Wonders of the Waterways

The ancients recognised 7 Wonders of the World….

These are my personal “Wonders of the UK Waterways”

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct & Canal World Heritage Site

‘Pontcysyllte’ pronounced Pont – ker – sulth – tay, is the Welsh name for ‘the bridge that connects’. Strangely, locally everyone seems to have a different way of actually saying it! https://www.pontcysyllte-aqueduct.co.uk

Caen Hill Lock Flight

Very impressive lock flight just outside Devizes in Wiltshire

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/places-to-visit/caen-hill-locks/an-uphill-struggle-caen-hills-history

Hatton Locks, Warwick

Know locally as the “Stairway to Heaven”, the impressive flight of 21 broad locks lift the Grand Union Canal out of the Avon Valley, and are almost on the the English watershed. https://www.ourwarwickshire.org.uk/content/article/hatton-locks-stairway-heaven

Foxton Lock Staircase

Built originally in 1810, they lift boats 75 ft up to the Leicester Summit, and are a 10 narrow lock flight made up of two 5 lock staircases, with side ponds The remains of an abandoned Incline Plane are adjacent to the lock flight.https://foxton-lock-keepers.wixsite.com/foxton-locks/photos

Anderton Boat Lift, Cheshire

The “Cathedral of the Canals” is a restored boat lift linking the River Weaver to the Trent and Mersey Canal. Boats are lifted vertically 50ft in a structure designed in 1875

I steered the first full length pair- Hind & Hart- to descend the boat lift after its restoration in 2002 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anderton_Boat_Lift

The Bratch, Wombourne

The Bratch Locks on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire were designed by James Brindley ( a distant relation of mine) in 1772.

The 3 locks and the unusual lock keepers cottage make a delightful waterways scene https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/places-to-visit/the-bratch

Standedge Tunnel, Huddersfield Narrow Canal

There are actually 4 tunnels at Standedge near Marsden, burrowing under the Pennines

The current restored canal tunnel opened in 1811 and is the longest, highest, and deepest in the United Kingdom. Alongside is a defunct railway tunnel used by support vans and an active trans pennine rail tunnel both with linked side adits into the canal tunnel.  

The original tunnel was 5,445 yards (4,979 m) long, 636 feet (194 m) underground at its deepest point, and 643 feet (196 m) above sea level. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standedge_Tunnels