From countryside to industrial heart of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal

Tuesday, 28 July 2009 01:00

We tackle Burnley

There is so much to say about our journey that I am really going to have to be very disciplined in this blog! We donned our wet weather gear as the forecast was sun and showers.

We followed the loop of the canal around to Church (around 1.5 miles instead of 0.5 miles as the crow flies) and there is a mural on the wall of the map of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Church has a claim to fame as it is the half way point on the canal. I am not sure if that is true, now that the extra 1 and a bit miles of the Liverpool Link has been added into Salthouse Dock in Liverpool!

Anyway Church still proclaims its status

The other thing that is memorable for us is this mooring

This was the lane that the car came down - see here for details!

After Church there is a series of four swing bridges: Church, Riley's, Foster's and Smith's. I opened Church - it needs a windlass and an handcuff key. Riley's was half open and we think it was possibly broken.

Bridge opening "gear" - the windlass unlocks the bolt

Foster's SB brought back memories - this was where we were blown onto the farmer's land waiting for the bridge to be opened - it being 2001 and foot and mouth year, he yelled at us to get off his land. Sorry!

I closed the bridge and then had to open it again for a boat coming the other way!

Before Smith's SB (which we discovered is derelict) is a bridge I have christened 4 Pipe Bridge: 4 Pipes cross the canal here and it is a huge edifice!

Bridge 115A

After it we were rewarded by a view of Pendle Hill with the ever present M65 in the foreground

Soon we spotted Keith and Vivien's boat and as they were just arriving I managed to catch a quick photo of them both on the stern.

Keith and Vivien

We stopped for water at Rose Grove, and by now we were well into the suburbs of Burnley. Gannow Tunnel (559 yards) is well maintained and the portals are attractive.

South Portal

Exiting the tunnel and thanking the boat that had held back for us, we were now well into the industrial Burnley that we remembered. Desolate warehouses and chimneys line the banks. The industrial architecture is rapidly deteriorating and its history will soon be forgotten.

Here are a few of the images in homage to the Industrial Revolution and the Golden Age of Canals

Chimney reflecting the sun (It was dry and sunny by now!)

Disused warehouses after Mitre Bridge (129B)

Blocked door and remains of pulley

However not long after these my faith in historic preservation was restored as we entered what is known as "The Weavers Triangle". Here is restored covered Burnley Wharf - used for offices, the Wharf Master's House and toll house. There is a museum and a trail that takes in weaving sheds, engine houses, spinning mills and 19th C houses. We did not stop, as we had set ourselves a longer than average cruising schedule, but I am sure it is worth a visit.

Looking back at the Weavers Triangle

The toll house

After a very sharp left hand bend we arrived at "The Straight Mile" - the embankment above Burnley, an impressive and dramatic part of the canal. We stopped here to shop at Tesco, about a third of the way along.

"The Straight Mile"

The views were spectacular, but as it is now past my bed time I will keep them for tomorrow!