Although we were warm throughout the day, the sky remained defiantly grey and even the late afternoon brighter spells did not materialise. This was a slight disappointment for Mike who had been hoping for blue skies as background to his photos. This is the first time we have been along the Ashton since he started collecting photos of all canal features: locks, bridges, aqueducts and so on. Still, always good to leave something for next time . . .
Our overnight mooring had proved to be as quiet as it could be - the seats opposite were a popular meeting place for young people during the evening but on our side there was almost no passing foot traffic.
This area must at one time have been very busy with canal trade - the space opposite our mooring, still left as a car park but no doubt will have yet another large block built on it in time - still has one building that looks like an older warehouse. We showed a picture of the entrance to Piccadilly Basin - this area - on our last passage through here in 2017.
This building, looking towards the start of the restored Rochdale, looks as if a fan of building blocks (aka Lego) was in charge of the drawing board!
After Christine had ;popped to Morrisons for a top up to our milk supplies we set off, diving quickly under the road bridge.From the other side, Morrisons has a more prominent image.
Shortly after we passed through what seems to be called Piccadilly Village. Its website gives a bit of the history - how it replaced a run-down industrial area - as well as some pictures that show how the Ashton Canal integrates with the design.
Alas, before we could even tackle the first lock we came to a standstill with something heavy around the prop. For once we remembered to take a picture of it - a substantial aggregate or sand bag we think - but fortunately we stopped the engine before it became too entangled and it was possible 4to pull it out almost intact. We left it as a gift to the residents.
The first lock is like many of the the eighteen on this canal, entered from below under a dark bridge.
An old canal office stands between the main line and a short arm. It is at least as old as the 1848 OS map.
The 'chips' building architect must have been a fellow student with the one earlier!
This might have been an alternative entrance into New Islington Basin, where we stayed several nights in 2017, but something (we have been told but have forgotten!) went wrong and this end is a different level. Although there are mooring rings down the short arm, it looks as if the lift bridge is now little more than ornamental.
Above Lock 3 is a longer pound and although we left with the water level up to the top of the overflow weir. it was shallow and the edge of the canal looked as if it was originally intended to be somewhat higher.
Below Lock 6 we had our first glimpse of the nearby Etihad Stadium home to Manchester City (just for balance having included the other lot yesterday!) which was originally built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games. It keeps the canal company through the next few locks. This spot is well remembered as in 2007, on nb Poppy, hired from Leighton Buzzard, was the last time we came this way. At this point we met a boat coming down that told us the next lock was broken and we had to turn around. That day we did the Rochdale Nine both up and down hill!
The lock house at Lock 7 - built in 1865 - looks almost as incongruous as the rest of the canal amongst the modern buildings.
We continued up the flight without major incident until Lock 9 where Christine put her hand on a balance beam only to discover that she was attacking something with a sting. She knows not whether the insect survived or indeed what it was but her hand, even with copious application of sting and bite cream remained sore during the day.
This was almost the only industrial site that we saw all along the Ashton today. (There were several trade sites, but even so not as many as we might have expected, given the history of the area)
The paddles on this flight are mainly driven by highly geared hydraulic mechanisms which meant that almost all were easy to raise. However, this reputation of the area - long since seemingly not justified - means that they all have anti vandal devices, sturdy but do add time to open and close.
We paused above Lock 10 for lunch - when we resumed our journey we passed by a substantial towpath arm. Although there is little beyond Clayton Junction, the plaque says, "The Stockport Canal. This bridge is the start of the line that terminated at Lancashire Hill. It opened in 1797 to serve the developing town of Stockport. Known as the Lanky Cut, it carried goods and passengers to and from the many mills along the 4.2 miles from Clayton to the terminus at Stockport."
The road bridge just below Lock 16 is called Edge Lane Bridge and the plaque, with the names of all the local councillors, is dated 1924. Not sure why it was seen as more significant than the other road bridges across the canal.
Lock 16 was significant as it was our main timed target for today as just beyond it is the swing bridge which has a broken mechanism. Until it is properly repaired it is only open for an hour in the morning and then kin the afternoon, 4 - 5. We wanted to be there at the start of the hour as passage might not otherwise be guaranteed.
Between Lock 16 and Copperus Bridge there is another swing bridge but that is normally left open - although it does look a little more usable than the 'normally left open' bridges on the Leeds and Liverpool! As we came through the narrows we could see something in the water just beyond. Turned out to be a very substantial tyre. mostly under the surface. This came from no car nor even a truck. More like a large construction vehicle. We missed it - unfortunately the photo does not contain anything to give a scale.
We started to see the countryside beyond the conurbation - perhaps those are the hills that one of the Pennine canals passes through.
We arrived at Copperus at least 45 minutes ahead of the scheduled opening time - opportunity (planned) to start on preparing the evening roast lamb meal and also (unplanned) to remove yet more plastic from the prop. The CaRT person arrived well ahead of time and we were on our way at least ten minutes before four o'clock. Well done!
There were just two more locks to the summit level of the Ashton and Fairfield Junction. From below it looked even more as if there had once been a pair of locks at each point, something we had suspected earlier.
The second chamber, now used as an overflow weir, has all the indications of once being a lock. Althiugh we can find no specific reference on a website, the blog from nb Epiphany in 2012 says "The top lock of the Fairfield two locks (18) and Lock 17 both used to be double locks. The disused offside narrow lock at the top lock was the original one. The one currently in use was built to relieve congestion in the 1820s." Fi's research was generally reliable - her informative blog is much missed.
(Later: Pennine Waterways also makes a similar statement)
At one time the Hollinwood Canal joined the Ashton at this junction and ran 4.5 miles mainly to feed coal from numerous mines into the once busy and profitable Ashton Canal. Abandoned in 1955 there is a group pressing for restoration. Since it was largely rural, that would be a great asset to the network. The first 170 m has been developed as part of a regeneration project and includes a small marina.
Although a water point is marked on our guides just above the top lock, a bonus was to find an elsan disposal (along with toilets) in the buildings of a waterways maintenance base. The person who opened Copperus Bridge for us suggested mooring just above the top lock but there is only room for two boats and one had already moored so as to occupy both spaces! Waterway Routes suggested a moorable space a little further on, after a couple of bridges. It also - bonus for a Sunday with a new Poldark series starting later - it opened out in the direction of the tv satellite! It was still grey when we moored but late evening was a delightful accompaniment to our roast lamb.
4.1 Miles - 18 Locks
No comments:
Post a Comment