St Helens Canal (Sankey Canal)
Though the Bridgewater Canal is popularly supposed to be the first of the industrial age, that title properly belongs to the nearby St Helens Canal. The waterway was originally proposed as a river navigation, following the Sankey Brook - hence the canal's original name. However, the engineers had other ideas, and used a loophole in the Act of Parliament to build a ten-lock canal instead. The Sankey opened in 1759, and soon became busy with coal traffic for Liverpool.
The owners resolved to build their own railways to counter competition, but this soon led to absorption by a larger railway company who were less interested in the canal. Gradual closure in the 20th century has been followed by a widespread appreciation of the Sankey's historic importance, and a local society promotes restoration. Some sections are still in water and locks have been rebuilt. The entrance to the canal from the River Mersey remains navigable and is used for moorings.
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