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IWA Branch
Manchester - Ashton Canal to east side of Standedge Tunnel
West Riding - East side of Standedge Tunnel to Huddersfield
Navigation Authority
British Waterways
Waterside House, Waterside Drive, Wigan, WN3 5AZ
Tel:01942 405771
Fax:01942 405710
enquiries.hq@britishwaterways.co.uk
www.britishwaterways.co.uk
The canal runs southwest from Huddersfield to Standedge Tunnel, comprising of 76 locks over its 19.3 miles or 31 km length.
Length | Beam | Height |
69ft 11in | 6ft 10in | 7ft |
21.3m | 2.08m | 2.13m |
Boaters’ Services
Boatyards
Aspley Wharf Marina
Repairs, pump out, diesel, gas, slipway, chandlery
Aspley Basin, Aspley, HUDDERSFIELD, HD1 6SD
Tel: 01484 514123
Historical Information
This canal was built, as an alternative to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, to form a through route between Lancashire and Yorkshire. However, it was not a commercial success and was completely abandoned in 1944. Fortunately, it was retained as a water supply channel. In 1948, a group of early IWA activists navigated the canal and took a boat through the Standedge Tunnel. Recently, a massive restoration project has been undertaken with funding from the Millennium Commission, English Partnerships and other sources and the canal was reopened in 2001.
Further Information
For books, maps, guides, videos, DVDs and gifts on this canal, click here
Website
Local government links
