Grappenhall Bridge Over Bridgewater Canal - Grappenhall, UK
Posted by: dtrebilc
N 53° 22.315 W 002° 32.514
30U E 530478 N 5913742
This single arch brick bridge carries Church Lane over the Bridgewater Canal.
Waymark Code: WMQD7J
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 02/08/2016
Views: 1
The Bridgewater Canal
"The Bridgewater Canal connects Runcorn, Manchester and Leigh, in North West England. It was commissioned by Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, to transport coal from his mines in Worsley to Manchester. It was opened in 1761 from Worsley to Manchester, and later extended from Manchester to Runcorn, and then from Worsley to Leigh.
Often considered to be the first "true" canal in England, as it relied upon existing watercourses as sources of water rather than as navigable routes. Navigable throughout its history, it is one of the few canals in Britain not to have been nationalised, and remains privately owned. Pleasure craft now use the canal which forms part of the Cheshire Ring network of canals."
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The Bridge
This bridge is a Historic England Grade II listed building named as Church Lane Bridge with following text. "Roadbridge over Bridgewater Canal, circa 1770, by James Brindley. Red-brown brick with red sandstone dressings. Deep segmental arch with brick voussoirs, backed by plain projecting stone band, on stone springers. Curved and battered abutments. Stepped brick parapets have plain flush stone copings."
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As the volume of motor traffic has increased over the years a modern concrete bridge for pedestrians has been built next to the original brick road bridge.
On most UK canals the bridges are numbered, but on the Bridgewater Canal they are named, the style of the nameplates is white background with green lettering.