2013

SD5704 : Poolstock Lower Lock, Leeds and Liverpool Canal

taken 11 years ago, near to Wigan, England

Poolstock Lower Lock, Leeds and Liverpool Canal
Poolstock Lower Lock, Leeds and Liverpool Canal
The two Poolstock locks are the only locks on the Leigh Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. They were built to replace two locks at Dover and a further lock at Plank Lane after the area suffered a huge amount of subsidence due to mining.
Leeds & Liverpool Canal

The Leeds & Liverpool canal at 127¼ miles in length from River Lock in Leeds to the Canal Basin in Liverpool, is the longest canal in Britain to have been built and operated by one Canal Company (The Grand Union is longer but was an amalgamation). It has 91 locks, and two main spurs both of 7¼ miles known as the Leigh Branch (2 locks) and Rufford Branch (8 locks) as well as the tiny Springs Branch in Skipton of just half a mile length.
The maximum length of boats that can use the canal is 60' (though from Wigan to Liverpool full 72' boats can use it). The beam is 14'3" and the headroom limitation is 8'
The canal was authorised by parliament in 1770, and the first (lock-free) section was open by 1773. Two significant but unconnected sections had been completed by 1777, but the Napoleonic Wars got in the way of investment in the canal systems, and so the canal was not finally linked up and completed until 1816.
It is now a very popular canal for holidays, being both very scenic in some stretches and historically interesting as it passes through many of the great industrial towns of the North, linking the two great cities of its name. It also passes through the World Heritage site of Saltaire, where Titus Salt built his mill and model village for his workers.


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright David Dixon and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Suburb, Urban fringe Canals Canal: Leeds and Liverpool other tags: Lock Canal Towpath Tow Path Towing Path Canal Leigh Branch Canal Lock Gates Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
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SD5704, 86 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
David Dixon   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Monday, 6 May, 2013   (more nearby)
Submitted
Wednesday, 8 May, 2013
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SD 578 042 [100m precision]
WGS84: 53:32.0031N 2:38.2162W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SD 579 042
View Direction
North-northwest (about 337 degrees)
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Image classification(about): Geograph
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