Leeds and Liverpool Canal
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal runs about 127 miles linking
Liverpool with the Aire and Calder thus providing a safe East – West passage
across the country from Liverpool to the Humber Estuary , linking the
English Channel with the Irish Sea. As such it is the UK ‘s longest canal
and is capable of carrying vessels 60 feet long, 14 feet wide and with a
draft of 3.5 feet.
The canal was originally to service Yorkshire’s woollen
industry as well as
lime and coal transportation, with
Lancaster’s later developing Textile mills also benefitting. Access to major
ports such as Liverpool gave the opportunity for the import of goods (
cotton would have been important)and the export of goods to service the
increasing colonial market.
The first proposals were made in the
1760’s with a public meeting held in
1766 to discuss proposals. John Longbottom was appointed to survey the route
and two groups of promoters established one to recruit interest from
Liverpool and the other to do the same in Bradford.
A lively debate was inevitable about
the exact course of the route leading to backers leaving in protest at
original plans and then re-joining as plans were adapted to their needs.
An Act of Parliament granting Royal Assent was passed in
1770 and James Bridley ws appointed Chief Engineer with John Longbottom as
Clerk of Works, John Longbottom taking on both roles after Brindley’s death
in 1772.
1774 saw the canal complete between Shipley and Skipton
including the aqueduct over theRiver Aire
And by 1777 the Yorkshire end had reached the Aire and
Calder Navigation.
1781 saw works come to a halt as money had run out, though
by now the Rufford Branch linking Burscough to the river Douglas had also
been completed as had Branches to Wigan and Bradford.
Another change of route followed by an Act of Parliament
in 1790 followed proposals from Robert Whitworth, the same Act allowing
additional funds to be raise. The new route included the construction of
Foulridge Tunnel and passage via Burnley and Blackburn the last being
reached in 1810.
The main line of the canal was complete in 1816, with a
connection to the Bridgewater canal opened in 1820, giving access to the
larger canal network and Manchester.
In spite of competition from both the Hudderfield canal,
the Rochdale canal and the railways the canal was as success and remained in
regular use into the 20th Century, with some trade continuing as
late as the 1980’s aggregates and coal were among the last cargoes, with the
last horse drawn barge being the Parbold in 1960.
The 1960’s and 70’s saw a deterioration in the canal due
to lack of interest , but in recent years
with increasing interest in the waterways as leisure facilities repair and
restoration has been made and the main routes are navigable, with a much
improved water quality, improved towpaths in many places. The waterway like
many others has also become a symbol of regeneration and a much appreciated
asset to the landscape.