Cruising to the ends of the Earth?

Thursday, 07 May 2009 20:02

"Blimey John, you're at the end of the earth" - so said Stuart of Water Explorer in an email today! In case you did not know, we use Water Explorer to record our journeys and GPS positions. Stuart is the creator and editor.

If that is the case, we have been to the end of the earth three times in recent weeks! Firstly Ellesmere Port on the Shroppie, then Weston Point on the Weaver, and now Runcorn at the end of the Runcorn Arm: a turning off the Bridgewater Canal.

We completed the Preston Brook Trent & Mersey "head of navigation" this morning. We followed two other boats down the stop lock and into Preston Brook Tunnel. As we came out, I looked in vain for a notice to say that we were now on the Bridgewater Canal.

I was surprised there is no acknowledgement of the canal to begin all other canals! The Duke of Bridgewater needed to transport his coal from his mines at Worsley to Manchester. It was opened in 1761, marking the beginning of the Golden Era of canals, which lasted until the early 1830s.

Map of the Bridgewater Canal

The Runcorn Arm was opened in 1776 to link the canal with the River Mersey, taking it down ten locks. It was a tremendous undertaking and became so busy that a second line of locks had to be built in 1826. It was a very well used route for about 120 years.

Sadly there are no locks left, as Runcorn has expanded and new roads were built. The locks were filled in and apart from the "Old Town" area at Waterloo Bridge nothing remains.

Few boaters seem to venture down the Arm, but yet again we wanted to complete another "head"! Hence Stuart's "end of the earth" remark! We were glad we ventured down, as it was not what we expected.

The Arm is very wooded and pretty. There are some housing developments but they are back from the waters edge, leaving well maintained paths, trees and grass as the waterfront.

The old bridges are an interesting shape and nearer to Runcorn are interspersed with modern road bridges. The town of Runcorn is rather run down but there is a Somerfield, Post Office and pharmacy amongst the fast food and pubs!

It is worth a visit if only to see the end of the line and the impressive bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal and River Mersey - for the thid time of seeing! There is a bit of a promenade alongside the Ship Canal and we could see over to Spike Island where there is the West Bank Heritage Trail. The once industrial landscape is now parkland with a history!

We had no time to visit over the water today as we wanted to return to the Bridgewater Main Line to moor. We were warned by Claymore Navigation (where we filled up with diesel at 62pence/£1.07) not to moor at the end as Thursday and the weekends can be rather rowdy "fight nights"!

Needless to say I have lots of photos, but as I was awake at 5am this morning I am rather too tired to sort them all out. So sorry to disappoint our loyal readers who enjoy my photos! Just watch this space and I will put some up soon!

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