Stone Bridge 52 On The Rochdale Canal
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 53° 38.260 W 002° 06.304
30U E 559169 N 5943580
The Rochdale canal is 32 miles long and connects Manchester on the west side of the Pennine Hills and Sowerby Bridge on the east side.
Waymark Code: WMJ92H
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/13/2013
Views: 1
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.
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 to repair the canal and the whole length finally reopened in September 2007. As well as leisure boats, the canal attracts lots of walkers and cyclists along the tow path.
Details of this bridge
Bridge 52 was built as an access bridge for a nearby farm after the canal split the fields into two. There is also a water pipe immediately next to the bridge.
These old bridges on the canal are often next to locks because that is where the canal is at its narrowest, and so they are cheaper and easier to build. In this case, there is no nearby lock but the canal does become narrower for the same reason.
What type of traffic does this bridge support?: Motor vehicles, bikes and pedestrians
What kind of gap does this bridge cross?:
The Rochdale Canal
Is the bridge still in service for its original purpose?: Yes
Name of road or trail the bridge services: Unnamed farm track
Location:
The bridge crosses the canal in the middle of longest stretch of the canal without locks. It is approximately half way between the towns of Littleborough and Smithy Bridge.
Length of bridge: Not listed
Height of bridge: Not listed
Date constructed: Not listed
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