Stone Bridge 186 On The Lancaster Canal - Kendal, UK - Arch Bridges on Waymarking.com

The northern part of the Lancaster Canal between Tewitfield and Kendal is no longer in use.

Until 1942 the Lancaster Canal connected Preston with Kendal. Known as the Black and White canal it carried coal north from the Lancashire Coalfields, and limestone south from Cumbria.

Apart from the eight locks at Tewitfield the canal followed the contours of the countryside and was very flat.

Competition from trains and roads eventually led to the locks at Tewitfield to be closed and Tewitfield became the northern terminus of the canal.

Nine miles of the old canal north of Tewitfield are still in water because it carries water from Killington Reservoir to supply the bottom part of the canal. Although boats cannot use this stretch of the canal the towpath is well maintained and used by walkers and cyclists. Above this point to Kendal it is no longer in water, but the line of the canal is visible and can be walked.

The Lancaster Canal Trust has been formed to try and reinstate all the canal from Tewitfield to Kendal but this will be difficult as the canal has been blocked at a few points by modern road crossings.

The Bridge
From Stainton northwards the canal has been filled in and the route of the old towpath still maintained as a footpath even though in some sections there is no sign at all that a canal ever existed.

At this point the bridge is near to the Kendal terminus of the canal. The line of the canal has been tarmacced and provides a good footpath and cycling route.

This bridge is an Historic England Grade II Listed Building.
"Canal change bridge. Circa 1816-18. Probably by John Fletcher, engineer, based on original designs by John Rennie whose route for the Lancaster-Kendal Canal was authorised in 1792. Squared coursed limestone, with limestone voussoirs and projecting keystone to the single elliptical arch; string courses and coping to parapets. End pilasters. Ramped pathways to either side (with cobblestones intact to west approach) and retaining walls. Although the canal has been filled at this point the kerbstones of the towpath survive beneath the bridge. Some later rubble masonry walling to either side of the bridge is not bonded into the original structure. This is believed to be the only surviving change bridge in the Cumbria area." link

A plaque on the bridge describes the purpose of the bridge.

CHANGE BRIDGE

The towpath from Lancaster
extended beyond this bridge at a wharf and continues
north to the canal basin on the opposite side of the canal.

The barge horses would be led up the ramp from the towpath,
across the bridge and down the ramp on the other side with the
towrope still attached to the barge. The bridge is the only one
of its type in Cumbria.
Built in 1819 the bridge was restored jointly by
Kendal Civic Society and South Lakeland District Council
with the aid of a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
It was opened in 2002 in celebration of the Queen's Jubilee.

KENDAL CIVIC SOCIETY

What type of traffic does this bridge support?: Motor vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists What kind of gap does this bridge cross?: Lancaster Canal (Northern Reaches - filled in) Date constructed: 1819 Is the bridge still in service for its original purpose?: Yes Name of road or trail the bridge services: Garden Road Location: Kendal, Cumbria Length of bridge: Not listed Height of bridge: Not listed

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