The Huddersfield Broad Canal
The Hudderfield Broad
Canal, which unlike the narrow canal has never been abandoned runs 3 miles
from the centre of
Huddersfield to link to the Huddersfields
Narrow canal which reopened to
navigation in 2001.
Originally known as the Cooper Canal after Cooper bridge
where it branched off from the Calder and Hebble Navigation, then later
renamed the Sir John Ramsden Canal, after which it became commonly called
the “Broad canal” as opposed to the “Narrow canal”.
The original survey was done by James Brindley in 1766,
with Robert Carr and Luke Holt
appointed resident engineers to oversee the construction of the canal, with
work being hampered by flood damage from which considerable repairs had to
be made. They were later assisted by Joseph Holt in a later survey of 1773.
1774 saw an Act of Parliament
to promote the project and 1776 saw
the canal complete and open.
Trade was initially good providing a much needed transport
system for the textile industry that was fast developing in Huddersfield as
well as a means of transporting
coal and exporting finished goods
The opening of the Narrow canal in 1811 provided a link
with the Ashton and Peak Forest Canals, providing more traffic and greater
opportunities for trade.
Following the general history of the canals trade declined
with the competition from Railways and further still with the demise of the
Narrow Canal, which was finally closed in 1944,
though now restored and navigable
again, providing a path across the pennies to Ashton –under -lyne