Cruising the Ashton Canal is not too tricky with 18 lock in less than seven miles.
Some short stay mooring at the Manchester end next to Morrisons car park
It is a narrow canal at many of its bridges. Only 18 locks at the westward end near the Rochdale Canal.
Lock Gates
Tunnel AqueductThe Ashton Canal is a historic waterway in Greater Manchester, England, which was constructed in the late 18th century to transport goods and raw materials to the town of Ashton-under-Lyne. The canal was designed by the engineer Benjamin Outram and opened in 1792.
The Ashton Canal runs for 6.8 miles from its junction with the Rochdale Canal at Ducie Street in Manchester, through the town of Ashton-under-Lyne. It then makes its way uphill to Fairfield where it levels out for the final lockless stretch of 3.2 miles and moving into the Huddersfield Narrow Canal at Dukinfield.
The canal played an important role in the transport of coal and other raw materials during the Industrial Revolution, and helped to establish Manchester and Ashton-under-Lyne as major industrial centres. The canal was also used for the transport of goods such as timber, iron, and corn, as well as passengers and livestock.
Today, this Manchester canal is a green link from the city centre to Ashton-under-Lyne, bordered by an interesting mix of modern and industrial architecture. Improvements to the towpath have made it into a pleasant route, accessible to walkers, cyclists and wheelchair users.
Completed in 1792 and like a lot of the canals in the area, to serve the coal industry. This canal was a crucial link across the Pennines and was still commercially used up to the early 1950's.
Falling into decline many areas of the canal, including all of its branches fell into decline. Sadly the canal was in such decline that it almost disappeared. If not for largely volunteer groups in the early 1960's, who helped restore the canal over several years. These working parties continued into and beyond 1972. The canal finally reopened in 1974, in the main, to tourist traffic.
All the branches remained unsaved and many have been built over in the following 40 or 50 years.
For holiday makers and live-aboard's alike, the Ashton Canal is a vital link to the Cheshire Ring.
Today, the canal is used for recreational purposes such as boating, fishing, and walking, and is an important part of the cultural and historical heritage of Manchester and Ashton-under-Lyne. The canal has also been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and is home to a range of wildlife.
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