Latest news with #JonHorsfall
BBC News
27-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Section of Lancaster Canal reopens to boaters after bank breach
A section of a canal has reopened eight months after a breach on an embankment led to a towpath collapsing and grounded charity Canal & River Trust has reopened the Lancaster Canal to boaters following a £1.6m project to repair a breach at Hollowforth Aqueduct at Woodplumpton, canal at the Grade II listed aqueduct was breached in July causing extensive damage with parts of the embankment, towpath and sections of aqueduct wingwall washed repair works included a land drain and a clay liner on the canal bed to prevent a future breach. Jon Horsfall, North West director at Canal & River Trust, which cares for 2,000 miles of historic canals across England and Wales, said: "Hollowforth Aqueduct is a piece of living heritage, and we've taken care to protect its historical aspects while repairing the damage to make it safe for the future."We've kept boaters at the forefront of our thinking as we've carried out these works, creating an unusual three-sided dam to allow boaters to navigate across the aqueduct before the navigation was closed for the repairs to get underway." The trust's project team created a plan to rebuild the embankment, reinstate the canal towpath and the footpath underneath the aqueduct, and sensitively repair and restore the aqueduct, using original archive drawings to replace all the masonry in its original was particularly challenging as the breach was located away from local roads and required a temporary track to be built and along the bed of the drained canal, so materials could be brought to site. Renowned civil engineer John Rennie designed Hollowforth Aqueduct, using an engineering solution of three barrel-shaped stone pipes to carry the Lancaster Canal over New Mill Brook in the 1790s. Rennie later designed the Lune Aqueduct, near Lancaster, and also the Caen Hill Lock Flight on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Yahoo
Burnley canal area dubbed a 'treasure trove' in new guide
The Canal & River Trust has released a 'North West Places to Visit' guide tailored for the Easter break. The charity is aiming to draw more visitors to the region's waterways, with Burnley's historic canal areas highlighted as a prime spot. The former 'cotton-weaving capital of the world', Burnley is a 'treasure trove' of industrial heritage, offering 'one of the best surviving industrial landscapes.' Visitors can explore the town's historical weaving sheds, spinning mills, and engine houses. For a leisurely day out, the guide suggests walking along Burnley Embankment section of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, exploring Finsley Gate Wharf, or enjoying a picnic in Thompson Park. The guide is filled with maps, visitor facilities information, free activities, and tips for making the most of the region's canals and rivers. Lune Aqueduct, Lancaster (Image: Canal & River Trust) Jon Horsfall, the Canal & River Trust's director for the North West, said: "The Canal & River Trust cares for more than 438 miles of canals in the North West, providing free-to-visit outdoor open spaces, and the chance to connect with nature and the region's rich canal history. "We want to encourage more people to visit our canals, rivers, reservoirs, and docks so they can experience the physical and mental health and wellbeing benefits of spending time by water." Anderton Boat Lift (Image: Canal & River Trust) The trust's 2,000-mile canal and river network attracted more than 10 million visitors last year as people flocked to enjoy a range of activities, including walking, cycling, running, fishing, and boat trips. The trust hopes for similar success this year with its new guide. Other places featured in the guide include the Anderton Boat Lift in Cheshire, Audlem Mill in Crewe, Chester Canal Basin, Clarence Mill in Bollington, Lancaster and the Lune Aqueduct, Marple Locks, Middlewich Locks, Nantwich, the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port, Portland Basin in Ashton-under-Lyne, and Uppermill. The guide can be downloaded from the Canal & River Trust website.
