Rose Hill Tunnel

As cut, the lower level of the Peak Forest Canal ran on the level from its junction with the Ashton Canal, at the south end of the Tame Aqueduct, through three tunnels, Butterhouse Green (167 yards), Hyde Bank (308 yards) and Rose Hill (100 yards), and then over the three-arched Marple Aqueduct (or Grand Aqueduct) to the foot of the Marple flight of 16 locks.

In 1833, major earth slip occurred in the vicinity of Rose Hill Tunnel, which necessitated bank reconstruction and the building of supports to counter any further slips. As a consequence of this event, it has long been understood that the tunnel was opened up in 1834 as part of the remedial work. However, evidence in the form of a Tithe Map of 1849 shows that the tunnel was still extant in that year. In view of this evidence, the date of the opening up of this tunnel should now be moved from 1834 to sometime after 1849.

At the time that the tunnel was opened up, Occupation Bridge was built across the canal where the western portal of the tunnel once stood. This new bridge was provided for the benefit of the local farmer to give him continuity of access to his fields. As would be expected, it can be seen from the Tithe Map that Occupation Bridge had not been built by 1849.

Rose Hill Cutting undergoing repairs, 1997. The gradient of the cutting is being reduced on the north side and a concrete retaining wall has been constructed to withstand ground pressure from the hillside. This photograph shows the concrete wall being faced with stone.	Rose Hill Cutting, 24 February 2006. Occupation Bridge can be seen in the background.
Occupation Bridge, 25 February 2006.