Where the first sod was dug,Bark Hill,colliery area above Wigan to NE.
This now redundant stretch is the true beginning of the Lancaster Canal looking North.
This reservoir was added to feed the locks leading down to Wigan when it became a part of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal by lease.
The Leeds & Liverpool's reservoir,Bark Hill.
This fawcett watered up steam boats in the coal loading area,now an overflow for reservoir.
The redundant arm now very overgrown,but once a bustling area loading tons of coal every hour
The canals left and ahead became leased and used by the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Co.Wigan left,Haigh,Adlington,Chorley ahead.
What became the Leeds & Liverpool proceeds westwards down many locks to Wigan Pier,then on to Liverpool and the branches to Leigh(Bridgewater) and Tarleton(R.Douglas)
Old picture of canal boat trip on this stretch
This basin is at Haigh Hall,on the western bank
Old and new maps superimposed,Red Rock,Standish
Red Rock moorings,Standish
Red Rock moorings,Standish.Limekiln on old map was on left here once.
River Douglas aqueduct designed by John Rennie viewed from East
Douglas aqueduct viewed from west
Built to last-John Rennie's Douglas aqueduct
Canal passes over the Douglas at Adlington,viewed from north
Canal crosses Douglas aqueduct from south
The Douglas rolls west through rural scene once much exploited for coal
Old and new maps superimposed of White Bear,Adlington area,once a busy centre of coal loading.Note Limekilns...
White Bear Marina,Adlington
restored coke kiln,in boatyard north of Adlington
site of once was limekiln,marine engineers' garden,N of Adlington
site of once was limekiln,N of Adlington
P.M.Marine Services,Adlington - boat engineers and mobile rescue service
Narrow boat glides past
Adlington
nice reflections on calm water,P.M.Marine Services,Adlington
Towpath resurfaced at Adlington,near Marine Engineers
River Yarrow runs west under aqueduct near Chorley
River Yarrow runs under aqueduct near Chorley
River Yarrow runs from under aqueduct near Duxbury,Chorley
River Yarrow runs from under aqueduct near Chorley
Near Yarrow aqueduct,Chorley
Botany Bay,Chorley.This railway viaduct was demolished C 1970 to make way for M61
Once busy Botany Wharf,today quiet residential mooringsSEE MORE DETAILS on: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/Bazizfoters/LEEDSAndLIVERPOOLCANALE1FromTopLockWIGANToBlackburn#
This interestingly grown in milepost inspired me to ride 254 miles for Heartbeat by mountain bike in 2007 !(the entire canal + branches both directions)SEE MORE DETAILS: http://www.flickr.com/photos/barryspix/sets/72157622767838339/
Map 1 a general view of the Southern end at Top Lock up to Ellerbeck just south of Chorley.
Map 2 The canal runs north under Whelley bridge passing Haigh to Red Rock at Standish.
Map 3 from Standish the canal runs north towards Adlington,crossing the Douglas to White Bear.
Map 4from White Bear northwards past Ellerbeck,under skew bridge and over the Yarrow aqueduct to Cowling and Chorley.
Map 5 northwards around Chorley via Botany Bay and Hartwood to Johnsons Hillock.Here the Leeds Liverpool turns NE to Blackburn,the Walton Summit branch goes off NW(but is nowadays truncated at first bridge-800m)
The locks of the Leeds-Liverpool descend towards Wigan from NE by reservoir,crossing former railway where much coal loading took place amongst very busy barge traffic once.
at Whelley:The Lancaster Southern Section runs NE from Top Lock past former coal loading points towards Haigh
The canal runs NNE passing Haigh Hall and golf course towards Red Rock.The basin in the photograph just visible by the trees opposite,former coal railway below it.
Red Rock at Standish top centre,former coal railways up centre,once various tramways ran from collieries on the right to the canal.
