Arch Bridge 7 On The Peak Forest Canal - Hyde, UK - Stone Bridges on Waymarking.com

The Peak Forest Canal
It is a narrow canal constructed between 1794 and 1805 and is fourteen miles long. It connects Buxworth with Dukinfield where it joins the Ashton Canal. The sixteen locks near the town of Marple raise the canal a height of 210 feet in a distance of 1 mile.

The advent of the railways and later modern roads led to the decline of the canal and it fell into disuse between 1920 and 1960. An upsurge in leisure boat use led to the canal being restored and reopened in 1974.

The Bridge
The bridge is an arch road bridge with an attached roving bridge which is used to switch the tow path from one side of the canal to the other.

At the time the canal opened canal boats were towed by horses. A roving bridge allowed the horse to switch from one side of the canal to the other without disconnecting the tow rope.

Although the Clarke family had promoted the canal and were involved in its administration it was at their request that the canal tow path should switch sides. They were worried that having a tow path on the same side of the canal as Hyde Hall could lead to trespassers entering their land.

Originally known as Wood End Canal Bridge it was renamed Captain Clarke's Bridge because of his association with the bridge. link

In 1986 the bridge became an English Heritage Grade II Listed Building. link

Physical Location (city, county, etc.): Hyde, Tameside Road, Highway, Street, etc.: Woodend Lane Water or other terrain spanned: The Peak Forest Canal Architect/Builder: Benjamin Outram and Thomas Brown engineers Construction Date: 1794 - 1801

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