Western Canal

Lattice Girder Bridges

As Britain's railways expanded during the 19th century, iron lattice girder bridges became a feature of the network. Subsequently, railway companies began taking over the older canal companies and soon lattice girder bridges were being constructed on canals as well.

The Ashton, Peak Forest and Macclesfield Canals were acquired by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway Company on the 1 January 1847 to become collectively known as the Western Canal. An undertaking of the new owner was to replace several original wooden footbridges with lattice footbridges. Six of these bridges have been identified but their dates of construction are unknown.

  1. Jeremy Brook Footbridge on the Ashton Canal at the bottom of Pottinger Street, Ashton-under-Lyne. This is an arched lattice girder bridge in contrast to the others whose decks were constructed with very shallow bows. This bridge is still extant.
  2. Pinch Farm (or Occupation) Footbridge on the Hollinwood Branch of the Ashton Canal above Waterhouses Locks, Daisy Nook Country Park. This bridge is still extant but is at severe risk.
  3. Stanley Footbridge on the Lower Peak Forest Canal, off Astley Street and Charles Street, Dukinfield. This bridge was demolished sometime between 1965 and 1974 and was not replaced.
  4. Apethorn Footbridge on the Lower Peak Forest Canal at the bottom of Apethorn Lane, Hyde. This bridge has been demolished and replaced.
  5. Whaley Bridge Junction Footbridge on the Upper Peak Forest Canal at Bridgemont. This bridge was demolished in April 1978 and then replaced with a modern one.
  6. Hagg Farm Footbridge, with accompanying swivel bridge, south of Higher Poynton on the approach to Red Acre Aqueduct. This bridge is still extant but the adjacent swivel bridge was demolished in the 1970s.

 

Jeremy Brook Footbridge on the Ashton Canal at the bottom of Pottinger Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, 4 February 2006.

This view is loking towards Guide Bridge.

 

Pinch Farm (or Occupation) Footbridge on the Hollinwood Branch of the Ashton Canal above Waterhouses Locks, Daisy Nook Country Park, 31 March 1983.

This view is looking towards Iron Aqueduct over Crime Lane, which is just beyond the bridge.

 

Pinch Farm (or Occupation) Footbridge looking towards Waterhouses Junction and Waterhouses Top Lock, 20 July 2006.

 

Stanley Footbridge, which connects to Astley Street and Charles Street, Dukinfield, 20 June 1965.

This view is looking towards Ashton-under-Lyne with Stanley Swivel Bridge in the background.

 

Apethorn Footbridge on the Lower Peak Forest Canal at the bottom of Apethorn Lane, Hyde, 25 February 1979.

This view is looking towards Hyde.

 

Whaley Bridge Junction Footbridge on the Upper Peak Forest Canal at Bridgemont, 17 September 1977.

Below the footbridge is the main line of the canal to Bugsworth Basin.

Seven months later, this bridge was demolished by British Waterways.

 

Hagg Farm Footbridge on the Macclesfield Canal at Higher Poynton, looking south, 27 December 2011.

A short distance beyond this bridge there was formerly a towpath bridge over the short Red Acre Arm of the canal.