FLETCHER'S CANAL

'Fletcher's Canal' was a 1.5 mile section of canal that connected the Wet Earth Colliery at Clifton, Greater Manchester to the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal, at a junction immediately south of Clifton Aqueduct.
The canal ran west, along the south bank of the River Irwell. A link to the location is provided at the bottom of this page. The canal is no longer in water, and has mostly disappeared from view due to modern building.

Contents

History

External Links

History

★ 1752 to 1756: the engineer James Brindley devised a method of pumping water from the Wet Earth Colliery using power harnessed from the River Irwell via a water wheel.

★ Around 1790 to 1791: Matthew Fletcher began widening some of the original Brindley water channels to create a new canal, latterly known as Fletcher's Canal.

★ 1800 – The canal construction was completed and navigable.

★ 1799 – Benjamin Outram installed a second lock on the canal to avoid taking too much water.

★ 1867 – the original Brindley water wheel was decommissioned and replaced with a water turbine.

★ 1924 – the water turbine was replaced with a steam pump.

★ 1929 – Wet Earth Colliery was closed down.

★ 1952 – The canal was closed and abandoned.

External Links

★ Google Maps link showing aerial view of the canal site

★ Manchester Bolton and Bury canal society

★ Pennine Waterways - Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal

★ Manchester Bury and Bolton canal non-official website

★ Waterway recovery group website

★ Dave Lane home page, includes information about Fletcher's Canal