New Canal Link

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The Blue Anchor bridge at Aintree with my trusty steed leaning on the wall.
On top of this bridge was a popular viewing point on race days.
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Swing bridge at Aintree, notice the large planks of wood on the right side of the canal these were used to block the canal off for repairs.
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Wally`s Steps at the Old Roan leading down to the canal.Anybody know who Wally was ?
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Trees at Aintree reflecting in the canal water

Thanks Joe :)

Gregs Dad Hi

Is picture number two that of the swing bridge at Wango Lane ?

Of course the bridge is new to when I knew it. In my young days it was wooden and opened by hand, none of this electrickery them days.

I was an inmate at the Cottage Homes in the 40s and I leaned to swim from the old wooden swing bridge.

As you walk down from Longmore Lane, turn right on the towpath of the canal the River Alt is on the right. Am I correct ? only memory is in its final years lol.

Them days it was all farm land but I see it is built up in places now.

Cheers for the memories.

Phredd

Yes phredd,it is the Wango Lane one. When it was the old wooden swing bridge the boat people operated the opening of it themselves,but I was told this week that it now requires British Waterways staff to operate it, so the opening has to be booked in advance. I suppose it`s them H & S laws
It was called Hancock`s Bridge but nobody seems to call it that now.
The Alt runs under the canal just before you reach the bridge.

Hello again GD.

We used to take the no.20 tram to Aintree to get to the Canal in the 30's. Not
sure now whether we were near to it from the Terminus or whether we had
to walk on to the Old Roan. No sweat - we could walk for miles in those days,
mainly because we had to!
Is it my imagination, or has the general condition of the Canal deteriorated
since my day? My recollection is of carefully trimmed banks and overall
tidiness.
Incidentally, we used to get to places like Aintree - in the summer that is - with
special tickets giving 4 rides for a penny, thanks to the Corpy.Another
favourite was the no. 22 to Fazackerly where there was plenty of open
countryside and woodland. Is it still there or has it all been covered over?

Stan H.

Hi Stan,from Fazakerley the left hand side is still green with the Kirkby golf course, but the old bluebell woods, and the R A F camp is gone.

Interesting set of photos of the whole canal including the new section in Liverpool

http://www.penninewaterways.co.uk/li...link/link3.htm

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Originally Posted by taffy

Interesting set of photos of the whole canal including the new section in Liverpool

http://www.penninewaterways.co.uk/li...link/link3.htm

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Excellent! I see from the PW website that there is already a list of 150 narrowboats waiting for the go ahead to make the passage into Liverpool. :handclap:

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Originally Posted by Howie

Excellent! I see from the PW website that there is already a list of 150 narrowboats waiting for the go ahead to make the passage into Liverpool. :handclap:

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Probably novelty value to ride the new canal. I would rather large sea going historic and tall ships enter those docks, not inland canal barges.

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A plaque on the canal commerating the site were the old incinerator was in Bootle
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Another one on the wall of the dismantled rail bridge which brought coal into
the Linacre Rd gas works.
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One of the many bricked up entrances on the canal, to the Linacre Rd gasworks where coal was delivered from the barges, so they used rail and canal to supplythe gasworks
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An old gas lamp post on the Litherland Rd bridge with a blackbird perched on top and gasometers in the background
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The plaque on Litherland Rd bridge,seems like everybody wanted their name on it.

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A few narrow boat visitors this weekend in the Salthouse
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The Duck,a dragon boat,kayak,and narrow boats in the Salthouse dock

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Bridge Number 0 in Bootle after this the rest of the bridges into Liverpool were given letters.
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From under Litherland bridge, the remnants of the old lift bridge can be seen by the staircase
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British Waterway`s employee painting over some graffiti on lock 4 at the Stanley Locks

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All the world is at peace with this fisherman.
The canal at Bootle from a footbridge

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looks like the link is being used more frequently now
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I think I would have covered Chelsea`s name up in Liverpool
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The Duck passes the narrow boats as it emerges from the Salthouse Dock

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Originally Posted by gregs dad

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All the world is at peace with this fisherman.
The canal at Bootle from a footbridge

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Amazing. In Liverpool they put walls up to hide the canal. Elsewhere the open up to them.

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Originally Posted by Waterways

Amazing. In Liverpool they put walls up to hide the canal. Elsewhere the open up to them.

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I think the majority of walls were built when there was industrial buildings on the canal sides.

That's right because if you look at where they've built relatively recently alongside the canal, say at the Eldonian and Athol village, you can come straight out of your door onto canalside living.

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Originally Posted by Ged

That's right because if you look at where they've built relatively recently alongside the canal, say at the Eldonian and Athol village, you can come straight out of your door onto canalside living.

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If the canal is opened up there will be much more respect for it and canal boaters, who dread the rat run through Liverpool's north end, having to ride in convoy with security because of attacks by vandals and missiles.

Taking the walls down should be a priority, as everyone gains.

I remember that ,sometime in the early '90's,there were calls from local people,to fill that section of the canal in! This was due to a drowning accident,involving a young person/child! Well,of course,it didn't come to that,but the walls, etc, do restrict access to some degree,for some of the new housing,so from a health & safety point of view,that's probably why they are there,and why they'll stay!(There have been many ponds,and even lakes, filled in over the years,because of this)

Yes, it must be a bit frightening for parents of young ones who rightly allow them into the front garden but could easily wander off as the canal is literally yards from some of these houses. Also, the walls along by Bootle are perimeter walls of some private properties as there's still lots of industry along that way.

Many years ago you had to trespass by climbing over walls and gates to get on the tow path of the canal in Kirkdale and Vauxhall, Gates at the top of the stairs leading to the path were always locked up. but this didn`t stop the canal claiming childrens lives.We would get the tramcar to Ford and Litherland
parts of the canal, thinking it would be cleaner out in the country for swimming and fishing in our young minds.

I cant remember his name,( jim ?)but years ago,there was some guy who was famous for rescuing kid's from the canal,even learning them to swim! As photo's show, it was a well used facility!

Are you thinking of the Guyana-born swimmer James Clarke who saved the lives of many people who got into trouble in the River Mersey and Leeds-Liverpool canal? (See Jim Clarke 'A Local hero').

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2 narrow boats leaving lock 4 at the Stanley locks
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entering lock 3
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Not a good choice of name considering the sinking of the submarine "Thetis" in the Liverpool Bay.
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Thetis leaving lock 3 with a Merseyrail train crossing the viaduct over the canal.
I was speaking to some of the owners of these boats who had been in Liverpool for a fortnight, and they said they had really enjoyed it.
I was surprised to learn all the facilities are free if you only stay 14 days, after that you have to pay.

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Plenty of geese with their young from Boundary St bridge and Athol St,also a lot of landscaping on the banks of the canal.

Fab pics Joe. I wouldn't know where to begin on the canal....

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Originally Posted by gregs dad

I was surprised to learn all the facilities are free if you only stay 14 days, after that you have to pay.

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Traffic was fairly quiet when the link first opened and I'm sure the free 14 days was intended to encourage its use. Judging by Joe's wonderful recent photos of the moorings it seems to be having the desired effect. I think the free offer will probably end once word speads about the facilities and demand increases.

Fantastic to see the canal in use! Who'd have thought it,just a few years ago!

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Will you get your boats out of our swimming pool?. Narrow boats in the Stanley locks interfering with the swimming

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Originally Posted by gregs dad

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I am uneasy with inland canal barges being moored in these docks. Deep water vessels should be here, as that is our heritage. Recall this is a World Heritage Site. Although a part of the history of the docks, these barges just do not fit in when few other types of vessels are around. They are inland waterway vessels.

Excavating Toxteth and Harrington Docks should be undertaken moving the companies on the estate to proper industrial and commercial units in suitable parts of the city. The excavated docks can act as overspills for flood prevention and moorings for these barges. The deep water vessels can then be accommodated in Canning and Salthouse docks.

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Originally Posted by Waterways

I am uneasy with inland canal barges being moored in these docks.

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You do know that these Canal barges erm! Narrow boats bring in a substantial mooring fee don't you?

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Originally Posted by George

You do know that these Canal barges erm! Narrow boats bring in a substantial mooring fee don't you?

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This is a typical Liverpool mentality. Grab the odd shilling while you can and who cares about heritage or history in a World Heritage Site? The money does go into the public coffers for our benefit, that is for sure. BTW, the first 14 days are free.

They are canal barges.

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Originally Posted by Waterways

They are canal barges.

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I hate using Wiki as the primary source but....

Although some narrow boats were built to a design based on river barges, it is incorrect to refer to a narrowboat (or narrow boat) as a barge. In the context of the British inland waterways, a barge is usually a much wider, cargo-carrying boat or a modern boat modeled on one, certainly more than 7 feet (2.1 m) wide.

It is also incorrect (or at least incongruous) to refer to a narrowboat as a longboat, although this name was sometimes used in the midlands in working-boat days.

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Originally Posted by Waterways

I am uneasy with inland canal barges being moored in these docks. Deep water vessels should be here, as that is our heritage. Recall this is a World Heritage Site. Although a part of the history of the docks, these barges just do not fit in when few other types of vessels are around. They are inland waterway vessels.

Excavating Toxteth and Harrington Docks should be undertaken moving the companies on the estate to proper industrial and commercial units in suitable parts of the city. The excavated docks can act as overspills for flood prevention and moorings for these barges. The deep water vessels can then be accommodated in Canning and Salthouse docks.

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I don't like them being there. They don't look right no matter how colourful and pretty they are.

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Originally Posted by lindylou

I don't like them being there. They don't look right no matter how colourful and pretty they are.

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Its the way to go. :)

If I had the money I'd also be living on one...No Council tax,Mortgage,Road Tax, or any other taxes we get hammered with.

Ya can go anywhere on UK mainland that has the canal infastructure link and live within a comfortable lifestyle.

Call it ya modern day Gypsy. :)

I would rather see narrow boats in the Salthouse than nothing at all, As regards living on them very few owners do, using them like motorists use caravans to travel the country. I also think narrow boats and barges are very much a part of of our heritage, I can still remember the coal barges supplying our power stations in Liverpool

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Originally Posted by George

Its the way to go. :)

If I had the money I'd also be living on one...No Council tax,Mortgage,Road Tax, or any other taxes we get hammered with.

Ya can go anywhere on UK mainland that has the canal infastructure link and live within a comfortable lifestyle.

Call it ya modern day Gypsy. :)

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Speak to someone who permanently lives on one. They cost a fortune to heat in winter and many people suffer from rheumatic problems with the cold and damp. They cost to maintain and berth. There are few berths for them. They are cramped and only fit for a holiday.

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Originally Posted by gregs dad

I would rather see narrow boats in the Salthouse than nothing at all,

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That is a poor excuse. There is an alternative. There has been requests for deep water vessels to moor there: The Maxman, HMS Wimbrel, Many of the historic ship collection that had to shamefully be dispersed around the country, never to come back again. Those ships should be there, along with the odd sailing ship, not inland barges that really just do not fit in and look ridiculously out of place.

As I keep reminding people it is a World Heritage Site and site must be reinstated to as original as much as possible. Making a canal barge basin out of these historic docks is putting two fingers up to our maritime heritage.

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As regards living on them very few owners do, using them like motorists use caravans to travel the country. I also think narrow boats and barges are very much a part of of our heritage, I can still remember the coal barges supplying our power stations in Liverpool

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I am not saying they are not. The barges in Liverpool were wide barges mainly towed by tugs. They would string many together and travel from dock to dock or from Liverpool to Birkenhead. The odd canal barge, like thsoe in the picture would be about, however few and far between.

Having the whole of these docks as an inland canal barge basin is NOT a part of our heritage at all. British Waterways own the south docks and barges is all they understand. The stupid city council went along with it ignoring heritage and history, thinking they can own the pound or two.

The current council are a disgrace and the sooner they go the better.

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Originally Posted by lindylou

I don't like them being there. They don't look right no matter how colourful and pretty they are.

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They are way down from the top of the quays and look totally out of place.