SD5307 : Bridges across the Leeds and Liverpool Canal
taken 8 years ago, near to Gathurst, Wigan, England
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is the longest canal in Northern England at 127 miles long. The first of the trans-Pennine canals it took 46 years to build at a cost of five times the original budget, mainly because of the length and complexity of the route. It passes through 91 locks with a summit level of 487 feet at Foulridge near Nelson and Colne. It was originally conceived in the 18th century to carry woollen goods from Leeds and Bradford and limestone from Skipton but in its 19th century heyday it carried stone, coal and many other goods. The impact of the railways was not as great as with other canals and commercial traffic continued along the main canal until 1964. Regular work stopped in 1972 when the movement of coal to Wigan Power Station ceased. In the latter part of the 20th century the leisure potential of the canal was developed and it is now a popular destination for cruising, fishing, walking and cycling. See Link for detailed information.
The M6 motorway runs from junction 19 of the M1 at the Catthorpe Interchange, near Rugby to the Gretna junction (J45). Here it becomes the A74(M) and M74 which continues to Glasgow.
The M6 is the longest motorway in the United Kingdom (232 miles) and one of the busiest. It incorporates the first length of motorway opened in the UK (the Preston bypass in 1958) and forms part of a motorway "Backbone of Britain", running north-south between London and Glasgow via the industrial north of England. It is also part of the east-west route between the Midlands and the east coast ports.