Design and construction Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal

reinforcements along bury arm keep canal bank sliding down valley.

the canal supplied river irwell in bury, @ weddell brook tributary. proved insufficient local industry , in 1842 elton reservoir @ bury built become canal s principal supply. although bury , bolton arms on 1 level, salford arm used seventeen broad locks, including in staircases (nob end, example), descend 190 feet (58 m) on 8 miles (13 km) summit level lowest point @ salford. robert fulton had proposed inclined plane @ nob end, design rejected. connection fletcher s canal near clifton aqueduct made single lock 90 feet (27 m) long 21 feet (6 m) wide, drop of 18 inches (46 cm).

although canal designed narrow canal narrow locks boats 7 feet (2 m) wide, in 1794 agreement reached leeds , liverpool canal company create link near red moss near horwich, broad locks built accommodate 14 feet (4 m) wide boats using canal. meant removing of narrow locks had been built. extension original canal feeder built @ weddell brook in bury, alongside river irwell. route of leeds , liverpool canal changed, however, , planned link never materialised. design changes canal not without merit, since allowed 2 narrowboats use each lock simultaneously, saving passage time , water.

much of bury arm of canal runs alongside river irwell through irwell valley, , required construction of huge retaining walls prevent canal bank sliding down hill. similar strengthening, although on smaller scale, required on bolton arm ran alongside river croal. through these sections towpath on side of canal closest river.

prestolee aqueduct

six aqueducts required allow canal cross river irwell, river tonge , 4 roads. on bolton arm these hall lane aqueduct, fogg s aqueduct , larger damside aqueduct, of have since been demolished. hall lane aqueduct damaged mining subsidence , replaced in 1884–1885. demolished in 1950. salford arm flowed on prestolee aqueduct, clifton aqueduct, , smaller lumn s lane aqueduct (since demolished).

many bridges constructed, along length of canal. of small design allowing access farmland, although many wide enough horse , cart. in places canal crossed important thoroughfares, such water street in radcliffe, radcliffe road in darcy lever , agecroft road in pendlebury, larger bridges constructed.

cranes used along many wharfs on canal offload cargo. 1 of these, steam crane @ mount sion, still exists (albeit in poor condition). @ bury wharf traversing steam crane positioned between 2 arms of terminus offload cargo loaded waiting lorries , similar system used @ radcliffe wharf.

costs

in 1795 costs of construction detailed follows:

the total cost of construction £127,700.