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Sankey Canal History Trail Leaflet

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Sankey Canal History Trail Leaflet Welcome to Sankey Bridges This area has seen many changes through the industrial age right There were some concerns about deterioration of the lock gates through to the most recent rehabilitation works. The construction and brickwork caused by the pollution from the chemical plants of the Sankey Canal from 1757 marked the beginning of a period of St Helens. In 1881 lock walls were collapsing and a of transformation. Commercial industries relating to the canal, maintenance dredger was bought in 1881 and tried out at Sankey housing and social provision for the workers all developed making Bridges to keep the canal useable. the area lively and prosperous. In 1913 the last boat was built at Sankey Bridges with repair Private wharves, a coal yard and a public house called the facilities being maintained until after World War One. The hand ‘Resolution Sloop’ existed here in 1756. A boat yard and dry operated swing bridge for road traffic was replaced in 1915 by dock followed. Originally belonging to the Clare family the yard an electrically worked bascule bridge. In 1930 the bridge was starting building ‘Mersey flats’ in 1807 and continued for most strengthened and in 1972 it was replaced by a fixed bridge. of the century. The Sankey Bridges boatyard had a spell of financial difficulties about 1848. However, in 1855 their fortunes The recent works in this area have been funded by the North began to improve and the order book was full until at least West Development Agency. Their Land Reclamation Scheme 1881.Today the boat yard is the site of the builders merchants aims to reclaim derelict and underused old industrial land creating and the BMX track is on top of the dry dock. ‘Santa Rosa’ being launched at Sankey Bridges in 1906. North of Sankey Bridges - Bridge on the left is across the entrance to the parkland, woodland and nature reserves. dry dock. The bascule bridge can be seen next to the Mersey White Lead works and the Clare Ridgeway boatyard. In the early days canal traffic had priority over both road and rail traffic. It was custom to leave all the bridges open so boats could sail through uninterrupted. If a road crossing were required the bridges would be swung over. The railway bridge was controlled by a signal box on the bank at the end of the station platform and red warning lights shone to remind trains to stop. On a foggy night in November 1858 the locomotive “Actaoen’’ ran into the canal at Sankey Bridges. The engine was required to return the same night but nobody remembered to tell the Station Master whom, after the passage of the train, swung the bridge to allow canal traffic to pass during the night, and retired to bed as usual. On returning the driver missed the danger signal in the fog and the engine plunged into the canal. It took several days to Sankey Bridges railway platform 1950. haul it out of the water. Sankey Bridges and the Mersey White Lead Company (left) 1900s. Originally the canal ended at Sankey Bridges with boats locking out into the Sankey Brook and then downstream to the Mersey. However, there were difficulties and delays due to tides and the winding nature of the Brook. An extension of the canal was authorised in 1762 up to Fiddlers Ferry to alleviate these problems, although Sankey Lock continued in use until at least 1830 with boats attempting to jump the queues at Fiddlers Ferry. No trace Sankey Bridges - 1754 Sankey Bridges - original with proposed Sankey Canal confluence of Canal and Brook of Sankey Lock remains today. The advent of the railway marked significant change for the This sign was dsigned by Warrington Borough Council Ranger Service in conjunction with The Sankey Canal Restoration Society - 2003. fortunes of the canal. By the 1830s canal dividends were falling. In 1845 the St Helens Canal and Railway Company were formed to amalgamate the commercial interests of the both the canal and the railway. The area became more complex with houses, factories, storage yards, watercourses, locks, bridges, road Sankey Bridges railway bridge turning to allow the barge “Ellesborough” “Ellesweir” at Sankey Bridges in 1961at theside of the Mersey White through, about 1955. This steel barge, built by Yarwoods of Northwich, Lead works. In the background can be seen the ‘swing type’ railway bridge crossings, railways lines and the station all crammed in. Photographs courtesy Warrington Museum, Peter A. Norton Archives and SCARS website www.scars.org.uk was owned by Wolverhampton Corrugated Iron Company. and Sankey Bridges signal box. Welcome to Sankey Valley Park - Winwick Quay Steeped in history, the 15 mile Sankey Valley Park follows the course of England’s Sankey Sluices Hulme Lock oldest canal. The Warrington section combines the old and the new with rivers, ponds, This lock and cottage were woodlands and meadows all forming a superb backdrop to a variety of recreational and completely hidden by in-fill historic features. following the demolition of the The area where you are now was once a hive of canal activity. If you can, imagine the Hulme Lock cottage in the late 1970’s. canal full of water, people living and working here, the horses pulling boats and all the & Cottage Excavation and restoration by sounds and smells of a busy repair yard - voices, hammering, wood cutting, metal SCARS volunteers and WBC working, coal burning and steaming timbers. Although the canal is now in-filled, the Draw have revealed both the floor plan workshop and dry dock complex still remain. Bridge photo courtesy of SCARS of the building and the structure Maintenance Yard Workers of the lock and the by-wash Winwick Lock channel. A variety of building Dry Dock This lock lowered the canal by materials including brick, slate, Approaching Hulme Lock photo courtesy Barker Archive about two metres. It has the best Swing Bridge ceramic tiles and massive timber preserved by-wash channel left at uprights in the lock wall have Maintenance Yard any lock on the canal, and much of Boat House been used. The cottage was the stonework of the lock chamber originally of two rooms at lock survives in good condition. The level with cellars below but was Swing Bridge later extended to include a lock keepers cottage, which was Ship Inn located on the west bank, was last further room at each level. occupied by the Hedgewick family Winwick Lock and was vacated just before World Winwick Dry Dock ▼ Dallam Sluices War 2 during which it was destroyed Winwick Lock 1970 photo courtesy Peter Harris collection This important feature is the only remaining dry dock on the Sankey Canal. It was All the way from St Helens, the by German bombers. built entirely of sandstone with stepped sides and curved ends. Notice the steps Sankey Brook flowed at a lower allowing workers to get down to the floor and the sleepers for the traditional Mersey level than the canal, making it a Dallam Sluice photo courtesy Barker Archive Winwick Maintenance Yard Flat boats to rest on. The one metre ‘threshold depth’ from the canal allowed the convenient overflow at times of heavy rain. Just south of Hulme Lock, Sankey Brook This complex was vital for the efficient operation of the canal and much of the Mersey Flats access for repair. Once the boat was inside, the dock gates were closed flowed into the canal then excess water drained through the sluices into the brook’s elaborately constructed buildings remain. The main building, built in 1841, was a large and the water drained off via a small culvert in the western wall. This simple but original course. The remains of the sluice gates and the stone lined channel can still be wood and metal workshop. Timber bridges, gates, decking and fencing were all made highly efficient system used no machinery, just the lie of the land. Once repair work seen. From here on, the brook was at a higher level than the canal, causing widespread and repaired here. The important forge produced countless items of ironwork needed had taken place the dock was filled and the boat floated out. flooding to the Dallam area on a regular basis. To eliminate this problem the brook to keep the canal and its vessels functional. The yard was a resting and feeding point was diverted into the canal’s deepened channel at the lower level. for horses and mules hauling their boats to St Helens so horse fodder was also stored here. A crane lifted boats into the building from the canal so they could be worked on under cover. A massive timber beam was used to lift and move boats around inside and was supported on the huge roof trusses. Early 19th Century Map Wakefield Record Office The yard had its own narrow gauge photo courtesy Barker Archive photo courtesy Barker photo courtesy P. Norton photo courtesy P. railway which was used to move coal Sankey Canal - Sugar Barge. 1935 Approaching Hulme Lock photo courtesy of SCARS from the canal boats to a storage area The Dredger ‘WIDNES’ in the Dry Dock 1959 Looking towards Hulme Lock beside the railway sidings, until it was Today the local authorities of Warrington, St Helens and Halton, needed by the locomotives. Winwick Dry Dock Bridge together with the Sankey Canal Restoration Society (SCARS), are The present bridge spanning the entrance to the dry dock is the third to occupy the developing the Sankey Canal Trail as a 15 mile greenway for walkers and cyclists, whilst working towards the restoration of navigation. Quay Fold cottages to the north site.
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