Category: Bridgewater Canal

Limit of Navigation

< Next Bridgewater Canal JUMP TO > < R&W Canal Jn MSC Jn > The limit of navigation on the Bridgewater Canal is Waterloo Bridge at Runcorn.  Immediately beyond is the approach road for the Runcorn...

Railway Viaduct is still there

< Next Bridgewater Canal Next > < R&W Canal Jn Top of Locks  > Looking up the line of Runcorn Locks the two arches of the railway viaduct that once straddled the two lines of...

Looking down Runcorn Old Locks

< Next Bridgewater Canal Next > < R&W Canal Jn Top of Locks  > A footpath wanders gently down the line of Runcorn Old Locks, passing through the centre of the lock chambers. There were...

Down the Staircase Locks

< Next Bridgewater Canal Next > < R&W Canal Jn Top of Locks  > Looking down the staircase locks where the Manchester Ship Canal and River Mersey can just be seen between the buildings in...

Stonework for the Locks

< Next Bridgewater Canal Next > < R&W Canal Jn Top of Locks  > The stonework clearly shows the position of the staircase locks.  We’re standing at the top gates, with the seat positioned in...

Looking up Runcorn Old Locks

< Next Bridgewater Canal Next > < R&W Canal Jn Top of Locks  > The stonework marks the position of the five pairs of staircase locks for the line of Runcorn Old Locks. To the...

Seats instead of Gates

< Next Bridgewater Canal Next > < R&W Canal Jn Top of Locks  >   The gate recesses in the locks have been repurposed for the seats.  Hopefully they will be used for gates again...

Junction with the Runcorn & Weston Canal

< Next Bridgewater Canal Next > < R&W Canal Jn Top of Locks  > After descending through four pairs of staircase locks, and before the final fifth pair, the Runcorn Old Locks line met the...

End of the Runcorn & Weston Canal

End of the Runcorn & Weston Canal

< Next Bridgewater Canal Next > < MSC Jn Top of Locks  > < Next Runcorn & Weston Canal JUMP TO > < River Weaver Jn River Weaver Jn > The Runcorn & Weston Canal once came...

Hidden but not Lost

< Next Bridgewater Canal Next > < MSC Jn R&W Canal Jn > The bottom pair of staircase locks originally linked to the River Mersey, then linked to the Manchester Ship Canal after its construction.  The trees...

Bottom of Runcorn Old Locks

< JUMP TO Bridgewater Canal Next > < Top of Locks R&W Canal Jn > The bottom of Runcorn Old Locks leads onto the Manchester Ship Canal, having previously joined the River Mersey before the ship...

Hulme Locks Junction

< Next Hulme Locks Branch JUMP TO > < River Irwell Jn River Irwell Jn > Hulme Locks Junction is where the Hulme Locks Branch (to the right of the photo) meets the main line of...

Hulme Locks Branch Top Lock Gates

< Next Hulme Locks Branch Next > < River Irwell Jn Hulme Locks Jn > The top gates of the top lock on the Hulme Locks branch have seen better days and it’s doubtful they could...

Hulme Locks Branch Top Lock

< Next Hulme Locks Branch Next > < River Irwell Jn Hulme Locks Jn > The top lock of the Hulme Locks Branch was crossed by a swing footbridge and the semi-circle shows where it swung....

Hulme Locks Branch

< Next Hulme Locks Branch Next > < River Irwell Jn Hulme Locks Jn > Looking from the top lock into the basin between the locks where boats turned through a right angle to pass through...

Hulme Locks Branch Bottom Lock

< Next Hulme Locks Branch Next > < River Irwell Jn Hulme Locks Jn > Looking at the bottom lock of the Hulme Locks Branch across the basin between the two locks, with the upper lock...

Hulme Locks Branch Bottom Lock Gates

< Next Hulme Locks Branch Next > < River Irwell Jn Hulme Locks Jn > The top gates of the bottom lock of the Hume Locks Branch are all that’s holding back all the water in...

Hulme Locks Branch Bottom Gates

< Next Hulme Locks Branch Next > < River Irwell Jn Hulme Locks Jn > Viewed from below, the bottom gates of the bottom lock on the Hulme Locks Branch have drifted open and all sorts...

Junction with River Irwell

< JUMP TO Hulme Locks Branch Next > < Hulme Locks Jn Hulme Locks Jn > The lower end of the former Hulme Locks Branch of the Bridgewater Canal emerges from the leftmost visible arch of...

Bridgewater Canal Maps

Download maps of the Bridgewater Canal. The most up to date and clearest maps of the Bridgewater Canal are available for download. View on your computer, laptop, smart phone, or tablet, or print if...

Hulme Locks Branch

The Hulme Locks Branch of the Bridgewater Canal was opened in 1838 to provide a link from the main line of the Bridgewater Canal to the River Irwell, then the Mersey and Irwell Navigation....

Mersey Gateway

The Mersey Gateway project will provide a new road link to relive pressure on the existing road bridge at Runcorn. It’s being constructed to the east of the existing bridge, and scheduled for completion in...

Runcorn Locks

Runcorn Locks once linked the Bridgewater Canal to the Runcorn & Weston Canal, the Manchester Ship Canal and, previously, the River Mersey. History Opened in 1776, the Bridgewater Canal was linked to the River...