Dutton (Trent& Mersey Canal) to Moore (Bridgewater Canal)

We were very undecided what to do today as one minute it was glorious sunshine and the next it was pouring with rain.  It seemed to brighten up so we decided to move, bad move as it rained really hard for the mile or to Preston Brook Tunnel and Kev got wet!

Dutton Stop Lock in the Rain

Coming into Dutton Stop Lock

Preston Brook Tunnel

We came to Dutton Stop Lock which is only a few inches deep and it was pouring with rain as I went down to the lock and opened the gate.  Kev brought the boat in and the rain eased off by the time we were through, a boat was just coming out of the tunnel so we left the gates opened for them and moored up before the tunnel.

In we go

Daylight at the end of the Tunnel

Preston Brook Tunnel is timed entry and for the way we were going, it was on the hour to 10 past so we waited a few minutes until it was time and then in we went.  The tunnel is 1239yds long and is crooked but you can just see the end.  We chugged through the dark and after 15 minutes or so we came out and guess what it was raining!

Passing under the Motorway

Now we are on the Bridgewater Canal. The canal was built by Francis Egerton, third Duke of Bridgewater, to enable coal from his mines at Worsley to be transported to Manchester and sold cheaply.  His agent was John Gilbert and his engineer was James Brindley, who designed a lockless contour canal which crossed the River Irwell on a stone aqueduct.  In 1762 the Duke received sanction to extend the canal to the Liverpool tideway at Runcorn – this was later amended in order to connect with the new Trent & Mersey Canal at Preston Brook.  The route between Liverpool and Manchester was opened in 1776, although Brindley did not live to see its completion.  In 1795, the Duke received the Royal Assent for the final part of the network, which linked Worsley to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at Leigh.

The Runcorn Arm

Passing the Daresbury Science Park

The Bridgewater Canal is a tribute to its builders in that it continued to carry commercial traffic until 1974.

We chugged and passed the Runcorn Arm, hopefully we will explore that on the way back, then under the M56 and  passed the Daresbury Science Park.  We had showers on and off most of the time but went on and moored at the village of Moore outside the Village Stores.

Village Stores by the Canal

It brightened up for a while so we had a walk up into the village where there is a few houses and a pub then came back to the boat and went in the shop for a few things.

We are staying here tonight then hopefully the weather will be better tomorrow and we will chug on a bit further.   We have only ever done this canal once before when we first bought our boat from the boat yard at Lymm back in 2008 so this is really new to us and we can’t wait to go on a bit more and explore.

Moored at Moore