Fairfield Lock, Ashton Canal
Introduction
The photograph on this page of Fairfield Lock, Ashton Canal by David Dixon as part of the Geograph project.
The Geograph project started in 2005 with the aim of publishing, organising and preserving representative images for every square kilometre of Great Britain, Ireland and the Isle of Man.
There are currently over 7.5m images from over 14,400 individuals and you can help contribute to the project by visiting https://www.geograph.org.uk
Image: © David Dixon Taken: 15 Nov 2012
Fairfield Lock is the highest lock on the Ashton Canal. Beyond the lock is Fairfield Junction where the main line of the Ashton Canal turns right while the former Hollinwood Branch continued ahead. The lock is Grade II-listed (Historic England List Entry Number:1356475 http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=1356475&resourceID=5 Heritage Gateway). The lock was made into a double lock in the 1820s, to reduce congestion on what was then a busy stretch of waterway. The lock to the left, now disused, was the original lock before the second lock was built to reduce queues. Compare this photograph with Image], taken in 1979. The warehouses have gone and are now replaced by modern houses to the left and new apartments, ahead and to the right.