Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
32
Bridgewater Canal
Distance
45km from Castlefield to Runcorn
Highlights
Castle Quay and Castlefield Viaducts
The Lowry and Imperial War Museum at Salford Quays
Old Trafford, the home of English football
Navigation Authority
Manchester Ship Canal Company
Canal Societies
Bridgewater Canal Trust
Runcorn Locks Restoration Society
OS 1:50,000 Sheets
108 Liverpool
109 Manchester
The Bridgewater Canal was one of the engineering wonders of the age, the first Industrial Re-
volution canal to be built away from the course of an existing river, beginning the canal-build-
ing era. To this day it remains the largest British water project to have been financed by one
person. The Duke of Bridgewater turned his attention to business after being jilted and em-
ployed John Gilbert and James Brindley to build the canal. The canal was begun in 1759 and
reached Castlefield by 1765. A wide canal, it followed the 27m contour and had no locks, des-
pite some long straights, except at Runcorn, to which it was later extended to join the Mersey
estuary, opening throughout in 1776.
It was bought by the Manchester Ship Canal Company in 1885, the builders of the biggest
modern canal, which superseded it, although it continued to carry commercial trade until the
