The Huddersfield Narrow Canal in Stalybridge

Friday, 11 June 2010 17:31

An amazing feat of modern engineering

The beginning of our journey through the Stalybridge restoration was at Caroline Bridge 102 (completed Feb 2001), at the end of Staley Wharf.

Caroline Bridge and Lock 4W beyond

The canal had been culverted through Stalybridge and the surroundings became development land. The restoration is along the line of the old canal and incorporates five new "box culvert" bridges and four new locks. Three locks were partially or wholly re-sited and the fourth was refurbished.

Lock 4W was built slightly to one side to avoid the Texaco garage's forecourt. Once up in Lock 4W we could see the blue rails on paths and lock sides that characterise this restored section. The Market tower is also visible.

Lock 5W was buried under a car park and survived almost intact. It was restored and is entered after a short curved pound from Lock 4W.

Entering Lock 5W

Above and below Lock 5W are 7-day visitor moorings and the canal then enters the town centre under the Melbourne Street Bridges, 101A and 101. The arch of Melbourne Street Bridge (101) survived as it was buried too.

Back Melbourne Street Bridge (101A)  leads to the cut under Melbourne Bridge, to Castle Street Bridge (100) and Lock 6W

Some of the new bridges were more like tunnels, Bridge 100, Lock 6W ahead

Lock 6W is in Armentieres Square; the new construction was begun in 2000 and completed in February 2001. A car park was removed and the buses were re-routed during construction. Now it all seems very normal and gongoozlers occupy the benches at the lock side. Sadly, the square itself is looking a little run down with shops to let and building work being carried out.

Epiphany in Lock 6W, surrounded by the square:

Holy Trinity Church over the square

The Millpond and building work at the old Co-op

The Tesco store, beyond the footbridge, is opposite yet more visitor moorings. This was part of the development of this area and reconstruction of the town centre at the canal restoration.

Looking back at Tesco and visitor moorings

Mottram Bridge is also a new bridge at the end of a straight cutting and leads to Lock 7W. This lock was partly re-built and is part original stone and part concrete.

Leaving Lock 7W

After Stalybridge we began to think of mooring up for the night - as I had worked some of the locks I was really tired! However, before that we had one more lock to do - and what a strange lock!