Great Fold Bridge Over Bridgewater Canal - Marsland Green, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 53° 29.445 W 002° 28.842
30U E 534453 N 5926990
This brick arch bridge was built to a standard design for bridges over this canal.
Waymark Code: WMNKXT
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 03/31/2015
Views: 1
The Bridgewater Canal
"The Bridgewater Canal connects Runcorn, Manchester and Leigh, in North West England. It was commissioned by Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, to transport coal from his mines in Worsley to Manchester. It was opened in 1761 from Worsley to Manchester, and later extended from Manchester to Runcorn, and then from Worsley to Leigh.
Often considered to be the first "true" canal in England, as it relied upon existing watercourses as sources of water rather than as navigable routes. Navigable throughout its history, it is one of the few canals in Britain not to have been nationalised, and remains privately owned. Pleasure craft now use the canal which forms part of the Cheshire Ring network of canals."
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The Bridge
At the time the canal was built all the bridges over the canal were brick built arch bridges constructed to a standard template. As time has moved on many of the original bridges have been reconstructed due to changes in traffic conditions. In addition a number of totally new bridges have been built.
This bridge is one of two left in the area of Leigh that have remained intact. It is constructed from English garden wall bond brick with stone dressings. It has an Elliptical arch with brick voussoirs and stone band, with stone copings.