A peaceful place

Wednesday, 09 June 2010 09:11

After the lock flight, time to rest!

After the 16 locks of the Marple flight, we were ready to moor for the night. But first there were a few more sights to experience! Bridge 16, almost immediately after the bottom lock (1), is a changeover bridge so the towpath was now on our port side.

Bridge 16, Bottom Lock Change Bridge

Once through this, the railway bridge towers above - the prelude to a rail viaduct which carries the railway 124 feet above the River Goyt, which was still with us!

Steel Girder Railway Bridge and winding hole

The winding hole is thought to be where the Marple Tramway terminated. This carried goods from the upper level before the locks were finished.

Around the corner is Marple Aqueduct, like the later viaduct a real feat of engineering. Construction started in 1794 and it took seven years to build, with seven men dying during the construction. There is more information about the Aqueduct here  - clickety click

Marple Aqueduct ahead

The woods below the aqueduct used to be a graveyard - for the horses who pulled the working boats. They usually died "in harness" and, to avoid the cost of the knackers yard, they were buried where they died. However, other boatmen found the bones and sold them to the bone mill at Strines!

The railway viaduct runs alongside the aqueduct. In contrast to its older brother it only took a year to build, 65 years later. A testament to the increasing speed of life that the railways brought and the motor car continues!

Viaduct over the River Goyt

By rail or water?

Rosehill Tunnel is next - except it is no longer a tunnel! The roof collapsed towards the end of the 19th century and the damage led to the present open cutting now known as "The Narrows".

The Narrows

The Narrows ends with Bridge 15 and we exited into a lovely setting - ideal for an overnight mooring. So we stopped!

Moored after The Narrrows (aka Rosehill Tunnel)

Peak Forest Canal, Marple Bottom Lock 1 to Bridge 15

0 hours 17 minutes, 0.9 miles, 0 locks