Breaches Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal

contemporary view of 1936 breach @ nob end

the canal has suffered several major breaches throughout history. 1799 flood carried away large sections of lower banks, , on 15 october 1853 2 boats swept through 93-yard (85 m) breach near bottom of nob end locks (no injuries reported). 3 breaches reported 1878–1879, in little lever , darcy lever, latter near burnden chemical works. subsidence, caused mining activity, prompted breach near agecroft in 1881. result of such incidents, 1881 1888 engineer edwin muir employed reduce subsidence caused mining activity. similar work undertaken throughout 1920s. maps 1880s show then, safeguard against further subsidence, canal company had purchased areas of coal beneath canal. in 1884 canal s owners, lancashire , yorkshire railway, sued colliery owners knowles & sons losses incurred damage caused subsidence. following judgement, railway company settled out of court other colliery owners. constant repairs made, particularly through pendleton, embankment periodically raised. bridges lifted far above original supports, while others sank low 8 feet (2 m) above head height.

one of serious breaches occurred on 6 july 1936 near nob end, close junction of canal s 3 arms, reported manchester evening news following day. never repaired , although canal saw continued use between ladyshore colliery , bury, closed in 1961.

canal bursts banks - barges smashed , river dammed when bolton-manchester canal burst banks @ little lever yesterday millions of gallons of water cascaded 300 feet river irwell, carrying down hundreds of tons of earth , stones. river rapidly became blocked on bury side , banked-up water flooded surrounding land. niagara description applied 1 resident in vicinity. bricks , iron reinforcements of side of canal torn away , carried river. canal barges smashed swept on falls. fortunately, there no houses in neighbourhood, , no 1 hurt. feared work @ paper mill , chemical works depend upon canal transport affected. mr john w. martin, of loxham street, bolton, said: cycling along bank when saw signs of subsidence begin on bend in canal. not stop , chance ride furiously along 2 feet of earth remained. passed on earth fell away behind wheel of bicycle , thrown off. noise deafening. few yards me tremendous quantities of water, rock, , earth moving bodily canal. gap 100 yards long has been opened in canal embankment. few years ago there similar landslide near spot.