Leeds and Liverpool Canal

History Walk, Sat 6th April, 10am till 1pm - Link

“Join us for a walk up the beautiful Wigan Flight in the company of Canal and River Trust volunteers!

Starting at Wigan Dry Dock, with parking available at Trencherfield Mill, we will walk up to Top Lock accompanied by two lock keepers who have extensive knowledge of the canal and Wigan, and then return to our starting point.”

Wigan Dry Dock (beside Wigan Investment Centre), Waterside Drive, Wigan WN3 5BA

Making life better by water - canalrivertrust.org.uk

I went on the walk it was very interesting. Next time why not have a barge to take people back down the 'flight' to Wigan, sell butties, pies and beer on board and charge £25.00 It would be a good day out. Got to say I have lived in Wigan all my life and I have never done that complete walk before I was born and brought up in Spring Street, off Darlington street, and we played over the 'CIMIC' as kids. I wouldn't have recognised it As a kid I remember looking over the canal towards Ince, it was flat and you could see all the way to Ince Green Lane. Now it's full of trees and houses. What I did notice it's a lot shorter distance to New Springs by the canal tow path than going by road

jo anne were you the person I was talking to about my nephew?

Yes, Admin, it was very nice to meet you.

.... to meet you, nice!

Jo anne, you should have said who you were. Now I can put a face to the name Any more walks in the "Pipe Line" ?

Admin, I only realised we’d met when you commented on this thread.

The next History Walk is the first Saturday in May - I’ll post the details here when I find out more.

Ill be on the next one Joanne, so get dressed up.

You never know who'll you'll bump into when your out and about, do you.

SaraPontingCRT - @CrtPonting:
Wigan Flight History Walk by our excellent volunteer lock keepers was a huge success! Engaging and educational, join us again on the 4th May, 1st June and 6th July!

Photo Link

The next History Walk is this Saturday 4th May, starting at 10am from Wigan Dry Dock - FB Event

Wish I lived closer. I would love to go that walk and listen to the information. There is a great history on the canals in general.

Fred your only a couple of hours away, get down here and stay the weekend.

* Next Canal History Walk ~ Sat 1st June ~ starting 10am from Wigan Dry Dock - Link *

Great video of boaters going up Wigan Flight, assisted by a Canal and River Trust volunteer lock keeper, Andy.

YouTube Link / www.foxesafloat.com

I was cycling by the canal today approx 10.30am. As I passed Wigan Pier there was a guy loading a boat up with cases of drinks, refreshments etc. It looked like a commercial river boat as opposed to a boat where people live and sleep on them.

Could it even been Kittywake or Elleswake, S&B? www.kittywake.co.uk

Joanne you can see me in the Foxes video making a guess appearance @ 10.30.

That’s a bell-ting cameo, Mick.

The next Canal History Walk is this Sat, 3rd August, starting 10am at Wigan Dry Dock. Link

"The Leeds Liverpool canal is the longest canal in Britain built as a single waterway"


Bollocks! It's not the longest and it wasn't built as a single waterway. It's three separate waterways, built by different companies!

The Leeds & Liverpool Canal, if you please, Tonker.

Actually, joe anne, a more logical name for the canal would be the 'Leeds TO Liverpool Canal' or the 'Liverpool TO Leeds Canal' (considering it was meant to connect one with the other).
Ironically, though, the 'canal' didn't originally go to Leeds.
To state that the Leeds AND Liverpool Canal was built to connect the 'cities' of Liverpool and Leeds is also wrong.
Firstly, the idea was to connect Liverpool with Hull (cross country) and, secondly, due to Liverpool only becoming a 'city' in 1880 and Leeds in 1890, long after the Leeds AND / TO Liverpool canal was constructed!

So theer!

canal

You should disregard what's written in all those sites. They're repeatedly written by idiots and small-minded sheep who just 'believe' what they're told without thought.

The (so-called) Leeds and Liverpool canal didn't go to Leeds.
It COULDN'T go to Leeds, as to get to Leeds would mean it had to cross the Aire & Calder Navigation.

It follows that the original proposal for 'the canal' was to connect "the Port of Liverpool" with the Aire & Calder Navigation (canal) and, therefore, to "the Port of Hull" via Goole.

As it happened, 'Leeds' was on the other side of the River Aire. So, 'the canal' joined the Aire and Calder Navigation at Holbeck, a separate and independent town across the river from Leeds.

It was 50 years AFTER the Leeds & Liverpool canal was constructed that Holbeck become integrated within the Leeds 'local government area' by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835.

Only then could it be said that 'the canal' actually went to Leeds, even though, in truth, it didn't.
As regards the 'cities' of Liverpool and Leeds, that title only came over a CENTURY later!

Neither was it "built as a single waterway"!

Look through the BIG WINDOW!!!

Tonker: “ Look through the BIG WINDOW!!! “

I don’t know about a big window, but I can see a big pane! Keep up the good work.

* The next History Walk is Sat 7th Sep, starting 10am from Wigan Dry Dock *

Another date for your diary … Link:

* Leigh Canal Festival, Sat 14th + Sun 15th Sept, 10am - 5pm *

Lots of attractions on and around the canal by the Miners’ Welfare Institute, WN7 4EF

Public cruises on Tue 27th and Wed 28th Aug every 2 hours from Wigan Pier - first at 10am.
Wheelchair access available at Wigan Pier.
No booking required. Adults £6 and Kids £4. Kittiwake Party Boat - Facebook

* It’s the Wigan History Walk tomorrow, Sat 7th Sept, from 10am - www.meetup.com *

This weekend will see the fifth annual Leigh Canal Festival - FB Link

The next Wigan History Walk will be Sat 5th Oct, 10am - 2.30pm www.meetup.com

A great review & photos of September’s walk by Richard - www.meetup.com

* Wigan History Walk tomorrow - Sat 5th Oct, 10am till 2.30pm - www.meetup.com *

*The next Wigan History Walk is this Sat 2nd Nov 10am - 2.30pm www.meetup.com*

Wigan Council must know something we don't! They're putting additional road signs all around the borough, written in Eastern European language. For us, it's all 'cutbacks', but they don't mind spending public money on these foreigners, do they?

I spotted one in Abram the other day, WRITTEN IN ROMANIAN!
Translated it says, "Welcome To Abram - Have a Nice Day"!.

Canal Boat Diaries is all about Robbie Cumming’s life, work and travels onboard his narrowboat, Naughty Lass. (BBC iPlayer)

Last night’s episode featured Robbie’s journey from Leigh to Liverpool, with Pennington Flash, Scotmans Flash, Poolstock Locks and Wigan Pier all appearing along the way.

Series 1: 5. Manchester to Liverpool (In Leigh from 10:50)

* The next Wigan History Walk is this Sat 7th Dec 10am - 2.30pm Meet Up *

The chance to try Nordic Walking - Tue 17th Dec 9.30am start - Canal & River Trust