Fourth Lock Bridge On Leeds Liverpool Canal - Whittle-Le-Woods, UK - Arch Bridges on Waymarking.com

As the name suggests the canal connects Leeds with Liverpool a distance of 127 miles.

The construction of the canal was started in 1770 and the first section opened in 1774. The last section of the canal including this bridge was built in 1816.

The bridge is in the middle of a kilometre stretch containing 7 canal locks and is known as fourth lock bridge. Like many bridges on the canal the outer arch stones are painted white to make the outline of the bridge more visible to boat users. There is also a painted vertical white line indicating the middle of the canal.

It is an English Heritage Grade II listed building and is described as a Stone Semi-circular arch bridge with keystone.

It is very close to lock 61, the fourth lock in the total of seven. Bridges on the canal are very often at locks where the canal is at its narrowest, but are usually immediately next to the lock. They also usually straddle both the canal and the tow path.

In this case the bridge is a short distance from the lock and does not straddle the towpath. At the time of the opening of the canal the canal boats were towed by horses and at this bridge they had to leave the tow path and cross the road over the bridge before rejoining the canal.

When travelling in a northerly direction the fact that the bridge was so close to the bridge caused problems for the horse as there was only a short distance to pull the boat before it had to be disconnected and led over the road.

An information board next to the lock tells us the solution to this problem.

The bridge here has no towpath and this made towing boats out of the lock difficult. A hook was fitted to the side of the bridge, and the tow line was passed over the hook. Then the horse walked in the opposite direction to pull the boat out of the lock. Once the boat was moving, the line was disconnected and passed under the bridge to be re-attached to the horse which now towed the boat in the usual way.

What type of traffic does this bridge support?: Motor vehicles What kind of gap does this bridge cross?: Leeds and Liverpool Canal Date constructed: 1816 Is the bridge still in service for its original purpose?: Yes Name of road or trail the bridge services: Town Lane Location: Whittle-Le-Woods near Chorley in Lancashire Length of bridge: Not listed Height of bridge: Not listed

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