One Day Stoppage on Huddersfield Narrow

There will be a one day stoppage on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal at Milnsbridge on Thursday 28th July.

Lock 8e at Factory Lane, just below Milnsbridge, will be closed to navigation for the day. This is in order to carry out investigations in preparation for repair work which will take place over the coming winter period.

Any enquiries about this stoppage, including from boaters booked for Standedge Tunnel, should be made to BW on 01782 785703.

Note: Lock 7e at Milnsbridge is closed today (26th July) for the same reason. Sorry for the lack of warning, but no advanced notice of this has been received.


Lock 8e in Milnsbridge

Bridgewater Canal celebrates 250 years!

The Bridgewater Canal is 250 years old!

The Duke of Bridgewater's pioneering canal was opened on 17th July 1761. While it was not Britain's first canal, it was the first modern canal to be built in Britain along a route that was independent of a river. To celebrate this landmark anniversary a number of events are taking place along the canal's route.

On Saturday 16th July a "Right Royal Regatta" will take place, recreating the visit of Queen Victoria to Worsley in 1851. Come along and cheer and wave flags as the 'Queen' boards the 'Royal Barge' at Patricroft before travelling to Worsley with a flotilla of boats!

There will be a boat trip and entertainment for residents from Winton as part of the Right Royal Regatta event. The trip ends at Oldfold Park where the group can watch the regatta go by before the return trip.

On Saturday 16th July New Manchester Walks is organising a walk from Castlefield to Worsley, starting at 10.30 am from Deansgate Station. packed lunch and walking boots needed!http://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8708194174142075974#allposts

On Sunday 17th July there will be "a leisurely guided stroll around Worsley Village to mark the 250th anniversary of the opening of the Bridgewater Canal, taking in the major sites connected with this wonder of the industrial age". This starts at 2.00 pm from outside Worsley Courthouse. The circular walk will be around 1.5 miles long.

On Sunday 17th July a walk will take place to launch a self-guided walk and heritage trails linking the canal and railway heritage in the Eccles and Patricroft area. The walk will start from Eccles railway station forecourt at 1.00 pm and will last approximately 3 to 4 hours. Appropriate footwear and clothing should be worn. For more information email info@freccles.org.uk or telephone 0161 789 5016.
Eccles Community Arts Gallery will run a Capture the Canal painting competition during September. This is open to all ages and will end with an exhibition in a public art gallery in Eccles.

Later in the year, the Friends of Salford Museum and Art Gallery are linking together a series of community-based activities and events. You can help them to investigate the Bridgewater archive and select pieces to exhibit. There will be opportunities to record people’s memories and stories of the Bridgewater Canal. A film will be created for people to tell their tales and experiences with the Bridgewater Canal. A mobile app for iPhone and Android users will help people explore the canal through a Heritage Treasure Hunt. A tapestry will also be created to commemorate the 250th anniversary.

The Friends of the Bridgewater Canal, in conjunction with Trafford Walkers and Ramblers Trafford, are organising guided walks. These will be: on 13th August, from Lymm to Stretford and on 8th October 2011, from Stretford to Worsley


Worsley at the heart of the Bridgewater Canal

Future of Pennine canals on Politics Show

Yorkshire's edition of The Politics Show last weekend featured an eight minute item about how the New Waterways Charity could affect the future of the area's canals.

The programme shows footage filmed at Standedge Tunnel, Bingley Five Rise Locks and Sowerby Bridge. It includes interviews with the Huddersfield Canal Society's Alan Stopher, British Waterways' Julie Sharman, Shire Cruisers' Nigel Stevens and Waterways' Minister Richard Benyon.

The item can be viewed by anyone in the UK by following this link to BBC iPlayer and moving forward to 51 minutes into the programme. It will be available to watch until 17th July.


Alan Stopher being interviewed at Standedge Tunnel (BBC)

Cill Stoppage on Huddersfield Narrow

Boaters on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal face delays after a cill was damaged at Lock 16e at Linthwaite, between Slaithwaite and Milnsbridge.

The wooden cill by the tail gates of the lock has been damaged. BW is de-watering the pound below so that the damage can be assessed.

BW will issue an update once the extent of the problem is known.

Update 4th July:
At the moment BW do not think the lock will be re-opened until Thursday morning but will issue a further update tomorrow.

Update 5th July:
The fish rescue on the pound being drained below Lock 16e is taking longer than expected. It is therefore expected that the canal will now reopen on Friday morning.

Update 6th July, 4.30 pm:
Repairs have now been completed and the canal is being rewatered.
BW says that the canal should re-open to navigation before 12 noon on Thursday 7th July.

Note:
Boaters should be aware that, when closed, a lock gate butts up to a wooden cill (or threshold) that forms a water-tight seal against the gate. These wooden cills are usually slightly higher than the adjacent canal bed. Attempting to enter or leave a lock when water levels are too low can result in the boat's skeg catching the cill and damaging it, or even ripping it out of place. This will mean a water-tight seal cannot be made, making it difficult (or impossible) to completely empty or fill the lock. Boaters should not attempt to force a boat over a cill but should ensure that the water level is increased before proceeding. If necessary BW should be called out to assist.


Looking towards Lock 16e at Linthwaite.