Arch Bridge 50 On The Leeds Liverpool Canal - Wigan, UK - Stone Bridges on Waymarking.com

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.

The bridge is also known as Pottery Changeline Bridge and is a Grade II Listed building with the following description. "Roving bridge, now public road bridge, over Leeds-Liverpool Canal. Dated 1816 on north side of arch; for Leeds-Liverpool Canal Company, engineer John Rennie; widened in 2 stages during later C19. Original bridge of coursed sandstone blocks, additions of cast-iron. Semi-elliptical arch with rusticated voussoirs, those on the north side with a fluted keystone flanked by sunk panels which have raised lettering "OPENED 18" "16 OCT 22"; both sides now overhung by cast-iron additions (partly obscuring the lettering). Towpath runs through on east side, with restored ramp up north face to cobbled crossover deck carried on the cast-iron extension. Though largely obscured by the additions, the original bridge appears to be substantially intact, and the whole structure forms a striking feature of the site now known as Wigan Pier Heritage Centre".

This bridge is in an area where at the height of the canal's industrial life where many warehouses and a busy wharf. The towpath changed sides of the canal at this point, hence the need for a roving bridge. The arrangement of the ramps allowed the horses to continue towing the canal boat without unhitching the rope.

The part of the bridge that carries the towpath over the canal is separated from the busy road bridge by a wall and at the top of the ramp is an information board link and sculpture of a bargee link , with information about a bargee's life and the industrial past of this area.

Underneath the bridge wooden rollers attached to the arch protected the stone-work but also helped to stop the rope twisting as the horses pulled the boat along. A modern replica roller has been installed on the arch.

Physical Location (city, county, etc.): Wigan, , Lancashire Road, Highway, Street, etc.: Pottery Road Water or other terrain spanned: The Leeds Liverpool Canal Construction Date: 1816 Architect/Builder: Not listed

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