THE HISTORIC BRIDGEWATER CANAL
The Bridgewater Canal opened in 1759 as the forerunner of all modern canals. Francis Egerton, the 3rd Duke of Bridgewater developed it as a cheap way to move coal from his mines in Worsley to Manchester.
Engineers James Brindley and John Gilbert, built over 40 miles of underground canal from the Delph at Worsley running deep under the local countryside. It is natural iron in this extensive (and now inaccessible) mine workings that gives the Bridgewater canal it’s famous orange tinge.
The underground system was in use until the late 19th Century, but the canal itself continued to earn it’s living well into the 1970s. The marina at Boothstown, indeed, was a loading basin for coal from Moseley Common Colliery. Coal board trains would tip their cargoes down a slide from the bank over looking the basin, into the barges waiting below.
Extended and linked to other systems over the centuries, The ‘Duke’s Cut’ is now an integral part of the Cheshire Cruising Ring, passing through beautiful green countryside, rugged Pennine hills and historic industrial towns. As the canal approaches Manchester, there are close-up views of the Ship Canal and Salford Quays, and passes close by Manchester United's Old Trafford Football Stadium, before arriving at Castlefield Basin.
Engineers James Brindley and John Gilbert, built over 40 miles of underground canal from the Delph at Worsley running deep under the local countryside. It is natural iron in this extensive (and now inaccessible) mine workings that gives the Bridgewater canal it’s famous orange tinge.
The underground system was in use until the late 19th Century, but the canal itself continued to earn it’s living well into the 1970s. The marina at Boothstown, indeed, was a loading basin for coal from Moseley Common Colliery. Coal board trains would tip their cargoes down a slide from the bank over looking the basin, into the barges waiting below.
Extended and linked to other systems over the centuries, The ‘Duke’s Cut’ is now an integral part of the Cheshire Cruising Ring, passing through beautiful green countryside, rugged Pennine hills and historic industrial towns. As the canal approaches Manchester, there are close-up views of the Ship Canal and Salford Quays, and passes close by Manchester United's Old Trafford Football Stadium, before arriving at Castlefield Basin.
