Bridge 3 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 doesn’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 in front of this tunnel.

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 3 on The Rochdale Canal and was built in 1798 by Jessop and Crossley engineers. This is at the time that the part of the canal between Sowerby Bridge and Rochdal was opened, earlier than some other parts of the canal.

The canal is on the side of the hill and the bridge connects two roads parallel with the canal, one at a higher level and one at a lower level.

The bridge became an English Heritage Grade II Listed building on 19th July 1988.
"SOWERBY BRIDGE ROCHDALE CANAL SE 0424 and SE 0524 9/178 High Royd Bridge - - II Canal bridge. c1798. For the Rochdale Canal Company. Coursed squared stone. Horseshoe arch with tie-stones; band below parapet (possibly rebuilt) which has triangular section coping. Pilaster buttresses, flanking arch, rise into ashlar piers at parapet, the coping raised and hipped above them. Below arch, tow path on south side has large kerb stoned." link

Physical Location (city, county, etc.): Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire Road, Highway, Street, etc.: Unnamed minor road Water or other terrain spanned: The Rochdale Canal Construction Date: 1798 Architect/Builder: Not listed

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