Bridgewater Canal Breach

[dmr]

On 21/07/2025 at 21:25, PeterF said:

I agree with you, Bollington Underbridge is between the winding hole, tje current fabric dams and the breach site. Hopefully they will.build the earth dam in the dry section between the underbridge and the fabric dams. However when I turned there a few weeks back the clay is cracking in the dry section, so more work required to get that sealed again. The surveyors I saw may well hsve been doing work for the earth dam.

 

Below the fabric dams on the breach side of Little Bollington winding hole. This is where I saw the surveyors working.

 

View from the fabric dams towards Bollington underbridge and breach

 

It looks to me like the clay lining has dried out, shrunk and cracked. Is this going to be a major problem if/when the canal gets fixed? and more concerning, is this happening all over the system now where canals are empty? 

[David Mack]

This weekend would have been a campaign rally to keep the pressure on BCC/Peel, but it had to be cancelled as too many boats feared being unable to get there or to get back afterwards.

[wandering snail]

No update since mid July: https://bridgewatercanal.co.uk/latest-news/bridgewater-canal-breach-updated-statement-july-2025/

[Francis Herne]

6 hours ago, David Mack said:

This weekend would have been a campaign rally to keep the pressure on BCC/Peel, but it had to be cancelled as too many boats feared being unable to get there or to get back afterwards.

And quite rightly, given this week's announcement that the remaining T&M locks at Middlewich are to close on Tuesday Thursday [corrected below]!

Edited August 23, 2025 by Francis Herne

[BEngo]

1 hour ago, dmr said:

 

It looks to me like the clay lining has dried out, shrunk and cracked. Is this going to be a major problem if/when the canal gets fixed? and more concerning, is this happening all over the system now where canals are empty? 

The base of the basin at Circus Field cracked quite extensively whilst the rest of the moorings were being bullt.  The cracks took up after a time, once the wzter was let in.  It was several weeks though before you could not clearly feel them with a shaft.

 

On the Bridgewater I expect they will perforce get a good going over from heavy machinery whilst the rebuild is done so will probably take up a bit faster.  The rebuild might even include a run over with a sheeps foot roller  to deliberately knead any clay base.

[magnetman]

Ducks. Get loads of ducks in there then sell them to Chinese restaurants afterwards. 

 

Waddle waddle waddle.

 

 

[Francis Herne]

2 hours ago, BEngo said:

It looks to me like the clay lining has dried out, shrunk and cracked. Is this going to be a major problem if/when the canal gets fixed? and more concerning, is this happening all over the system now where canals are empty? 

Puddle clay is a lot thicker than you might expect at about 2-3ft, and there'll be a layer of silt on top of that. I doubt those cracks penetrate far enough to be a problem.

[magnetman]

2 hours ago, Francis Herne said:

Puddle clay is a lot thicker than you might expect at about 2-3ft, ...

That seems to be a very large amount of material which was presumably transported over land. 

 

Where did they get it all from ?

[adam1uk]

5 hours ago, Francis Herne said:

And quite rightly, given this week's announcement that the remaining T&M locks at Middlewich are to close on Tuesday!

Thursday.  Not Tuesday.

[MtB]

1 hour ago, magnetman said:

Where did they get it all from ?

 

Probably from Mainland Aggregates Ltd.

 

https://www.mainlandaggregates.co.uk/puddle-clay.html

 

 

[magnetman]

Alistair did a search for me and suggested that in some cases Brindley may have deliberately routed canals through areas known to have adequate clay supplies to avoid the logistics problems. 

[Pluto]

The thickness of canal lining all depends upon what was used. The clay which we see as normal today would have been too expensive to transport any distance by road. Some was carried shorter distances on partly-finished canals, when there was a foot or two of water prior to the side lining being installed. Lining was the more usual term for the water-retention layer as puddle referred to clay used in a trench to stop seepage under any earth bank built over, as per the image below. From the research I have done, it seems that the main canal lining material was called 'semmel', probably from the German word meaning a collection. It described a loamy soil in which there were small stones, the Austrian canal engineer Maillard suggesting they could be as large as a pigeons egg. Such soil occurred naturally, and the exact canal route may have been altered slightly to find such soils, though deviations were only allowed within specific distances provided for in the canal's Act. Semmel was then laid down in layers of perhaps 18 inches and this was thoroughly pummelled before the next layer was added until the base of the canal was five to six feet thick. The sides were perhaps around two feet thick, and there certainly seems to have been problems in getting a good seal at water level initially. The amount of lining would vary depending upon the type of subsoil, and the level of the water table.

 

Clay, as we know it today, was used initially in specific areas such as where a puddle trench was necessary, and was probably introduced more widely for maintenance purposes after the canal opened, as then it would be possible to carry it long distances economically. I suspect that each canal company would have its own supply; the L&LC certainly had several clay pits, though eventually just the one on the Leigh branch was used, and not just for the L&LC in BW days.

[dmr]

15 hours ago, Francis Herne said:

Puddle clay is a lot thicker than you might expect at about 2-3ft, and there'll be a layer of silt on top of that. I doubt those cracks penetrate far enough to be a problem.

Yes, looking again I reckon that its silt, its the right colour for silt and in the right place for silt to deposit.

I suspect that 2 to 3 feet is a bit optimistic in some places.

[sueanddaren]

Had a walk to look at the breach this afternoon, it looks like they have started doing something. They have set up a compound on the Dunham side with an office and a welfare container. They have a excavator in the canal channel and one lifting things up the banking from the compound. Watched them lift some sort of small roller machine from the compound into the dry channel.  They also have a large tracked dumper truck moving earth. Probably about 6 workmen and a couple of others with theodalites working under the viaduct. No idea what they are actually doing but it looks hopeful. 

[johnmoly]

Looks as if work has definitely started on the repair.

 

 

[junior]

Bridgewater Canal Breach Repair Update – December 2025

Stabilisation nearing completion, Principal Consultant appointed, design works underway. 

The Bridgewater Canal Company has confirmed that the repair programme following the New Year’s Day breach at Little Bollington has now moved into its next phase, with stabilisation works nearing completion and the formal design process for reinstating the embankment now underway.

As part of this progression, SLR Consulting (formerly Wardell Armstrong) has been appointed as principal consultant to lead on the design and project management of the reinstatement, following a competitive tender process.

Since January, extensive work has been undertaken to protect and secure the canal. Temporary dams, stoplogs and embankment support have stabilised the site, and the unnavigable stretch has been reduced to under half a mile.

In September, the adjoining landowner, the National Trust released its Geo-environmental Site Investigation, undertaken with guidance from Cheshire East Council and the Environment Agency. The report confirmed: “Testing showed that the flood-affected soils at the site do not pose a risk to human health from chemical or microbiological sources.”

This enabled full access for specialist surveys, which have now been completed. The results are informing the design process which is underway. The document can be found here.

Further targeted ecological and environmental surveys will take place in the coming weeks. Once finalised, these will allow the contractor procurement process to begin. Subject to the outcomes of ecological surveys and engineering design, we envisage construction works to begin in summer 2026 with a completion by the end of 2026. 

SLR Consulting said: “We’re pleased to support the Bridgewater Canal Company as this project moves into the design and planning phase. With our experience in civil engineering and canal infrastructure, we look forward to helping restore this historic stretch of the Bridgewater Canal.”

Peter Parkinson, Managing Director of the Bridgewater Canal Company, said: “We recognise how important the canal is to boaters, local residents and the wider Cheshire Ring. We’re pleased to have appointed SLR Consulting as principal consultant; their extensive experience in civil infrastructure and canal projects will be invaluable as we move into the next phase of these complex repairs. We remain committed to restoring navigation and will continue to keep everyone updated as plans develop.”

Illustrations of the breach repair

[Liam]

Thats obviously a big fat lie as a few people stated it wouldn't be fixed 🤣

[frangar]

Just now, Liam said:

Thats obviously a big fat lie as a few people stated it wouldn't be fixed 🤣

It’s not yet!! CRT said the lift wouldn’t be out for long either!!…..

 

I do hope it will all go according to plan and a bit more of the northwest will open up! 

[IanD]

14 minutes ago, Liam said:

Thats obviously a big fat lie as a few people stated it wouldn't be fixed 🤣

 

AFAIK nobody said it *wouldn't* be fixed, just that there was doubt about whether it made financial sense for them to fix it and whether they were legally obliged to -- especially when they find out the real cost, because they still haven't actually gone through the design process and full costing yet (that's what the press release actually says near the top).

 

IMHO whether "We remain committed to restoring navigation" means they will stay committed regardless of the cost is still by no means certain... 😞 

 

(it's like politicians saying "We currently have no intention to raise this tax" -- which doesn't mean it won't happen if it turns out to be necessary when the real numbers emerge...)

 

I would *love* to be confident that they'll do what they're claiming, but if they have to pay for it then it'll all depend on what the final bill to do this is. A couple of million, yes they'll do it. What if the bill is £10M, will they still do it? What if it's more? They're part of Peel Holdings who are famously money-driven, there is no bottomless pit of well-meaning money available.

 

When the design/costing is done and the bill known, if they *then* say "In spite of the cost, we are going to completely restore navigation" -- then I'll believe them. Until then it's just another HS2... 😞 

Edited December 5, 2025 by IanD

[Liam]

Jesting aside, it's interesting that they propose to replace the embankment as for a while the idea of a concrete aqueduct, cast off site in sections, to be put in place by crane was pushed around as a solution to the Bollin flood water collecting against the east side embankment, but was probably just unofficial gossip doing the rounds maybe.

[IanD]

Just now, Liam said:

Jesting aside, it's interesting that they propose to replace the embankment as for a while the idea of a concrete aqueduct, cast off site in sections, to be put in place by crane was pushed around as a solution to the Bollin flood water collecting against the east side embankment, but was probably just unofficial gossip doing the rounds maybe.

I'm sure there will be lots of internal arguments about different solutions, ranging from "quick-dirty-cheap-nasty" to "slow-proper-expensive-nice" -- so long as the canal gets restored I suspect most boaters won't care, though it won't stop some complaining if the result is a concrete monstrosity... 😉 

[David Mack]

1 hour ago, Liam said:

Jesting aside, it's interesting that they propose to replace the embankment as for a while the idea of a concrete aqueduct, cast off site in sections, to be put in place by crane was pushed around as a solution to the Bollin flood water collecting against the east side embankment, but was probably just unofficial gossip doing the rounds maybe.

As a professional civil engineer, now retired, I never thought the concrete aqueduct idea was viable. I would expect to see something very similar to the repair of the 1973 breach. But I would probably expect to see some larger/additional culverts through the base of the embankment to accommodate flood water. Quite apart from anything else, current design practice to allow for climate change would dictate larger openings than would have been the case in Brindley's day.

[ditchcrawler]

There is a new video up today showing a sink hole that has developed right under one of the dams, its 2 minutes into the video 

 

[MtB]

5 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:

There is a new video up today showing a sink hole that has developed right under one of the dams, its 2 minutes into the video 

 

 

And I think it was only Saturday I posted suggesting there might be some more land slippage, still to come...

 

 

 

Edited January 19 by MtB
Missing word