It's take over time!

Wednesday, 14 October 2009 11:18

Missed the Summit - but hey, I'm home!

The sun welcomed me in the morning as we set out from Littleborough with crew Carolyn aboard Epiphany. We travelled again in tandem with Derek and Dot on Gypsy Rover . They led the way through some lovely sections of the Rochdale Canal until we reached our first "obstacle".

Off we go, Gypsy Rover in front

Little Clegg Swing Bridge

At Clegg Hall there is a derelict mill, a cluster of 19th Century weavers Cottages and the Hall itself. The Hall is reputed to be haunted by a Boggart. In its time the house has been a private residence, a pub and, after a fire in 1900, a cow byre! It has been restored and is now owned by a private company.

Clegg Hall buildingsHall and cottages

Our first locks were the Moss Locks, taking us down to the old Rochdale Arm. The canal skirts most of the town that it takes its name from and sadly it seems to be used as a rubbish dump, as the locks and pounds were full of bottles, polystyrene and even a tennis racquet! It was not a "nice" area!

Approaching Moss Upper Lock

Moss Lower Lock

Derek, the rubbish collector

We left the locks and old Rochdale Arm behind

The next section of the Rochdale Canal is interesting as the signs of the restoration in 2002 become more obvious. Edinburgh Way Tunnel and the associated new cuttings take the realigned canal on towards Blue Pits Highest Lock (51).

After Dicken Green Bridge

After Edinburgh Way

At Blue Pits Highest Lock the top gate is opened by chain gear

This is an unusual water outflow below the lock

Blue Pits Middle LockBridge below

Maden Fold Motorway Culvert takes the canal under the M62 - built after the canal fell into disuse. Major engineering works during restoration utilised an existing culvert and diverted the line of the canal, relocating Lock 53 - Blue Pits New Lock (53) to correct the levels.

Hopefully these photos give an idea of what was achieved!

Bridge 64A and new culvert cutting leading to Maden Fold Motorway Culvert:

Maiden Fold Culvert

Cutting to Blue Pits New Lock 53 and the Lock - perhaps the easieist on the Rochdale Canal!

Below the new lock the old line of the canal is still in water for a short way, but blocked to navigation by chains and an "island".

Old lineLeaving it all behind!

We moored for the night at Slattocks, just before 1st Laneside Top Lock (or Slattocks Top) - on the visitor moorings by a pub and a noisy road!

A man at peace with his world, and one catch!

Rochdale Canal, Littleborough to Slattocks - 4 hours 17 minutes, 6.56 miles, 5 locks