Bridge 5 On Rochdale Canal – Luddenden Foot, UK
Posted by: dtrebilc
N 53° 42.998 W 001° 56.520
30U E 569820 N 5952515
Bridge number 5 crosses the Rochdale Canal to connect various warehouses on both sides of the canal.
Waymark Code: WMEJ60
Location: United Kingdom
Date Posted: 06/03/2012
Views: 2
The Canal History
The Rochdale Canal was completed in 1804 and is one of three canals that cross the Pennine hills. This is the only one that doesn’t use tunnels. In addition it was a broad canal with bridges and locks that allowed boats of 14 feet width to pass through.
The one downside of not using tunnels is that it originally had 92 locks. These days two of them have been combined into one deep lock in front of this tunnel.
Competition from railways and roads subsequently led to a decline in goods being carried and by 1937 the only section left in operation was at the Manchester end of the canal.
In 1965 there was talk of abandoning the canal but by this time leisure boating had become very popular in the UK and there was a campaign to keep it open. Work was started and the canal slowly re-opened in a number of different stages.
Details of the bridge
This section of The Rochdale Canal was built in 1798 by Jessop and Crossley engineers. At this time it only ran between Sowerby Bridge and Rochdale and was opened, earlier than some other parts of the canal.
Because this is a private road for the warehouses there is no access from the canal tow path onto the bridge.
Physical Location (city, county, etc.): Luddenden Foot
Road, Highway, Street, etc.: Access road between mill buildings on each side of canal
Water or other terrain spanned: The Rochdale Canal
Architect/Builder: Jessop and Crossley engineers
Construction Date: 1798
|
Visit Instructions:
Post one photo of the bridge that is a different view from the one on the page and describe your visit. Add any additional information that you may have about this bridge. A GPSr photo is NOT required.