Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
33
Leeds & Liverpool Canal: Leigh Branch
and Bridgewater Canal: Stretford & Leigh
Branch
Distance
12km from the Leeds & Liverpool Canal main line to Leigh
17km from Leigh to the Bridgewater Canal main line
Highlights
Astley Green Colliery Museum
Worsley Basin Pocket House and entrances to the Duke of Bridgewater's mines
Barton Swing Aqueduct
Navigation Authority
Canal & River Trust
Manchester Ship Canal Company
Canal Society
Bridgewater Canal Trust
OS 1:50,000 Sheets
108 Liverpool
109 Manchester
The Leeds & Liverpool Canal was the last of the three trans-Pennine canals. The Leigh Branch
was opened in 1820. It runs south-east across Greater Manchester from the main line at Ince-
in-Makerfield to join the Stretford & Leigh Branch of the Bridgewater Canal, thus avoiding
craft having to cross the Mersey estuary to travel south.
The junction with the main line at Ince-in-Makerfield is just above Wigan Pier in the valley
of the River Douglas. Wigan power station was demolished in 1989 but had been supplied
along the branch until 1972 by short boats. These craft were characterised by ornate baroque
scrolls, flowers and birds on the bows and stems and by square wooden chimneys, which were
prone to catching fire.
The two Poolstock Locks are the only locks on the canal and their size determined the 18.9m
x 4.3m of the distinct variety of wide-beam barges used on the main line and on the Bridgewa-
