1968

SJ7099 : Bridgewater Canal at Astley Green Colliery – 1968

taken 56 years ago, near to Astley Green, Wigan, England

Bridgewater Canal at Astley Green Colliery – 1968
Bridgewater Canal at Astley Green Colliery – 1968
At this time the colliery was still using steam locomotives for shunting. An unidentified 'Austerity' saddle tank is hauling a load of spoil across to the tip on the south side of the canal. This Link is a modern view at almost exactly the same location.
The Bridgewater Canal

Often considered to be the first "true" canal, the Bridgewater Canal was commissioned by Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, to transport coal from his mines in Worsley. The section from Worsley to Manchester opened on 17th July 1761; it was later extended from Manchester to Runcorn, and then from Worsley to Leigh. Coal was needed in large quantities to fuel the industrial revolution and the canal enabled coal and other goods to be transported efficiently and cheaply to the rapidly expanding towns and cities. Its success helped inspire a period of intense canal building although it later faced intense competition from the Liverpool and Manchester Railway and the Macclesfield Canal.

The canal is connected to the Rochdale Canal (Link ) in Manchester, the Trent and Mersey Canal at Preston Brook, south-east of Runcorn, and to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Leigh. It once connected with the River Mersey at Runcorn but has since been cut off by a slip road to the Silver Jubilee Bridge.

Navigable throughout its history, it is one of the few canals in Britain not to have been nationalised, and remains privately owned. Commercial traffic continued on the canal until 1974. By this time, canals were becoming more important as a leisure facility and pleasure craft now use the canal which forms part of the Cheshire Ring circular canal route.

For many years, the canal around Worsley was noted for the distinctive bright orange colouring of the water. This was a result of iron oxide from the mines tainting the water as the canal passes through Worsley. A £2.5 million remedial scheme was undertaken in 2013 to remove this colouration.

The Bridgewater Canal is owned and operated by the Manchester Ship Canal Company in conjunction with the Bridgewater Canal Trust.

LinkExternal link Bridgewater Canal Company
LinkExternal link Pennine Waterways
LinkExternal link Wikipedia

Astley Green Colliery Museum

Astley Green Colliery Museum is in the heart of the village of Astley Green on the edge of Chat Moss, in an area once full of collieries. Astley Green Colliery began its life in 1908 to exploit coal reserves in the south Lancashire Coalfield. The colliery had a lifespan of only 62 years, finally closing its gates in 1970.

The museum, which occupies fifteen acres of the Astley Green Colliery site, houses Lancashire's only surviving headgear and engine house, both of which now have listed building status.

Apart from the steam winding engine and headgear the museum houses many exhibits, not least of which is the collection of 28 colliery locomotives, the largest collection of its type in the United Kingdom.

The museum is now run and maintained, on behalf of the community, by the Red Rose Steam Society Limited, a registered charity.

LinkExternal link - Astley Green Colliery Museum web site


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Alan Murray-Rust and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Historic sites and artefacts Railways Industry Canals Canal: Bridgewater Canal other tags: Colliery Steam Locomotive 0-6-0ST Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · Bridgewater Canal at Astley Green [27] · Astley Green Colliery 1968 [2] ·
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SJ7099, 153 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Alan Murray-Rust   (more nearby)
Date Taken
1 May 1968   (more nearby)
Submitted
Friday, 16 April, 2021
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SJ 7047 9977 [10m precision]
WGS84: 53:29.6280N 2:26.7944W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SJ 7038 9974
View Direction
East-northeast (about 67 degrees)
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Image Type (about): geograph 
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