Pluto

Probably associated with a drain plug in the bed of the canal. The second photo does show a stream entering the canal opposite, so there may have been a culvert underneath the canal into which water could be drained, should the canal need emptying. A chain was usually attached to the plug, and this could have passed over the roller to a temporary winch on the towpath. There does not appear to be enough room to wrap the chain around the roller, so it may have originally been used elsewhere, and then used here when the concrete capping was fitted to the top of the towpath bank.

I suspect that the short piles were being used instead of the concrete piles which BW made and used in the 1950s and 1960s. These were principally to protect the bank from erosion caused by wash, and would not have been considered as a major structural feature. Wash was, and is, a major problem as when puddle was originally used to line a canal it was a mixture of loamy soil, sand and small stones, laid in several layers up to 4 feet thick. Clay was only used for very specific problems, such as aqueducts and other major structures. After all, prior to canals being built, there would be no cost-effective method of carrying sufficient quantities of clay to the construction site, whereas loamy soil was often found during excavation of the channel. I have transcribed details re canal puddling from several early 19th century civil engineering books, plus sections from the engineer's reports whilst building the Lancaster Canal, which cover the subject in more detail. These form an Appendix to my recent transcription of 'A Treatise on Inland Navigation', first published in 1817. See: www.canalhistory.co.uk if you would like to buy a copy. Simplistically, most of the recent structural problems seem to stem from the join between old and new methods of engineering. Both are effective on their own, but can create problems where they connect.

The First World War pretty much destroyed the British timber industry, with land owners, post the war, not wanting to wait the best time for the wood for a return on their timber. The Rochdale Canal used piggy-back balance beams after the war as they could not source any suitable long lengths. Perhaps one of the best books to read which looks at timber usage around 1900-1920 is The Wheelwrights Shop by Sturt.

This could give some idea of how long gates lasted in commercial days. Notes re lock gate age.pdf

This should give some background. 1959 lockgates.pdf

You will find two here: https://www.canalhistory.co.uk/Canals-in-General/

I have a couple of new books, one is a transcription of an 1817 American book, A Treatise on Inland Waterways, on how to build a canal, based upon Rees Cyclopedia, to which I have added my recent research into canal puddle, with several transcripts and other sources. I am also expect to have a translation of the German Sturm's 1715 book on Locks and Inclines next week, which I have just sent to the printers. I am expecting to be at Ellesmere Port at Easter, or you can contact me through my website below - it does have selection of open access articles and other canal history items. Sorry for advertising.

Appleby's/Rank's found that grain delivered from Birkenhead Docks to Blackburn arrived quicker by canal, which is why they had new boats built in the 1930s. They kept and used their rail access to encourage competition and thus lower prices. The average weight carried by a mixed traffic train was: 1871 56.9 tons 1880 61.4 tons 1890 63.6 tons 1900 63.3 tons 1911 95.9 tons From Cain, Private Enterprise or Public Utility? Jour. Trans. Hist. 3rd ser 1980 After the L&LC had ended the railway lease of general cargo traffic in the 1870s, the L&YR were laying staff off at Burnley around 1880 because the canal was offering a better service.

I would have thought that they were shafts holding up the radio aerial, so 1940s, give or take.

I would have liked to go, but the five and a half hour trip each way is a bit daunting. However, can I say that my thoughts will be with those of everyone attending,

Jackman, in his Development of Transport, vol 1, does mention 16 & 17 Chas II, 13, but I cannot find any mention of the text anywhere, though the National Archives do seem to be updating their webpages re Private Acts. I can find the text for Caps 11 and 12. It does seem a bit of a mystery, though https://www.british-history.ac.uk/statutes-realm/vol5?page=1 should get to suitable pages, but my browser won't let me to open it at the moment.

Has it changed much since 1995?

If you look on my website, https://www.canalhistory.co.uk/LLC-Boats/, there is probably sufficient information to build a replica of one of Wilkinson's engines, and a boiler to go with it. The explosion reports are quite interesting, with it taking most of a day to get a badly scalded crew member from off the summit to the nearest hospital at Blackburn. He died.

A couple of photos of the basin around 20 years ago when used as a carpark. The single storey buildings either side of the warehouse were originally open fronted, with an awning along the whole length to keep rain off the open holds of boats. There were also three side basins into the single storey sheds. You could still see mooring rings fixed in the copings.

I feel sure that boatmen who went north via Wolverhampton would have little knowledge of Caen Hill. For a real contemporary poem, this was published around 1770 about the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. A New Song in Honour of the Proprietors of the Navigation Come all you Britons Old and Young Who love to see this great work done That is in England now begun, This noble Navigation Where you have all things at command See vessels sailing thro’ the land, The richness of your lab’ring hand Will bring Honour and Glory. This work begun in Yorkshire, Were you to see you’d then admire, Hundreds of lab’ring men they hire For this noble navigation. If a man he be in want, And for Money have great occasion, Be not afraid but take a spade, There’s money at th’Navigation. Britons rejoice do not lament, But praise the king and Parliament, Brings every true subject content, For this act of Navigation. God bless George the third our king, The lab’ring men rejoice and sing, That’ell make the hills and valley’s ring, For this act of Navigation. Where you may sail from shore to shore, To every part the world o’er, From other lands may bring their store, To every part of England. You misers that does lay up gold, I would have you to be so bold, For ‘tis as good as the freehold, If you lay it o’th Navigation. But what think you by those brave men, Who subscribe their money and take it again, Are they worthy of any fame, Or to live in Great Britain. No more I’ll add, but ever praise, And with them happy days, Glory and honour give always, To these noble Undertakers.