Fletcher's Canal
Encyclopedia
Fletcher's Canal was a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long canal in Greater Manchester
, which connected the Wet Earth Colliery
to the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal at Clifton Aqueduct
. The canal is now derelict and no longer used.
The canal was built on the south bank of the River Irwell
through the area now known as Clifton Country Park
. West of Pilkington's
long sections of the canal are evident, although none of these sections hold water. As the canal passes through Clifton Country Park a footpath is maintained along the former towpath. Some of the original features are still evident, albeit in extremely poor condition.
devised a method of pumping water from the nearby Wet Earth Colliery
using power harnessed from the River Irwell
via a water wheel
.
Around 1790-91 Matthew Fletcher began widening some of the original Brindley water channels
to create a new canal, latterly known as Fletcher's Canal. In 1799 Benjamin Outram
installed a second lock along the canal, to avoid taking too much water. The canal construction was completed and navigable by 1800.
In 1867 the original Brindley water wheel was decommissioned and replaced with a water turbine
. This was replaced by a steam
pump in 1924. Wet Earth Colliery was closed in 1924, and in 1952 the canal was closed and abandoned.
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, which connected the Wet Earth Colliery
Wet Earth Colliery
The Wet Earth Colliery has a unique place in British coal mining history, apart from being one of the earliest pits in the country; it is the place where the engineer James Brindley made water run uphill...
to the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal at Clifton Aqueduct
Clifton Aqueduct
Clifton Aqueduct, built in 1796, carried the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal across the River Irwell in Salford, England. It is preserved as a Grade II listed building. The construction is of dressed stone with brick arches. Three segmental arches with keystones rest on triangular-ended...
. The canal is now derelict and no longer used.
The canal was built on the south bank of the River Irwell
River Irwell
The River Irwell is a long river which flows through the Irwell Valley in the counties of Lancashire and Greater Manchester in North West England. The river's source is at Irwell Springs on Deerplay Moor, approximately north of Bacup, in the parish of Cliviger, Lancashire...
through the area now known as Clifton Country Park
Clifton Country Park
Clifton Country Park is a Local Nature Reserve in the Irwell Valley at Clifton, Salford, Greater Manchester, North-west England.The park comprises 48 hectares of wooded area, fields, and lakes. Industrial heritage is also a feature of the park, the remains of the Wet Earth Colliery can be found in...
. West of Pilkington's
Pilkington's Lancastrian Pottery & Tiles
Pilkington's Lancastrian Pottery & Tiles was a manufacturer of tiles, vases and bowls, based in Clifton, Greater Manchester, England. The company was established in 1892 at Clifton Junction, alongside Fletcher's Canal...
long sections of the canal are evident, although none of these sections hold water. As the canal passes through Clifton Country Park a footpath is maintained along the former towpath. Some of the original features are still evident, albeit in extremely poor condition.
History
Between 1752 and 1756, James BrindleyJames Brindley
James Brindley was an English engineer. He was born in Tunstead, Derbyshire, and lived much of his life in Leek, Staffordshire, becoming one of the most notable engineers of the 18th century.-Early life:...
devised a method of pumping water from the nearby Wet Earth Colliery
Wet Earth Colliery
The Wet Earth Colliery has a unique place in British coal mining history, apart from being one of the earliest pits in the country; it is the place where the engineer James Brindley made water run uphill...
using power harnessed from the River Irwell
River Irwell
The River Irwell is a long river which flows through the Irwell Valley in the counties of Lancashire and Greater Manchester in North West England. The river's source is at Irwell Springs on Deerplay Moor, approximately north of Bacup, in the parish of Cliviger, Lancashire...
via a water wheel
Water wheel
A water wheel is a machine for converting the energy of free-flowing or falling water into useful forms of power. A water wheel consists of a large wooden or metal wheel, with a number of blades or buckets arranged on the outside rim forming the driving surface...
.
Around 1790-91 Matthew Fletcher began widening some of the original Brindley water channels
Leat
A leat is the name, common in the south and west of England and in Wales, for an artificial watercourse or aqueduct dug into the ground, especially one supplying water to a watermill or its mill pond...
to create a new canal, latterly known as Fletcher's Canal. In 1799 Benjamin Outram
Benjamin Outram
Benjamin Outram was an English civil engineer, surveyor and industrialist. He was a pioneer in the building of canals and tramways.-Personal life:...
installed a second lock along the canal, to avoid taking too much water. The canal construction was completed and navigable by 1800.
In 1867 the original Brindley water wheel was decommissioned and replaced with a water turbine
Water turbine
A water turbine is a rotary engine that takes energy from moving water.Water turbines were developed in the 19th century and were widely used for industrial power prior to electrical grids. Now they are mostly used for electric power generation. They harness a clean and renewable energy...
. This was replaced by a steam
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
pump in 1924. Wet Earth Colliery was closed in 1924, and in 1952 the canal was closed and abandoned.
See also
- Canals of Great Britain
- History of the British canal systemHistory of the British canal systemThe British canal system of water transport played a vital role in the United Kingdom's Industrial Revolution at a time when roads were only just emerging from the medieval mud and long trains of pack horses were the only means of "mass" transit by road of raw materials and finished products The...
- Wet Earth CollieryWet Earth CollieryThe Wet Earth Colliery has a unique place in British coal mining history, apart from being one of the earliest pits in the country; it is the place where the engineer James Brindley made water run uphill...
- Pilkington Lancastrian Pottery