Junction Bridge Over Rufford Branch - Burscough, UK - Arch Bridges on Waymarking.com

The main line of 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 branch off the main line links Burscough to the River Douglas at Tarleton. This was also built in stages between 1760 and 1805.

This bridge on the main line of the canal carries the tow path over the junction with the Rufford branch. It is considered to be bridge number one on the Rufford branch.

At the time the junction was created there was a swing bridge in this position, but at the time that the last part of the mainline was created this stone bridge was built to replace the swing bridge and removed delays caused by boats having to negotiate the swing bridge.

The bridge is a Historic England Grade II listed building. The bridge is made from "Sandstone ashlar. A high semi-elliptical arch with rusticated voussoirs and a carved keystone flanked by sunk panels with the raised digits "18" and "16"; a broad band, and parapet of massive dressed blocks with rounded coping; rusticated pilasters; oval number plates '1' on both sides."

What type of traffic does this bridge support?: Pedestrians and cyclists What kind of gap does this bridge cross?: The Rufford Branch of the Leeds Liverpool Canal Date constructed: 1816 Is the bridge still in service for its original purpose?: Yes Name of road or trail the bridge services: Leeds Liverpool Canal mainline tow path Location: Burscough, Lancashire Length of bridge: Not listed Height of bridge: Not listed

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