Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The magnificent Packet House and passenger-boat landing steps in the basin at Worsley .
The southern end of the canal basin is flanked by wooded lawns and backed by a village
store and the Bridgewater Hotel. It leads on to Worsley dry docks (perhaps the country's first,
now used for work on narrowboats), Worsley warehouse (now restored for alternative use)
and housing around the Worsley coke ovens' site. In the middle, the Sea Cadets have their
TS Ilex .
As rapidly as the canal improved, it deteriorates with debris of all sorts over the next reach.
There is housing following the right bank although the left is open parkland, once crossed
by a railway passing close to the canal at Monton. The Crompton's at the Waterside bar and
restaurant is situated at this point. A busy road follows the left bank until the M602 crosses
both. The reach passes under the Liverpool to Manchester railway, after passing new hous-
ing. Another main road follows the right bank from the Wellington Inn through to Barton
upon Irwell. By the A57 crossroads in Patricroft, the bank was landscaped. In 2014 thieves
dug a 15m tunnel from the canal bank to Tesco Extra, where they took £60,000 from the cash
machine. Local amenities include the Packet House. The Dutton Arms is situated beyond a
canal basin and there is an interesting set of warehouses.
Several tower blocks are passed before the run down to the Barton Swing Aqueduct, an-
other wonder of the canal system. Originally a 183m x 12m clearance stone aqueduct crossed
the River Irwell in three arches. Britain's first navigable aqueduct, it lasted from 1761 to 1893
when the Manchester Ship Canal was built. The original plan was to lock down and up again,
then it was considered as a boat lift to clear the Manchester Ship Canal. The present solution
was developed by Sir Edward Leader-Williams. Situated with the pivot point on an island in
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