Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Knottingley was named after the Dane Cnotta. The canal has a gentrified urban feel to it
at first, unique for this canal. Near Mill Bridge there is a branch to a weir on the River Aire.
The Steam Packet Inn recalls passenger transport on the canal.
Arrival at Pollington is between the imposing hall on the north side and a diminutive but
conspicuous church spire to the south. In 1992 Pollington Lock was the first British Water-
ways lock to have gates made of West African opepe instead of oak and greenheart. Enlarged
several times, it has three chambers and is one of the largest locks on the inland waterways.
The canal has been converging on the River Went but never actually meets it. Instead, it
is met by the New Junction Canal. Built in 1905, it was the last new canal in England, until
recent years, and runs dead-straight for 9km.
Formerly an industrial eyesore, Sugar Mill Ponds have become a local nature reserve.
Rawcliffe Bridge is served by the Black Horse, near which there is a mooring area. The latter
is across the canal from a mill that emits a pungent odour when the wind is from the north.
The Wakefield to Goole railway arrives from behind the mill, to run beside the canal. A
pheasant may fly low across from one bank to the other.
One of the first premises on the south side of Goole Docks is the Yorkshire Waterways
Museum. It gives an account of the canal's history and offers a cafe. The docks were created
in 1828 for the canal, to export coal and textiles, and are Britain's premier inland port. Al-
though they are the furthest inland port they trade with the Baltic and other parts of Europe.
A Tom Pudding tippler, virtually unchanged since 1865, was in operation until 1986, one of
four used on land and accompanied by another floating one.
