Rochdale Canal

In 1949 new threats of clousure of the Rochdale Canal (later in the year the threats to navigation were withdrawn from the Rochdale Canal Bill).

In 1951 there were new threats to the Rochdale Canal.

On the parliamentary front the 1952 Transport Bill and the Rochdale Canal Bill claimed much attention.

1959 bought a new threat to the canal as can be seen from this extract from IWA Bulletin 59 published in July.

Though still much better maintained than the Ashton Canal (between 1948 and 1953, 12 new lock gates were installed at the 9 locks), it is believed that the navigation authority, the Rochdale Canal Company, are now trying systematically to discourage traffic with a view to abandoning the waterway; being, no doubt, therein encouraged by the Manchester Corporation. A toll of 15/is being charged for the distance of 1¼: miles; the movement of traffic is prohibited on Saturdays and Sundays; and, worst of all, notice of 48 hours is demanded before a passage is permitted. Needless to say, the legality of these conditions is extremely doubtful. And the Rochdale Canal Company in 1958 increased its dividend to 4½:%, against 4% the previous year, as well as carrying forward a larger sum.

The March issue of "The Nor-Wester", organ of our North-Western Branch, states: "The matter will not be allowed to rest in its present unsatisfactory state".

Nor is anything very edifying to be said about the rest of the Rochdale Canal, abandoned a few years ago, though one of the biggest navigations in England. Our Member, Mr. R. G. R. Calvert of Oxhey, writes:- "I walked some time ago from Castleton to Failsworth. "Several locks have had the top gates replaced by a concrete wall; but these walls do not appear to have been built into the lock walls. All locks from the Basin at Manchester upwards, have had the lower gates removed; and those which retain the upper gates, have had the beams of these upper gates removed. The lower gates and the beams of the upper gates have been dropped into the lock chambers. Nothing but deliberate and wilful destruc tion.

Part of the Basin at Manchester has been filled in and is used as a park for lorries. There is a lifting bridge of the Dutch type at Middleton. It would be a tragedy if it were replaced by a fixed structure at present road level, as it would go far to finish off all possibility of re-opening the waterway.

Neither the weed nor the water position at present appears to be serious, but they could easily become so. Surface water draining into the Canal at one place has caused silt right across, and the available channel between the weeds growing from both banks, is narrowing.

There is a power station between Middleton and Failsworth. New service lines and bridges have all been erected at the proper height for navigation.

The whole Canal is a real oasis, just where an oasis is needed. Wild flowers and elderberries have covered up broken land, and the destruction of the locks leads one to the conclusion that only man is vile. The way the Canal climbs up and up over the hills is quite thrilling. About a mile from Middleton, I met a cowman bringing the cows in for milking. The Rochdale Canal has been far too much associated with dirt, filth, tripe works, and the rest. One thing at least we might try to do as an Association: which is to kill this impression. Canoeists should be encouraged to use the Canal. I need not enlarge on the commercial possibilities. It would seem to fit the bill exactly as an extension of the docks, especially in that it is a barge Canal."

The many who will wish to investigate further will be encouraged to learn that the entire towpath of the Rochdale Canal has been declared a public footpath.

The 1964 Bill for the Rochdale Canal presented the prospect of closing the Rochdale nine locks and thus destroying the route that was to become known as the Cheshire Ring.

In 1973 with the Kennet & Avon Canal still not restored after more than 10 years some IWA members were now suggesting that the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and Rochdale Canal should be considered next for restoration. Others said that this was too ambitious, an argument history would refute some thirty years later.

The Rochdale Canal Society opened the restored section of canal between Todmorden and Hebden Bridge in 1983.

The 1986 proposed route for the M66 motorway threatened to make the restoration of the Rochdale Canal impossible.

The battle for future navigation on the Rochdale Canal was won in 1988 when it was announced that the M66 motorway would be built to allow navigation when the canal was restored.

The 1988 IWA National Boat Rally and Carnival was held at Castlefield at the junction of the Bridgewater Canal and the Rochdale Canal in the centre of Manchester.

In 1990 locks from Todmorden up to the Summit of the Rochdale Canal were officially reopened making almost half the canal navigable although still separated from the rest of the system by the obstuction at Tuel Lane.

The canal received a £602,000 Derelict Land Grant from the Department of the Environment in 1993 to reconstruct part of the canal near Oldham.

In 1996 the Rochdale Canal was reconnected with the waterways system by the opening of the new Tuel Lane Lock.

The whole of the Rochdale Canal was reopened on 1 July 2002.