Moving on from Lancaster

Thursday, 04 June 2009 17:14

We finally pulled the pins in Lancaster and moved - to the Sani-station! Ah but wait .....

We watered up and did all the necessaries - giving Epiphany a quick squirt from the hose too, as we had been moored under sycamore trees and they leave a sticky residue on the paintwork.

It was good to be on the move again although a wee bit sad to be leaving Lancaster for a while! Once again history is all around on the canal, as we passed bridges and warehouses reminding us of the past importance of the canal as a trading route. Many of the warehouses are now converted into flats or offices and are interspersed with modern developments.

New modern block after Penny Street

Nelson Street Bridge and its Thomas Clayton testament

Warehouse that is now the HQ of Reebok

There are the remains of an old dry dock just before Ridge Lane Bridge

Now we were nearly out of the Lancaster environs. However, there were just a couple of things that we knew were worth noting before we left completely.

Bulk Lane aqueduct crosses the road into Lancaster from the second exit from the M6 - a familiar road for us and we had never really realised that we went under the canal!

Bulk Lane Aqueduct

In the photo you may be able to make out one of John Rennie's well know structures. The aqueduct over the River Lune was opened in November 1797, taking 5 years to build at a cost of £48,000. It is made from local stone and stands 51 feet above the river on its 5 arches. It is a listed building and considered the finest bit of engineering on the "Lanky".

Approaching the Lune Aqueduct

The view south to Lancaster

North towards the M6 bridge

It is said that the cost of this construction meant that the Canal Company were unable to build an aqueduct over the River Ribble as planned and had to use a tram way instead. It took over another 200 years before the River Ribble was conquered!

When we booked to come on the Lancaster Canal the Lune Aqueduct was shut "until further notice". We really hoped that the repairs would be complete in time for us to cross it. They were and here are the signs of repair as we entered.

On the north side

So another landmark achieved for us and for Epiphany - we will explore the aqueduct further on our return journey.

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