Steven Parker.

2002 - Restoration of canal, announcement by British Waterways

2006 – Restoration of Middlewood Locks begins

[edit] Restoration

Recent cleanup work at Nob End Locks by volunteers
Recent cleanup work at Nob End Locks by volunteers

The Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal Society was formed in 1987 to protect the line of the canal. There remain many obstacles to the canal's restoration as a navigable waterway. Approximately 60% of the original length of the canal is no longer in water. Bury Wharf is now an industrial estate. The section between this wharf and the first part of the canal still in water south of Daisyfield Viaduct is more accessible; a car park has been built near the viaduct but there are no major obstacles. 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 through a small culvert – this road would need to be removed, and a new bridge built (the original bridge was demolished). A paper mill building was constructed on the line of the canal in 1956 however this stands empty and is to be demolished. The 1936 breach at Nob End needs repairing, parts of the canal at Stoneclough need dredging, several new aqueducts would be required into Bolton to replace the original now-demolished structures as well as a new wharf - St Peter's Way is currently blocking the original route. On the Salford arm, the locks at Prestolee, Ringley, and Salford require significant amounts of work. The canal is dry from Ringley Locks and through Ringley Village. Giants Seat Locks are no longer visible above ground. Rhodes Lock is still in reasonable condition although completely overgrown. One or more electricity pylons straddle the infilled canal between Rhodes Lock and the M60. The canal does not take water again until past Clifton Aqueduct. Lumms Lane aqueduct would need to be rebuilt. All of the canal on the Salford arm once past Holland Street has been filled in and some parts built over, especially through Pendleton.

Despite these problems, restoration at the newly named Middlewood Locks in Salford began in September 2006. Completion of this section is scheduled for the end of 2008. It is hoped that the full length of the canal will be eventually restored to operation by 2020. The locks and part of the canal at Middlewood have already been dug out and revealed for the first time in many years. There were some delays to this "whilst an exemption licence to the landfill tax is applied for from HM Customs and Excise. The licence has been applied for because small quantities of asbestos (less than 1%) within the material remaining mean that a separate registered disposal tip has to be used."[4]. Restoration was also briefly halted by the discovery of a WW2 bomb.[5]

The next stage of restoration will be through Salford Crescent.[6]

The total restoration of the canal is estimated at costing £50m.

Restoration of the Bolton arm of the canal is hampered by the absence of the Hall Lane Aqueduct at Little Lever. This Aqueduct was demolished in 1950 to make way for the widening of the road it crossed, and it seems it is unlikely to be rebuilt. Dam Side aqueduct across Radcliffe Road in Darcy Lever is also missing, having been demolished in June 1965. Worse still, St Peter's Way has almost entirely destroyed a significant section of the canal as it heads into the centre of Bolton.

[edit] Gallery

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Map of the canal showing features, and sections with/without water.

This image shows Daisyfield Railway Viaduct, the canal flowed through the middle arch. Wellington Street is on the extreme left, visible through the archway

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.

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

The iconic Steam Crane, used as the logo for the canal society, at Mount Sion.

The 1936 breach at Nob End is shown here, as seen at the time.

The 1936 breach at Nob End, today.

The local society working on the canal towpath along the short Bolton arm.

Nob End locks in operation.

The bottom of Nob End Locks, looking south.

Clifton Aqueduct, dry and overgrown but still accessible.

The canal disappears from view along Holland Sreet, Pendlebury

Middlewood locks, November 2007, looking east into Manchester from near Oldfield Road. The canal curves around to the left, and heads underneath the railway. This section is under restoration, workmen are now digging under the railway.

Middlewood locks, April 2008, looking west. The new base and washwalls above lock 3 have been completed and the work has progressed underneath the railway.

[edit] Locations of features

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Paget-Tomlinson, Edward (2006). The Illustrated History of Canal & River Navigations 3rd edition. Landmark Publishing Ltd, pp148-149. ISBN 1843062070. 
  2. ^ Waterways No.214 page 14
  3. ^ "The Tram Roads of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal". Paul Hindle.
  4. ^ Jackson, Mike (2007). Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal Society newsletter. Eric Moore & Co, Albert Close Trading Estate, Whitefield, Manchester, 6. ISBN n/a. 
  5. ^ Littlewood, Fran (November 2007). Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal Society newsletter. Eric Moore & Co, Albert Close Trading Estate, Whitefield, Manchester, 5. ISBN n/a. 
  6. ^ Parry, Dilwyn (2007). Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal Society newsletter. Eric Moore & Co, Albert Close Trading Estate, Whitefield, Manchester, 6. ISBN n/a. 

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] In the news, and related media

[edit] Images of canal, external sites