Ashton Canal, Macclesfield Canal and Peak Forest Canal

I have always been interested in the canals of north-west England, particularly those of east and north-east Cheshire and Manchester. The definitive history of the Ashton, Macclesfield and Peak Forest Canals has yet to be written and there is plenty of research still to be done. These pages present information and a number of photographs of the boats, trade and traffics on these waterways. I would welcome any further information that anyone can add to this. If you think that you can help please don't hesitate to contact me.

  • Maintenance Boats operated by the Manchester Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway and its' successors from 1853 to 1948.
  • Musings on the contents of the Public Health Inspector's notebook covering Boat Inspections in Macclesfield during the 1930's.
  • A look at the motor maintenance boat Joel No.9.
  • Horse Boat Maria No.4.
  • More photographs of maintenance boats at work.
  • Boathouses on the Macclesfield Canal.
  • Bibliography of the Ashton, Macclesfield and Peak Forest Canals
  • Steam Boats on the Macclesfield Canal in the 1830's

    Photo:Basil Jeuda Collection
    Boat
    Photographs of commercial carrying on these waterways are very scarce. This view shows James Potts' boat Dukinfield heading north towards Bollington Aqueduct with a load of stone which was probably loaded at Kerridge stone wharf at the end of the tramroad from Bridge Quarry.

    Photo: Courtesy of Jim Peden Photographs of Transport and Industrial History
    Hall's wharf
    Maintenance boat Cecil (in British Waterways livery) at Hall's pipeworks in Dukinfield. Hall's operated a fireclay mine next to the Clarence Mill in Bollington and the traffic in clay to Dukinfield formed one of the last through traffics on the Macclesfield and Peak Forest Canals.

    Photo:Basil Jeuda Collection
    Dane-in-Shaw
    A well loaded boat heads towards Macclesfield across the embankment at Dane-in-Shaw on the Macclesfield Canal near Congleton.

    I am extremely grateful to the late Jim Peden for permission to use photographs from his collection on some of these pages.

    Canals & Inland Waterways Links

    Tim Boddington's excellent Macclesfield Canal Pages
    William Bates detailed pages about the Stockport Branch of the Ashton Canal
    Jim Shead's waterways pages, one of the largest waterways sites on the web and has links to more related sites than any other.
    The premier UK waterways site George's Canal Pages for a wide variety of information and links
    For a look at Northern and European waterways Mike Clarke's Home Page
    For canals in the London area and many other waterways links try the London Canal Museum

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    © David Kitching 2009

    Last updated 28.3.2009