Silt Discharge closes Rochdale Canal

Two unexpected stoppages have closed the Rochdale Canal between Manchester and Rochdale until the end of March.

An unauthorised discharge of silt through a drainage outlet has blocked the Rochdale Canal to navigation near Gorrels Way Bridge, between Rochdale and Castleton. BW is currently in discussions with the 3rd party to arrange to have the obstruction removed to allow boat movement. The canal is closed between Locks 50 and 51.

This stoppage is currently expected to last until Friday 30th March.

During this period an additional stoppage will take place at Lock 81, Butler Lane Lock, Ancoats. Between Monday 5th and Friday 16th March, the lock chamber will be de-watered in order to install a grout curtain behind the lock chamber walls to prevent leaking. The canal will be closed between New Islington and Lock 65 at Failsworth during this time.

These stoppages will not affect the Rochdale Nine locks through Central Manchester, where an existing stoppage at Lock 86, Chorlton Street, is expected to end on Friday 9th March.

Update: 29th March:
This stoppage is now expected to last until Friday 6th April.

Update: 4th April:
The navigation will re-open today at 5.00 pm.


Gorrels Way Bridge, near the site of the silt discharge.

Pollution shuts Peak Forest again

The Lower Peak Forest Canal has been closed at Woodley following another pollution incident.

A milky substance is covering the surface of the canal near Bridge 12, north of Woodley Tunnel. The canal has been closed between Bridge 10 and Bridge 12 until the evening of Monday 20th February. British Waterways are in consultation with the Environment Agency to arrange a clean up of the area.

The pollution was spotted by "Tameside Citizen" who took a video of the scene, which can be viewed here.

The Lower Peak Forest Canal was closed for a month following a serious pollution incident in Hyde in March 2009.

Update Monday 20th February:
BW says that the clean up of the area is taking longer than originally expected, therefore this stoppage has had to be extended for 24 hours (i.e. until the evening of Tuesday 21st February).


Screenshot of video by Tameside Citizen (see link above)

Diggle Open Day Changed

The date of the "Open Day" to be held at Lock 31w, off Ward Lane in Diggle, has been changed.

Originally planned for 20th February, the event will now take place on Monday 12th March, between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm.

British Waterways offers you the opportunity to have a "behind the scenes" look and see at close hand the work involved in replacing gates and other work that has to be carried out and talk with some of BW's experts about their work.

Parking is available in Ward Lane, which is off Huddersfield Road in Diggle, near the Hanging Gate pub.


Lock 31w, Diggle

Bridge Restrictions at Lymm

Boaters using the Bridgewater Canal are warned of restricted times for boat passage through Lymm Bridge.

The restrictions will be from Monday 13th February until Friday 23rd March and will apply on Mondays to Fridays only. During those restrictions, Lymm Bridge will be closed to navigation from 08.30 until 13.30 and from 14.00 until 18.30 each day, to allow work on the bridge to be carried out by Warrington Council.

The bridge will be open to navigation all day on Saturdays and Sundays, although boaters should take care when passing through the bridge and comply with any signs.

The towpath through the bridge may be closed during these works and a diversion will be signposted.


Lymm Bridge on the Bridgewater Canal

Ice Closes Barton

Barton Swing Aqueduct on the Bridgewater Canal is currently closed due to ice.

The Bridgewater Canal Company has advised boaters that Barton Aqueduct will remain closed until Monday 6th February.


Barton Aqueduct

Bingley Five Rises to the Occasion

Open Day at Bingley. Photo: Richard Robson

British Waterways have had a successful open weekend at Bingley Five Rise Locks yesterday and today.

The event at the iconic lock staircase has captured the public's imagination, with good publicity in the press and on television pulling the crowds in. BW says that 7,276 people have passed through the locks over the weekend.

The lock gates are replaced every 25 years, so BW took advantage of the gate replacement taking place in the same year as BW transforms into the Canal & River Trust charity to involve local people in gaining a greater understanding of the canal feature on their doorstep.

The gates each weigh around 3.8 tonnes before the balance beams and paddle gear are added. Four of the six pairs of gates are being replaced this winter, so the staircase has been completely drained. (The other gates were replaced in 2000 and 2006.) Apart from holding the open event, BW is also taking the opportunity of the flight being drained to clear out rubbish and carry out repairs to the ground paddles and the lock chambers.

The entire operation, including making the gates, the erection of scaffolding and hire of cranes, is costing around £300,000.


Open Day at Bingley. Photo: Richard Robson

These photographs of the open event at Bingley were taken by Richard Robson and appear with his kind permission. You can see more of his photos of Bingley Five Rise here on his Flickr pages.

If you missed the television coverage of the event, you can see watch short BBC videos on this page.

By contrast, last week's open day at Marsden was a lower-key event.

Open Day at Marsden

Work on Lock 40e, the planned location, had not started so the event was moved to Lock 32e. This involved a walk down the very scenic but muddy towpath, meaning that the flow of visitors could better be described as a trickle. British Waterways staff were on hand to talk with visitors and explain the work involved in re-furbishing the locks.


Open Day at Marsden

There will be further BW open days at Stanley Ferry Workshop (11th February) and Lock 31w at Diggle (20th February). More information here.

BW Canal Open Days

Bingley 5 Rise Locks

British Waterways is organising a series of "Open Days" at locks around the region to let you go and see some of the work that is involved in maintaining canal locks.

Each winter, sections of canal are closed to allow BW's ongoing maintenance programme to take place. As part of its policy to involve the local community more closely, you are invited to take the opportunity to have a "behind the scenes" look and see at close hand the work involved in replacing gates and other work that has to be carried out and talk with some of BW's experts about their work.

At Bingley Five Rise Locks on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, four sets of gates are being replaced this winter. You are invited to visit the locks on one of two open days - Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th January, between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm, with the last entry to the site being at 3.00 pm.

Parking for the site is at UKAR UK, Croft Road, Bingley, BD16 2UA, a pleasant 20 minute walk from the locks along the towpath. A shuttle bus service will also be provided. Roads near the locks will have parking for residents only.

For more information on this event, please visit the Waterscape website.

At Marsden on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, there will be an open day on Tuesday 24th January, between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm. This will be at Lock 40e, which is between Marsden Station are Warehouse Hill. Parking is available in Marsden Station car park or limited parking on Warehouse Hill.

Update: This open day has been re-located to Lock 32e, about 10 - 15 minutes' walk down the towpath from Warehouse Hill.

At Diggle on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, there will be an open day on Monday 20th February, between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm. This will be at Lock 31w, which is next to Ward Lane. Parking is available in Ward Lane, which is off Huddersfield Road in Diggle, near the Hanging Gate pub.

Update: The date of the Open Day at Lock 31w, Diggle has now been changed to Monday 12th March.

For more information on the events at Marsden and Diggle, please visit the Waterscape website.

Stanley Ferry Workshops, near Wakefield, where the lock gates are made, will be open to the public on Saturday 11th February between 9.00 am and 3.00 pm. For more information about the Stanley Ferry open day, please visit the Waterscape website.


Stanley Ferry Workshops

Canal 'Open Days'

Sorry, there were technical problems preventing this page from displaying correctly for some visitors in Internet Explorer.

Please see this page instead.

All the information about the 'open days' at Bingley Five Rise Locks, Marsden, Diggle and Stanley Ferry is now on this new page.

Trees block canals

High winds this week have brought down trees in several places that have blocked canals.

On the Rochdale Canal, a tree has fallen from the offside of the canal and has hit Mayroyd Bridge (15), just downstream of Hebden Bridge. The top of the tree has detached from the trunk and is now partially submerged, making navigation unsafe.

British Waterways anticipate that the navigation can be reopened by Wednesday 11th January 2012.

On the Peak Forest Canal, there are blockages at two locations between Marple and New Mills. At Turf Lea Lift Bridge (22), a large tree has fallen from the offside and is blocking the canal. At Higgins Clough Swing Bridge (25), a large tree has fallen from the offside and is blocking both the canal and towpath.

British Waterways warn that, because of the high number of trees that have fallen in the area, the contractor is in great demand, so a date for re-opening this section of the Upper Peak Forest Canal cannot yet be given. BW will publish an expected date for re-opening as soon as they are able.

On the Macclesfield Canal, a large tree has slid down the offside cutting slope and has fallen across the canal close to Gurnett Aqueduct, south of Macclesfield. The contractor is in great demand, so a date for re-opening this section of the Macclesfield Canal cannot yet be given. BW will publish an expected date for re-opening as soon as they are able.

Any enquiries about these stoppages should be made to BW on 01782 785703.

Update 9th January:
The fallen trees on the Peak Forest Canal have been removed and the navigation has now re-opened.

Update 9th January:
The tree has been cleared at Mayroyd Bridge on the Rochdale Canal, but the navigation will not re-open until BW staff have made safe loose and overhanging coping stones on the bridge, which should be done on the morning of Monday 9th January.

Update 9th January:
The navigation has now re-opened at Mayroyd Bridge, Hebden Bridge, on the Rochdale Canal.

Update 12th January:
The fallen tree on the Macclesfield Canal has been removed and the navigation has now re-opened.


Mayroyd Bridge, Rochdale Canal

Huddersfield Narrow Canal Pages Updated!

Pennine Waterways' 'Virtual Cruise' along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal has been completely revised. All of the photos have been replaced with larger clearer images, with many new photos added.

This was the first 'virtual cruise' to appear on Pennine Waterways but this is only the second time that it has had a major revision. The photos are much sharper than the earlier ones with many of the earlier photos being replaced with clear new ones.

The revised tour is a must for anyone thinking of visiting the canal as it gives a much better idea than before of the dramatic scenery and mixture of landscapes that the canal passes through.

The new 'Virtual Cruise' can be seen starting here.


One of the new photos, showing the locks at Diggle.

Restriction at Bosley Locks

Boaters intending to use Bosley Locks on the Macclesfield Canal should be aware that restricted passage times are currently in operation.

Following the collapse of the bottom offside quadrant (the area where boaters walk to push open the bottom gate) at Lock 6. this lock must only be operated by BW staff.

Passage through Bosley Locks must be booked at least 24 hours in advance by phoning BW on 01782 785703. Boaters should be prepared to accept an alternative time for their passage on the day requested, if this can make the best use of BW's resources.

Boaters will work their boats through the lock flight in the usual way, except at Lock 6, which will be operated by BW staff.

Booked passage through Bosley Locks will only be available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays until further notice. The temporary arrangement will stay in place until the permanent repair has been carried out later this month.

Enquiries about this restriction should be made to BW on 01782 785703.

Update 8th February:
Work has been completed. The restrictions have now been lifted and the Bosley Locks are open to normal navigation.


Lock 6 at Bosley.

Rochdale Christmas Closure

There is bad news for anyone hoping to travel along the Rochdale Canal between Manchester and Failsworth during the Christmas and New Year break in the stoppages programme. The canal between Piccadilly and Failsworth will be unexpectedly closed over that period.

BW announced that a car had been driven into the canal at Miles Platting in East Manchester. The vehicle is stuck in the lock chamber of Lock 81, which means that it is not possible for boats to pass through the lock. The Christmas holiday means that it is not possible to arrange for the vehicle to be recovered until 4th January. The whole of the lock flight between Manchester and Failsworth will remain closed during this period and the usual booked passage will not be possible.

Update 4th January:
The obstruction has been removed and the canal is now open to navigation.


Looking towards Lock 81, Rochdale Canal

New Life for Old Boat!

There is good news for those who are interested in older boats as work on the restoration of the historic wooden narrowboat Hazel moves to the re-planking stage.

In July, Hazel was winched from the water onto the bank at the WCBS boatyard on the bank of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal in Stalybridge, where the rebuilding work is taking place.

All the old timbers were removed. New base timbers were laid and the ribs attached. Work has now started on re-planking the boat's sides. A traditional boiler and steamer box has been built to enable the new side planks to be curved to shape. The planks are softened by steam in the steamer box so that they can be shaped to fit the curves of the hull sides.

(Click photos for larger versions. Press Back button to return here.)

Hazel at the WCBS boatyard in Stalybridge. The steamer box is in the foreground, with one of the planks sticking out at the far side.


A traditional steaming boiler has been set up to create the steam.


The iron ribs have been attached to the new wooden base. The cabin is supported in place above.


The first steamed plank has been curved into shape and attached to the side of Hazel.


This photo shows how the plank is not only curved, but has to have a twist to make it fit the boat's shape. It is held in position with numerous clamps until it is no longer flexible.

Launched in 1914 as Mull, this horse-drawn wooden narrow boat was based at Northwich and carried up to 30 tons of coal or salt. She was renamed Hazel in 1939 following a change of ownership. She became a pleasure boat and in 1951 had an engine and full-length cabin fitted. In recent years Hazel has been in the care of the Wooden Canal Boat Society and has been on display at Portland Basin on the Ashton Canal. More information about the work on Hazel and other wooden boats can be found on the WCBS web site.

Facelift for lock in Rotherham

Ickles Lock on the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation (Photo: Neil Arlidge)
Boaters using the South Yorkshire Navigation will notice improvements next time they pass through Ickles Lock, just west of Rotherham. As part of British Waterways' winter maintenance programme, Ickles Lock has had its gates replaced.

Both sets of old gates were craned out and replaced with new ones made at BW’s Stanley Ferry Workshop in Wakefield. New balance beams and cills and repairs to the lock chamber wall will also be carried out as part of the refurbishment project.

The upgrading of Ickles Lock will cost £125,000.


Gate being craned into position at Ickles Lock (Photo: BW)


Gate being placed precisely into the quoin at Ickles Lock (Photo: BW)