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Dane Bank Road, LYMM, WA13 9DP

The Bridgewater Canal was a super highway of the 18th century, the equivalent of a modern motorway. Built on the contour with no locks, it blasted its way through the village of Lymm. This view of the wharf and warehouse has now disappeared. Industrial development based on the canal's function as transport infrastructure has been replaced by residential development enhanced by the canal's landscape and recreational amenity. The photograph was taken from the first floor of a house built in the mid 1970s on the north bank of the canal. With permission from the canal's owners, a gateway was made to provide access to a level pedestrian route to the village centre via the towpath. A 'glass alley' soda bottle from Barton, further east on the canal, was found about where the cat is sitting. It was probably thrown over the hawthorn hedge by a 19th century litter lout. See Wikipedia entry for the Bridgewater Canal: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridgewater_Canal

Apart from the wirescape, nothing much in this view has changed since the late 18th century. The canal runs just north of the centre of Lymm, less than a hundred yards from the village cross. It was built along a contour with no locks. Its construction relentlessly destroyed everything in its path. The bridge would have been the equivalent of a motorway viaduct today. The owners of the property on its left would have cause for great complaint unless they also owned the property on its right - a pub. Canals were good for many types of business and to some extent they still are, if not in a way intended by their builders. With a bit of imagination and money they could serve their original transport purpose again. Use them as cycleways. Perfectly level (locks notwithstanding), inter-connected and free of motor traffic you could deck over them, or adapt their towpaths, to provide ideal cycling surfaces. It wouldn't cost much more to put a weather-proof canopy over them too. Forget the hassle of creating a national cycle route network. We already have one. We just have to convince the anglers and cabin cruisers. See Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridgewater_Canal

On the north bank of the Bridgewater Canal. Purpose-built or a conversion?

Looking east along the Bridgewater Canal towpath towards Oughtrington.

A narrowboat is moored at Lymm, just east of bridge 23.

Looking east from the canal bridge, Lymm.

Looking eastwards from Lymm Bridge

Looking eastwards from Lymm Canal Bridge

The Bridgewater Canal in Lymm.

A narrow alleyway connecting the canal towpath to the main road. The cottages are all Listed buildings, one dated 1733 on the keystone above the door.