Arch Bridge 157 On The Leeds Liverpool Canal – Barnoldswick, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 53° 55.783 W 002° 10.206
30U E 554490 N 5976021
This stone arch bridge is also known as Greenberfield Lock Bridge.
Waymark Code: WMN75E
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 01/09/2015
Views: 1
The canal is 127.25 miles long and flows from the inland woollen town of Leeds to the coastal sea port of Liverpool, crossing the Pennines along the way. Work on the canal started in 1770 and built in a number of sections and was finally completed in 1816.
This bridge is a stone bridge with a single elliptical arch, designed by Robert Whitworth. and is a Grade II English Heritage
listed building. It carries Grenberfield Lane over the canal near to the highest of three locks known as Greenberfield Locks. This stretch of canal was built in 1794 when the canal was extended from Gargrave to Burnley. The top lock is at the highest point on the canal and at the time this stretch was built there was a two rise staircase lock and a single lock. However this arrangement was wasteful of water and often drained the single top reservoir. Work was carried out to build a new reservoir but also change the locks to 3 single ones. The route of the canal was also slightly modified and this new bridge built over the revised route in 1817.
Like many of the bridges on this canal the arch stones are painted white to help boat owners judge their approach through the bridge. In addition because the bridge straddles the tow path on one side of the canal the bridge keystone is not in the middle of the canal. The canal is quite shallow along this stretch and so a vertical white line painted on the bridge parapet indicates the middle of the canal itself, the deepest part of the canal.