Lancaster Canal
engineered by John Rennie, 41 miles long with zero locks

History and General Knowledge of the Lancaster Canal

Work began on construction of the Lancaster Canal together with the Lune Aqueduct in 1794. The canal was opened in 1797.

There were locks on the Lancaster Canal, but these are now further north of where the canal is navigable today. So the usable part of the canal is Lock-Free.

The Glasson Branch was added in 1826 allowing transport to the sea via Glasson Dock.

History of the Lancaster Canal

The Lancaster Canal is a historic waterway located in North West England, when completed ran from Preston to Kendal. Today the canal ends at Tewitfield whilst the remaining northern end has fallen into disuse.

The only access is via the Ribble Link and from there the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

The canal was constructed in the late 18th and early 19th centuries to transport goods such as coal, textiles and iron to the growing industrial centres of northern England. It played a vital role in the industrial revolution, connecting the town with other major commercial centres and providing a reliable transport route for raw materials and finished products.

The idea for the Lancaster Canal was first proposed in the mid-18th century, but it was not until the 1790's that construction began. The canal was designed by John Rennie, a prominent civil engineer who also worked on the Kennet and Avon Canal and other important projects of the time. The initial stretch of the canal ran from Preston to Tewitfield, a distance of around 42 miles.

The construction of the Lancaster Canal was a significant engineering feat for its time, involving the excavation of several aqueducts and locks. The longest tunnel, at Hincaster, in on the now disused section, was over two miles in length and took more than 10 years to complete. Despite the challenges, the canal was officially opened in 1797, with the arrival of the first boat carrying coal from the local collieries.

The Lancaster Canal quickly became an important transport route for goods, linking Preston with other industrial centres such as Kendal, Lancaster, and Manchester. The canal's success led to the construction of several branches, including the Glasson Dock Branch, which connected the canal to the port of Glasson on the Lancashire coast. By the mid-19th century, the Lancaster Canal Company was one of the largest and most successful canal companies in the country, with a fleet of over 150 boats.

However, with the advent of the railway in the mid-19th century, the importance of the Lancaster Canal began to decline. Many of the goods that had previously been transported by canal were now being carried by train, and the canal struggled to compete. In the early 20th century, traffic on the canal had dwindled to a fraction of its former levels, and it was eventually closed to commercial traffic in 1947.

Since then, the Lancaster Canal has been restored and reopened for recreational use. Today, it is a popular destination for boaters, walkers and cyclists, offering a glimpse into the region's industrial past and the important role that canals played in the development of the modern world. The canal is also known for its stunning scenery, with picturesque villages, rolling hills, and historic landmarks that attract visitors from around the world.