Leeds and Liverpool Canal
engineered by John Longbotham, James Brindley and Robert Whitworth, 127 miles long with 98 locks

History and General Knowledge of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal

Britain's longest canal, stretching from the Liverpool Docks though the Liverpool Link Tunnel and then on incorporating two branches (Rufford Branch) and (Leigh Branch). Including both branches, there are a total of 101 locks across all three canals.

The Rufford Branch heads north from Burscough up to the Ribble Link and includes 8 locks, the most northerly being Tarleton or the River Lock and then almost 3 more miles to the Ribble Link.

A tad east of the Leigh junction, the Wigan Locks start at lock 85 through to lock 65 where the canal turns abruptly North West at New Springs. 6 miles the canal turns North East towards and through Blackburn and Burnley.

Just prior to the Wigan Locks, the Leigh Branch runs with only two locks to Leigh where the branch becomes the Bridgewater Canal.

N,NW to Foulridge Tunnel which is 1640 yards long. Then on to the canal's most Northern point at Gargrave.

Heading now South East towards the famous Bingley Five Rise (staircase) locks. Next, swing bridge No 201 and the Bingley 3 Rise.

Running on the northerly side of Greengates and then Bramley, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal finally reaches Leeds, where at the Victoria Bridge it becomes the Aire and Calder Canal.

At the western end of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, you'll find the Liverpool Waterfront and Docks. Weaving your way through seven locks along the Liverpool Canal Link, you can make your way to River Mersey Estuary and from there North East to Eastham Locks where the Manchester Ship Canal meets the River Mersey. There are three different sized locks at Eastham, one of which is better suited to Narrow-Beam and Wide-Beam boats.

It's tidal here, so you'll need to get your timing right to avoid being stranded by the tide for a few hours. It's just under five miles from Brunswick Dock Sea Lock in the Liverpool Docks.

History on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal

Stretching for 127 miles from Leeds to Liverpool. 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 towns and cities of the region and providing a reliable transport route for raw materials and finished products.

The idea for the Leeds and Liverpool Canal was first proposed in the 1760's, but it was not until the 1770's that construction began. The canal was designed by James Brindley and John Longbotham, two prominent civil engineers who also worked on other important projects of the time, including the Bridgewater Canal and the Trent and Mersey Canal. The initial stretch of the canal ran from Leeds to Bingley, a distance of around 15 miles.

The construction of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal was a significant engineering feat for its time, involving the excavation of several tunnels, aqueducts and locks. The canal included several notable features, including the Bingley Five Rise Locks, a flight of five locks that raised boats a total of 60 feet and the Foulridge Tunnel, a 1600-yard tunnel that was one of the longest in the country at the time. Despite the challenges, the canal was officially opened in 1816, with the arrival of the first boat carrying coal from the local collieries.

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal quickly became an important transport route for goods, linking Leeds with other industrial centres such as Bradford, Blackburn and Liverpool. The canal's success led to the construction of several branches, including the Leigh Branch, which connected the canal to the Manchester Ship Canal. By the mid-19th century, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Company was one of the largest and most successful canal companies in the country, with a fleet of over 400 boats.

However, with the advent of the railway in the mid-19th century, the importance of the Leeds and Liverpool 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 1964.

Since then, the Leeds and Liverpool 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.