Canal Boat — November 2017

(Darren Dugan) #1

52 November 2017 Canal Boat canalboat.co.uk


The final section was once heavily
industrial, but is now increasingly green
and pleasant as it approaches the sturdy
Tame Aqueduct, the useful Portland Basin
marina, and the junction with the Ashton
Canal with its industrial museum (see inset).
This area was the main site of the
‘Ashtac’ big dig of 1972, a major volunteer
working party which launched the
Cheshire Ring restoration. How many of
those 1,000 volunteers would have
thought that not only would the Ashton
and Lower Peak Forest canals be
restored, but also the third arm of the
junction, fulfilling the ‘impossible dream’
of reopening the Huddersfield Canal.
If the northern length of Peak Forest
Canal managed to hide its urban
surroundings quite well, the Ashton

makes no such pretence at being anything
other than a largely urban and industrial
waterway, as its six miles opened in 1796
descend through east Manchester’s
suburbs. It isn’t without its interest,
though, beginning with some fine old mill
buildings plus more modern industries,
various accompanying railway tracks, and
a boatyard specialising in wooden craft,
as it makes its way westwards to Fairfield.
This was the junction for the first of
several branches (which between them
added up to considerably more than the
length of the main line).
The first short section of the
Hollinwood Branch has been restored
and turned into a marina, a restoration
group would like to open more of the
branch, and (with a certain amount of

THE CRUISE GUIDE
Peak Forest and Ashton canals

Furness Vale Marina 01663 745757

New Mills Marina 01663 741310

Portland Basin Marina 0161 330 3133

Ashton Packet Boat Co 0161 301 3972

Droylsden Marina 0161 330 3133

NOTES


Opening bridges: there are seven
opening bridges on the two canals. The
two swingbridges on the Ashton are
operated by CRT ‘Watermate’ (sanitary
station) key, as are the two on the Peak
Forest. The three liftbridges on the
Peak Forest are operated by windlass
and CRT ‘anti-vandal’ (or ‘handcuff’)
lock key.

Marple Locks: as we went to press, a
problem had developed at one lock
which meant that the flight was likely
to be closed for a short time and
restricted to 6ft 10in width for longer.
See news pages and see canalrivertrust.
org.uk for details of all stoppages.

Woodley Tunnel: the roof dips down
inside the tunnel. Remove chimneys
before entering.

BOATYARD SERVICES


Chandlery

Gas

Pump-out

Diesel

Holiday Hire

Repairs

Elsan Disposal

Moorings

Slipway

WATERWAYS


FACTFILE


2 MILES / NO LOCKS

DUKINFIELD FAIRFIELD

Approaching Hyde Bank Tunnel

Industry surrounds the Clayton Locks on the descent into Manchester

HOLLINWOOD BRANCH (RESTORATION PROPOSED)
Free download pdf