The canals left and ahead became leased and used by the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Co.Wigan left,Haigh,Adlington,Chorley ahead.
Figurative map,West half Leeds-Liverpool Canal
Red Rock moorings,Standish.See more details Haigh to Chorley on: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/Bazizfoters/LANCASTERCANALSOUTHERNSECTIONS1HaighAdlingtonAndChorley#
Map 1 a general view of the Southern end at Top Lock up to Ellerbeck just south of Chorley.SEE DETAILED ALBUM on HAIGH to CHORLEY ON:- http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/Bazizfoters/LANCASTERCANALSOUTHERNSECTIONS1HaighAdlingtonAndChorley#
White Bear Marina,Adlington see more details on Haigh to Chorley on: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/Bazizfoters/LANCASTERCANALSOUTHERNSECTIONS1HaighAdlingtonAndChorley#
Near Yarrow aqueduct,Chorley SEE more details of Haigh to Chorley on: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/Bazizfoters/LANCASTERCANALSOUTHERNSECTIONS1HaighAdlingtonAndChorley#
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)
unusual old hull near Botany Bay.....
is it worth redeeming?
cormorant,first time I've seen one on here...
cormorant - there were two!A breeding pair perhaps
John'n'Dots' NB "Scallywag" at Whittle Springs below Johnsons Hillock
John.n.Dots' NB "Scallywag" at Whittle Springs
Old picture showing this part of the canal in near dereliction.
Bottom Lock Johnsons Hillock 18 04 10
13 03 2011 below bottom lock,Whittle springs
going down - bottom lock Johnsons Hillock
Bye!!No more locks all the way to Whelley(Wigan)
Emerging from bottom lock Johnsons Hillock 18 04 10
Starting to climb the flight of locks at Johnsons Hillock.
Locks being repaired Jan 07.Some gates were replaced,it was a major overhaul.
from middle bridge during locks overhaul,Johnsons Hillock,Jan 2007
The large pools between locks were made so because traffic was so busy both directions,total chaos daylight hours !
Map showing canal winding from Johnsons Hillock to Riley Green,and behind Star Paper Mill,top right.
patched up lock gates before overhaul,Johnsons Hillock
Almost at the top,canal cottages in view and The TOP LOCK PUB :Great food served here,best Sunday Roast in the area,served with 5 fresh vegetables,ONLY £6.99 !
GOING DOWN! just entering lock 2,Johnsons Hillock
looking NE,Johnsons Hillock 2 - 3
Johnsons Hillock flight 4-3 on a spring day,all very green and rural....
The locks at wheelton busy now it is better weather
NB ascending 3-4,from middle bridge
about to leave 4 and pass under middle bridge,Johnsons Hillock nr Wheelton
WB slowly negotiating lock at Wheelton
Local boatbuilder Darren Moffat and family aboard Duke of Lancaster going up the locks on this busy July day
Johnsons Hillock - looking up the last half of the ascent from middle bridge.
Pub coming into view at last !
view from the bridge at top lock pub,looking down the flight towards Chorley
A RARE SIGHT "Whistle Down The Wind" - STEAM powered narrow boat built locally(Riley Green)
The steamer came up the flight with a diesel NB as easier to control as he was alone so needed to tend boiler etc.
Boiler room aboard Whistle Down The Wind.Carriable sized coal scuttle and suitable shovel on right.He has been getting the fire and steam well up whilst ascending tandem,ready to cruise the open pound at top.
Showing the boiler room and well wrapped stack of SNB Whistle Down the Wind
NB Tara P enters Top Lock from Blackburn direction
Top Lock under overhaul,Wheelton - early 2007
BW maintainence overhauling Top Lock at Wheelton,early 2007
The long pool above lock 6 to Top Lock Pub.This is crammed with boats in summer,locks presently closed - Jan 2007
Nearly at the pub! Top Lock,Wheelton
Tara P descending Top Lock at Wheelton.This pub does the greatest food - do not pass it without sampling.Roast Beef and 5 fresh vegetables ONLY £6.99 on Sundays.Not worth messing your galley up!(good excuse!)
The long pool 6-7 below Top Lock bridge,Wheelton.This would have been chockablock at nights 100-200 years ago and the stables and field full of horses.There is still a coal dealer here and shops etc nearby today,good overnight.
The moorings above Top Lock at Wheelton.BW water and sanitation on left here.Quiet stretch ahead good for sleeping and handy for pub and facilities including proper quality coal.
Moorings at Wheelton,this is about 1/4 mile above Top Lock,but peak season so less liveaboards and more visitors perhaps.
Wheelton moorings about 1/4 mile above Top Lock,looking towards Blackburn
The boatyard at Wheelton.Long established,lift-outs etc + full facilities
WB Dijon at Classic NBs,Wheelton
The boatyard at Wheelton
Dutch Barge"Ollie"at Wheelton 18 04 10
HA HA HA!!Thought a Land Rover had parked alongside,but NO! I Sycho has cocked half a scrap Landy on this Narrowboat complete with spare in case the boat has a puncture...must be a Dingle !!
Peaceful rural setting,Wheelton moorings,about 1/3 mile above top lock,looking East
Canada geese and ducks at bend turn above Wheelton moorings.There is a bird breeders near here...
Classic old picture taken between Wheelton and Withnell Fold.This method was typical after horses as the older barges were still useable in an economical fashion.On the longer stretches between locks quite manageable,but not at busy spots and flights of locks.
The former Withnell Fold Paper Mill, now rented out as smaller industrial units
Withnell Fold Paper Mill 2
Withnell Fold 3.Three of these boats were being worked on using electricity from the units at the mill.The quay was used for unloading pulp barges in years gone by.
The road bridge at Riley Green
Riley Green Road Bridge and original cottages.The pictures at this location are from Jan 2010,thick ice is just thawing after 3 weeks of freezing weather...
The Boat Yard Pub/Restaurant at Riley Green GOOD FOOD,moorings with facilities
The Boat Yard Pub/Restaurant at Riley Green, Rear entrance,GOOD FOOD,moorings with facilities
There is a Pub/restaurant where boat shed was on right nowadays and small marina back right where dinghy is.
Riley Green moorings at The Boat Yard Pub Restaurant,icy Jan 2010 http://www.canalboatcruises.co.uk/
Moorings at The Boat Yard Pub/Restaurant, Riley Green.Frozen in for 3 weeks! Jan 2010 http://www.canalboatcruises.co.uk/
Riley Green,Boat Yard Moorings http://www.canalboatcruises.co.uk/
Boat Yard Moorings,Riley Green http://www.canalboatcruises.co.uk/
Riley Green Marina from towpath 25 04 10
Elle's Belle at Riley Green
Riley Green marina from opposite bank
Bridie Bear at Riley Green 25 04 10
Widebeam project in progress at Riley Green
NB at Riley Green
An interesting Dutch Barge moored at Riley Green....
The Dutch Barge was from Assen,Nr Gronningen, Netherlands originally...
From the Livesey Branch Road bridge,near Cherry Tree,West of Blackburn
looking back towards Riley Green under Livesey Branch Rd bridge
looking back towards Riley Green under Livesey Branch Rd bridge.Ice beginning to thaw after 3 weeks Jan 17 th 2010
THE MOORINGS Pub,holding pool between first and second lock (57 AND 56) bLACKBURN 17 01 2010
Looking back along the embankment of Ewood Aqueduct
The EWOOD aqueduct,Blackburn.What superb design and masonry - where's the river Darwen?It passes deep under the road diagonally as we see it,emerging right of the car,built by hand,NO MACHINES -Remarkable!
The River Darwen emerges from under culvert,road,headroom,aqueduct,canal,and passing boat traffic - and all built manually!
Closer look at River Darwen emerging from under Ewood Aqueduct,near Blackburn Rovers Football ground
The River Darwen passes below... from Canal level,Ewood Aqueduct
Approaching lock 57,the first lock of six at Blackburn ,from under the railway bridge, in front of Royal Infirmary
Looking up the long holding pool between the first two locks,57 and 56,at The Moorings Pub,Blackburn
The Moorings Pub beckons over the holding pool between lock 57 and 56,Blacburn in front of Infirmary
Lock 56,second up in the flight at Blackburn taken from it's footbridge.The A666 Bolton Road is directly behind me over the wall.The canal has turned through 90 degrees outside the Moorings Pub.
Looking back at lock 56 from 55(third up).The pools were made big as it was bustling with traffic - the M62 of it's day! See lock 56 and it's footbridge with A666 Road bridge wall directly behind.Red building is gable of Moorings Pub,where canal has turned 90 degrees before lock 56.
From the island of lock 55(third) we can just see the gates of lock 54(fourth)The concrete cast bridges are modern additions,there are interesting old steps underneath there....
Looking back from the island of 55(third).Lovely old buildings have been adapted for modern uses;a nice stone facade forms a wall on right...
BLACKBURN West:From the Paper Mill 'canal follows 'contours past Mill Hill crossing 'Darwen at Ewood Aqueduct.There are then 6 locks as the line passes through the hilly mill town,that in 1826 had 200 chimneys! (thus the name?)
Leaving Blackburn Infirmary lock 56 eastwards on a nice May day
Blackburn once had 200 industrial chimneys;looks nice and rural nowadays.The Industrial Revolution is more or less gone now so it's quite scenic and relaxing by the canal
In Blackburn the locks are busy early on this fine spring day with much traffic.These two are running together to share locks saving work and water...
The industrial ruins,remains of mills or factory walls in the background now overgrown present a nice rustic garden look to the now green canalside setting.The looms, the steam engines,the factory hooters and smoking chimneys are gone and all is peaceful...
The stone walls were industrial buildings once but look nice now they're overgrown.And what about the mobile gardens carried through by the boaters - a lovely blooming display !
The locks ( 54-55) are busy this morning
Off North-eastwards out of Blackburn.... then on towards Rishton,Church, Accrington,Hapton....
Old OS map with less density of buildings shows canal locking up right through centre,as Blackburn was built around it's industry that established itself around the canal
Looking back over the pool 55-54 (third to 4th) at lock 55.
Very imaginative and skilful masonery hidden under this modern concrete(LOW)bridge.They were the steps up to the lock 54 winding equipment but no headroom now,look at the wear though!
Lock 54 (third up ).New building of attractive canalside dwellings replacing demolished old factories on right.On left and right the stone walls are remains of factories once there
Lock 53 (5th up).Ahead is B & Q,Nova Scotia Retail Centre. I worked on upper floors of Nova Scotia Mill that once stood there early 1990s.The canal was dewatered then,locks decrepit,and Blackburn unpassable to boats.LOOK NOW !
looking back at lock 53 and the road bridge.
The sixth lock of Blackburn flight looms ahead,lock 52.
The last lock gate of Blackburn flight,lock 52 the sixth up. The pound ahead follows the contours winding round Rishton, Church,Accrington without a lock for a while - but several swing bridges and many bends...
Looking back at Top Lock No 52,the six locks have taken us up a fair way - above the level of the buildings of the Blackburn skyline in fact....
BLACKBURN EAST After climbing through the 6 locks in the town the canal loops around with the contours via Rishton and the brick kilns on Church loop.
WHAT'S THIS ? It is a HORSE ESCAPE.... When a heavy Canal horse falls into the canal,there needs to be somewhere it can be pulled back out.the cobbles visible form an inverted arch to help the horse scramble up and get out...
