The canal is 1.25 miles long, 15 feet (4.6 m) deep and 66 feet (20 m) wide and it’s the straightest canal in Britain. In its short working lifetime it accommodated thousands of vessels for various important local industries including charcoal burning, hoop-making, gas works and ship building. The last boat to be built on the canal was the Hearts of Oak over 100 years ago, which is still in use today.
A rolling bridge can be found mid-way along the canal. Ignored for many years, the significance of this historical bridge was only realised after a chance visit by an amateur industrial archaeologist to the site. It is believed to be the only surviving bridge of its kind in England. It has been granted grade II listed status. Click here to see the original working drawings of the bridge.
Workshops and businesses can still be found on and around the canal, including the GlaxoSmithKline plant which now operates on the site of the old ironworks. At Canal Foot you’ll find the Bay Horse Hotel and Restaurant which used to be the staging post for the coaches that crossed the sands of Morecambe Bay in the 17th century.
Contact details:
Email: chairman@ulverstoncrg.co.uk
Website: https://www.ulverstoncrg.co.uk/
Map:
