History of the Bridgewater Canal

Universally regarded as the inspiration for a frenetic period of waterways construction now referred to as 'Canal Mania', the Bridgewater Canal owes its existence in no small measure to a broken romance.

Following the collapse of his engagement arrangements with Lady Elizabeth Hamilton, the disconsolate Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, turned his attentions from problems of the heart to problems of transporting coal from his father's mines at Worsley near Manchester. The young Duke did not enjoy the best of health, and as part of his recuperative travels had seen - and been impressed by - waterways engineering both at home and on the Continent. France's astonishing Canal du Midi, linking the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, was a particular inspiration.

Developing this interest with his agent John Gilbert as a possible solution to both transport and drainage problems, the two explored the concept of building a canal to Manchester. Millwright James Brindley soon became involved. Although not originally from a waterways background, he had been working with the Duke's brother-in-law on a project to link the Rivers Trent and Mersey.

The result was a lock-free canal eventually extending in total to almost 40 miles, though more noteworthy for its innovation than its scenery of largely unremarkable flatness. The first section of the 'Duke's Cut' opened in 1761 and included the Barton Aqueduct over the River Irwell - an impressive early example of a canal traversing a river. Few could believe that this 'castle in the air' would hold water, but the stone structure lasted until 1893, when it was replaced during the construction of the Manchester Ship Canal by a metal swing bridge still in use today.

By 1765 the canal extended into the city of Manchester, dramatically slashing the cost of coal. Immense capital outlay was quickly countered by high profitability and various branches were added including one that afforded access to the Mersey & Irwell Navigation, now supplanted by the Manchester Ship Canal.

The entrances into the Worsley mines complex can still be seen. Coal was transported here using crude open boats called 'starvationers' owing to their exposed ribs. Commercial traffic started to decline after World War I, but since the 1950s, pleasure craft have steadily proliferated. Today the Bridgewater is an integral part of the Cheshire Ring, one of the original 'cruising rings' of the modern canal era.