Delph Bridge Over Bridgewater Canal - Runcorn, UK
Posted by: dtrebilc
N 53° 20.483 W 002° 43.457
30U E 518357 N 5910283
This road bridge carries Heath Road over the Bridgewater Canal.
Waymark Code: WMQCKH
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 02/05/2016
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."
link
The Bridge
Like many bridges on the canal it was originally built as a brick single arch bridge. However Runcorn expanded quite quickly after the arrival of the canal, and the road has been widened at some point. Each side of the original brick bridge has now got a cast iron arch next to it.