Bridge 145 Over Trent & Mersey Canal - Betchton, UK - Arch Bridges on Waymarking.com

The Trent and Mersey Canal
The Trent and Mersey Canal was the UK's first long distance canal and as the name suggests was built to give a connection to the Rivers Trent and Mersey. (Access to the Mersey was actually via the Bridgewater Canal with some locks at Runcorn that no longer exist).

It opened in 1777 and is 93.5 miles (150.5 km) long and stretches from its connection with the Bridgewater Canal at Preston Brook to its connection with the River Trent at Derwent Mouth.

The Bridge
This bridge is known as Pierpoint Bridge and stands in front of lock 55, Pierpoint Top Lock. This is near to the mid point of a flight of 26 locks known as the Cheshire Flight. As the number of boats increased on the canal the flight became a bottleneck and in 1830 most of the locks had a second chamber added, and those that had a bridge in front also had the bridge expanded into a twin arch bridge. However this lock, and one other, were not doubled up and so this bridge remains as a single arch bridge.

The bridge has a rectangular stone at the top of the arch and has the number 143 carved into it. However at some point the bridges were re-numbered and this is now known bridge 145, and a metal number has been added on the outside of the bridge. However the side of the bridge next to the lock is still clearly marked 143.

The bridge is on a slight bend in the canal and in the days when canal boats were towed by horses, the sides of the bridges would be rubbed by the ropes which could damage the bridge. Each side of the bridge is protected by a metal bar, but even these have deep grooves remaining.

What type of traffic does this bridge support?: Farm Vehicles and animals What kind of gap does this bridge cross?: Trent & Mersey Canal Is the bridge still in service for its original purpose?: Yes Name of road or trail the bridge services: Unnamed farm track Location: Betchton, Cheshire Length of bridge: Not listed Height of bridge: Not listed Date constructed: Not listed

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