Information AboutRochdale Canal |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT ROCHDALE CANAL | |
| canals in oldham | |
| canals in rochdale | |
| sites of special scientific interest in greater manchester | |
| geography of west yorkshire | |
| SHOPPER'S DELIGHT | |
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The Rochdale Canal is a Canal in Rochdale , Lancashire , England . The canal gained its act of parliament at its second attempt in 1794 and was completed in 1804 . The canal runs for 32 miles (51 kilometres) between Manchester and Sowerby Bridge in West Yorkshire , where it connects with the Calder and Hebble Navigation . At Manchester is connects with the Ashton and Bridgewater Canals . The canal has 92 broad Locks . As with so many canals the canal suffered with the rise of the railways. Competition from the Manchester and Leeds Railway started in 1841 . By cutting tolls the canal managed to maintain business and for a time remained profitable but by the start 20th century it was in trouble. In 1923 the canal's reservoirs were sold off. Most of the canal was closed in 1952 (the last complete journey having taken place in 1937 ) and by the mid '60s the remainder was almost unusable. The canal was re-opened to navigation along its entire length in July 2002 . Sadly in April 2005 the bank of the canal breached between lock 60 and lock 63, near the River Irk . Thousands of gallons of water surged down the river towards the nearby town of Middleton , echoing the great Middleton canal tragedy of 1927. The canal is set to re-open Summer 2006 . EXTERNAL LINKS REFERENCES
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