Rochdale Canal
This Route covers:
- Rochdale Canal
Description of the Route
From the Basins at Castlefield Junction the canal immediately climbs through 9 locks to reach Ducie Street Junction where the Ashton Canal diverges to the right. The Rochdale Canal continues the long climb with further locks as it passes through the Manchester suburbs.
At Grimshaw Lane there is an unusual lifting bridge to allow boats to pass underneath, the Chadderton and the 6 locks at Slattocks. A culvert takes the canal under the M62 and shortly afterwards a tunnel. Missing the centre of Rochdale there is a short break from locks before passing Smithy Bridge and Littleborough and making the final climb to the summit.
There is no tunnel at the summit as on other Pennine crossings and the summit pound is less than a mile long. This is the second highest summit pound at 183m (600 feet) above sea level (beaten only by the Huddersfield Narrow Canal at 197m (645 feet)).
Now descending through Todmorden the line of the canal twists to follow the valley. After Hebden Bridge the frequency of locks reduces a little until Sowerby Bridge is reached.
Tuel Lane lock replaces two former locks and is the deepest lock on the canal systems. The short Tuel Lane tunnel and two more locks bring us to the junction with the Calder and Hebble Canal.
History
Construction took 10 years after the Act of Parliament in 1794. Fortunes varied for the canal during the 1800s. Limited water supplies to the short summit pound and the large number of locks to be ascended and descended on through journeys led to a decline by the early 1900s.
Apart from a short section in Manchester which connected the Ashton and Bridgewater Canals the remainder was formally closed in 1952. Restoration began some 30 years later and the canal is now reopened throughout using most of the original alignment.
Dimensions and Features
Rochdale Canal - whole length |
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Length: Beam: * Headroom: Speed Limit |
72' 0" 13' 6" 7' 6" 4 mph |
21.95 m 4.27 m 2.28 m 6.4 kph |
Locks: Miles: Moveable Bridges: Tunnels: Hours (single journey): |
92 32 (52 km) 0 0 39 |
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* Note: Most locks will accommodate two narrowboats |
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Rochdale Canal - Castlefield Junction to Ducie Street Junction |
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Length: Beam: * Headroom: Speed Limit |
72' 0" 13' 6" 7' 6" 4 mph |
21.95 m 4.27 m 2.28 m 6.4 kph |
Locks: Miles: Moveable Bridges: Tunnels: Hours (single journey): |
9 1 (2 km) 0 0 3 |
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Rochdale Canal - Ducie Street Junction to Summit |
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Length: Beam: * Headroom: Speed Limit |
72' 0" 13' 6" 7' 6" 4 mph |
21.95 m 4.27 m 2.28 m 6.4 kph |
Locks: Miles: Moveable Bridges: Tunnels: Hours (single journey): |
47 18 (29 km) 0 0 20 |
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Rochdale Canal - Summit to Sowerby Bridge |
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Length: Beam: * Headroom: Speed Limit |
72' 0" 13' 6" 7' 6" 4 mph |
21.95 m 4.27 m 2.28 m 6.4 kph |
Locks: Miles: Moveable Bridges: Tunnels: Hours (single journey): |
36 13 (21 km) 0 0 16 |
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Operator
Operator: British Waterways |
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North West |
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Address: |
Trafalgar House Temple Court Birchwood Warrington WA3 6GD |
Phone: Fax: Email: |
01925 847 700 01925 847 710 |
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General |
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BW Emergency: |
0800 47 999 47 |
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DVDs
Waterway Routes produces DVDs of canals and waterways. We will produce one covering the Rochdale Canal - check back here for details later.
In the meantime, why not try one of our other DVDs?
Producing DVDs of Canals and Waterways. Publishing Walks by Canals and Waterways.
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Copyright © 2006-10 Waterway Routes. Updated: 24 February 2010.