The Top Lock of six,No 52.We are now up above the Blackburn skyline and leaving the centre behind.There was still much industry,more accessible on the level pound as Blackburn expanded to Intack,Eanam and Whitebirk...
Looking back at Grimshaw Park Bridge ,the centre of Blackburn is below and behind us as we head on towards Intack
Looking onwards towards Intack
BREWERY Bridge No 102
looking back under Brewery Bridge. Note the ice,canal was frozen 3 weeks... 17 Jan 2010
Supermarket trolley is frozen in to thick ice Brewery bridge 17 01 2010
Onwards towards Audley
looking back at Audley bend
Turning point for barges discharching at the wharf across from us
approaching the busy road junction at Audley Bridge.On the towpath side are stone posts every couple of yards
looking back at the wharf with turning point,see the stone posts by the towpath
102A Audley bridge-modernised,strengthened and lowered to take the hump out of the road
More thick ice remains,from below Audley bridge 17 01 2010
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...
The housing on the ring road marks the edge of Blackburn suburbs.There are stone remains of industry dotted by the towpath,former factories demolished forming huge retail complex and parking area in dip on left.
Ahead the stone structure resembling an aqueduct has no visible river but supports the embankment on the bend at stress point.
Thwaites Brewery(a newish looking one) a fair way from Brewery Bridge,but there were several famous breweries in Blackburn !
Looking over the embankment to the Railway Station.A good view of the East side of Blackburn.
Modern canalside dwellings made to blend in well with the stone remains of a previous industrial age. Original buildings are being used for light industry
Across this icy pound the orange footbridge is the first of the Eanam bridges
Eanham Wharf buildings ahead from under the orange footbridge.Really thick ice here 17 01 2010
Looking back at Blackburn town from the orange footbridge
Looking back along't cut at Cicely bridge. Recent mill demolition on the left forms a car park,with Acci brick walls left up
This effect makes Eanam Wharf restoration look very original..shame about modern units opposite not quite in keeping.The ice proper thick here
Out of focus but this sign still readable.Others have been snapped off by yobs nearer the centre.The council tries it's best but there's always destructive abusers spoil things
Eanam Wharf buildings from t 'other side o't cut
Closer view of Eanam Wharf buildings
Eanam Wharf buildings,looks old but not with the E U compliant handrails and disabled ramp up loading bay
This part of Eanam buildings put to good use as a pub
Derrick pivot on wharfside.Prospect house opposite could have been better designed,it's pre-fab look ridicules the restored Eanam buildings' efforts,quite ugly in fact and spartanic
Full marks for atmos on restoration this side of canal at Eanam Wharf
The double bridges carrying the now dual carriageway Eanam Way
Looking NE at Eanam bridge
Figurative map of western half of Leeds Liverpool Canal A snakey meandering course after Blackburn indeed
RISHTON,CHURCH....on to Clayton le moors,HAPTON.... far from straight,but NO LOCKS
Canada Geese with chicks at Hyndburn loop
Swimming Time! Canada Geese with chicks at Hyndburn loop
Old disused Coking Kilns near Foxhill Bank,Church,Hyndburn.These are relics around the shaft of Aspen Colliery,which closed in 1928.The coal was coked from the mineshaft and exported by canal barges here.
Old disused Coking Kilns near Foxhill Bank,Church,Hyndburn.These are relics around the shaft of Aspen Colliery,which closed in 1928.The coal was coked from the mineshaft and exported by canal barges here
Aerial view of Aspen coking area,showing kilns,former shaft and canal basin.The area would have been chaotic with barges pre-1930s loading coke out;plus coal and bulk chemicals from around here....
1960s view of Aspen coking area and surrounding industries
An old photo showing Aspen colliery,behind this signal box
The mine shaft and signal box are in the centre of this 1960s aerial view of Aspen area of Church.
HAPTON ,BURNLEY,REEDLEY
Leaving industrial areas behind and going into green fields
Fosters Swing Bridge 115
Clough Bank bend near M65 W of Altham
Some boat ressurection here.... near Altham
Boatyard at Altham near Hapton
Moorings beside noisy M65 near Hapton
GANNOW TUNNEL - 559yds long no towpath so had to find way up top
emerging from Gannow tunnel. footbridge above is to Weavers Triangle Tourist Attraction about Industrial history
Away out of the tunnel round all the mills to great embankment of Burnley....
Note the lovely traditional canal painted hardware aboard OWL No 3 amongst those dark satanic mills....
Eastern Half Old Map
BRIERFIELD to BARROWFORD LOCKS
The Burnley embankment must have been an EPIC to build with no machines - 60ft high,3/4 mile long.Tidied up towpath it is a well used promenade with nice views since the chimneys no longer smoke and all is dulcet and calm
A shortie East of Burnley.The owner said" I'd 'a put a fresh shirt on if I'd known!"
beginning of Thompson Park section
After Colne Rd bend,a beautiful view of Pendle Hill and open countryside.
Lovely views out to Pendle along this stretch
Looking back to Thompson Park and Burnley
Oliver Ings Bidge 135.The Pendle Way trekpath leaves the canal here.Many walkers crossing this bridge
Looking towards Pendle Hill in the distance,taken from Oliver Ings Bridge
Bottom Lock,Barrowford.The locks look totally rural,yet go under the junction at the end of the M65 ! IN IT'S DAY THE CANAL WAS THE M65 !
prepare for a climb,or lots of windlass energy... Note this is lock No 51,the top lock at Blackburn was 52 - so it has been a long level pound even though there are many bends,bridges and a tunnel
Coming down in tandem,saving water as it's busy and dry season(Ha Ha !)
Race you to the next lock,loser winds the paddles!
Hey up lass,she's beatin yer !
HEY,now thats playin dirty!
LADY DRIVERS battling it out and smashing everything about !.... Do they do this with their cars at the supermarket? Maybe they trained on't Dodg'ems at Blackpool!
Down the lockpool is the M 65 end Junction - well that's the last you'll see and hear of traffic for a long while!
Up,Up,and away...quieter already. Bronte country here we come !
This Reservoir stores the Summit Level's surplus water.At the Top Lock we will have reached the summit level of the whole canal,stretching through Foulridge Tunnel all the way beyond Barnoldswick to Greenberfield.
Barrowford Reservoir,storing summit surplus water for the canal's use
TOP LOCK very nicely kept.I DID partake of an ice cream and got some water before pressing on....
Looking back from summit level - Top O't World ! water level is now 480ft above sea level.A fair climb from Liverpool on water,and all designed and built 200 years ago for horsedrawn barges,no steam or engines then...
The craft moored here are largely cruisers.Later we see some right rum boats...
"Das Boot"-remember the film about the U BOAT? This craft suspected to be German owned.Is she carrying live torpedoes?
Das boot ist scheune
nice widebeam ,although back cabin looks a bit Thomas the Tank...
nice NBs moored here near tunnel...
peaceful moorings up here...
little shortie!
FOULRIDGE and SALTERFORTH
FOULRIDGE TUNNEL - 1640 yds long alternate single passages regulated by the lights
Cats Whiskers awaits it's slot....
FOULRIDGE TUNNEL - 1640 yds long alternate single passages regulated by the lights Cats Whiskers waits for the green,....
GO and she's away!and I take to my bike and get pedalling up the horsepath,finding my way with no compass or directions up the confusion of paths and lanes....
Up the hill at Foulridge village...a sign,.... but no sign of any canal yet..
Stone houses of Foulridge village.Hole in hillside at top,the quarry where stone came from perhaps...
followed "Wharf Street",....Aaah,here comes Cats Whiskers! Beat You!
OH DEAR ! This guy in the NB has grounded on the silt and is struggling to get off with no crew to help...
FOULRIDGE WHARF - once a hive of activity ! Downed industrial buildings form nice car park.Quite a popular area today...
Here comes Cats Whiskers...."What kept you?"... "No rush,we're cruising!"
Well and truly grounded NB now he's made way !
At Foulridge Wharf,see this LIME KILN ,very well preserved large example...
The draught venturi and poking grate
The fire arch and wind catcher
This would really have caught some draught
looking down the chimney into the chamber and firepit
A variety of plant life nowadays !
The easily reachable chimney is today meshed over to stop kids falling in.When it was belching out acrid smoke it was unguarded,and would have been WHITE HOT whilst burning,and lethal slaked lime when burnt through.Anybody falling in would just disappear!
Superbly masoncrafted windcatching Kiln,best I've seen of this type.
BARNOLDSWICK,THORNTON in CRAVEN(Pendle Way)
What well groomed and unusual breed these goats are they respond to their goatherdess like children
OI ! get yer nose out !
Amazing what you happen across by the canalside Boring? NO WAY !
Come on my little beauties !
That's it...feeding time over!
Aaah,a little baby one !
This is the limit of the summit pound beyond Baroldswick;at Greenberfield,where there is camping,toilets full facilities etc you can see the Top Lock of three which begin the descent of the canal down through the Yorkshire dales to Leeds
