The Longest Canal

Saturday, 22 August 2009 08:28

Some facts about the Leeds and Liverpool Canal (and links to more info as appropriate)

As we are now one lock away from leaving the Leeds and Liverpool Canal it seems a good idea to have a "last look"!

For those of you who like to have a map (from storyboard)

The Leeds and Liverpool canal is 127 and a quarter miles, it has 91 locks and a summit level of 487 feet. Many locks are in staircases of two or three locks. It is the longest canal in Britain built by a single company, cutting across the Pennines from Lancashire to Yorkshire.

It was authorised in 1770 and built in sections -

Bingley to Skipton opened in 1773

Leeds to Gargrave and Wigan to Liverpool open by 1777 (including Bradford Branch)

Gargrave Wigan Pier area

The Rufford Branch links it to the Lancaster Canal via the Rivers Douglas and Ribble 1781

New Act was required to alter line via Burnley and Blackburn 1794

Foulridge Tunnel opened enabling navigation from Leeds to Burnley 1796

Burnley to Blackburn section completed 1810

The whole main line from Leeds to Liverpool was completed by 1816 (sharing the section from Johnson Hill Locks to Wigan Top Lock with the Lancaster Canal) at five times the original projected cost!

Walton Summit Branch, where the Lancaster Canal met the L and L

The Leigh Branch links Wigan to the Bridgewater Canal in 1820

The cut down to Liverpool docks was made in 1846

Water supply has always been a problem despite copious reservoirs being constructed

Barrowford reservoir, comparatively new!

The Bradford Branch closed 1922

The canal was extensively used for freight, but this declined until it finally died in 1962/3 when the hard winter affected the last of the traders

New Liverpool Link opened in April 2009 from Stanley Dock Branch via Pier Head to Salthouse Dock

Hartley Swing Bridge leads into Albert Dock before Salthouse Dock

So is the Leeds and Liverpool Canal worth cruising?

Definitely, it travels through some lovely countryside and very interesting towns and villages. It has taken us one month and a week to travel from Liverpool to Leeds, approximately 73 miles by road! But as you know if you have been following our blog - we do not hurry! An hire boat would probably do it in much less!