Bridge 1A Over The Rochdale Canal - Sowerby Bridge, UK - Stone Bridges on Waymarking.com

The Canal History
The Rochdale Canal was completed in 1804 and is one of three canals that cross the Pennine hills. This is the only one that didn’t use tunnels. In addition it was a broad canal with bridges and locks that allowed boats of 14 feet width to pass through.

The one downside of not using tunnels is that it originally had 92 locks. These days two of them have been combined into one deep lock.

Competition from railways and roads subsequently led to a decline in goods being carried and by 1937 the only section left in operation was at the Manchester end of the canal.

In 1965 there was talk of abandoning the canal but by this time leisure boating had become very popular in the UK and there was a campaign to keep it open. Work was started and the canal slowly re-opened in a number of different stages.

Details of the bridge
This is bridge number 1A on The Rochdale Canal, the 'A' suffix indicating the bridge was built between bridges 1 and 2 sometime after the canal opened.

At some point the road was widened supported by a girder but the original arch bridge is still visible.

Physical Location (city, county, etc.): Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire Road, Highway, Street, etc.: Tower Hill Water or other terrain spanned: The Rochdale Canal Architect/Builder: Not listed Construction Date: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   07/25/2021 fm1906 visited it