Stone Bridge 65 On The Rochdale Canal – Castleton, UK - Arch Bridges on Waymarking.com

The Canal History
It 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
This bridge is also known as the Changeline bridge and crosses the tail of Blue Pits Middle Lock, one of three locks named after a nearby quarry that used to produce a type of blue clay. It is a stone arch bridge that carries the tow path from one side of the canal to the other. A lock always forms the narrowest part of the canal and so incorporating the bridge into the lock makes it smaller and cheaper to build.

Canal tow paths are usually only placed on one side of the canal to cut costs. Occasionally the tow path switches from one side of the canal to other and changeline bridges are used to carry the tow path to the other side.

At the time the canal was constructed canal boats were not powered but towed by horses. At the point where the tow path descends to the lowest point the ropes used to catch against the bridge parapet and created grooves in the stones.

According to the Pennine Waterways website about the canal the standard height of bridges along this canal is 8 feet 11 inches (2.7 metres). This is stated part way through this page which shows work carried out during renovation in 2002.

Height of bridge: 8ft 11in What type of traffic does this bridge support?: Pedestrians and bikes What kind of gap does this bridge cross?: The Rochdale Canal Date constructed: 1/1/1804 Is the bridge still in service for its original purpose?: Yes except originally would also have been used by horses towing canal boats Name of road or trail the bridge services: The canal towpath Location: Castleton, Greater Manchester Length of bridge: Not listed

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