Sheila & Kev's Canal Journey's on nb. Gordanneus: Watch House CC to Worsley (Leigh Branch), Worsley to Trafford Centre (Leigh Branch)

We are moving on today and turning up the Leigh Branch which is the connection with the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, we are only going as far as Worsley then turning around and coming back down.

We left our mooring and chugged along for about a mile and came to Waters Meeting, the junction with the Leigh Branch and we turned left up there.

Passing the Kelloggs Factory

Turning onto the Leigh Branch

We soon came to the huge Kelloggs Factory which is right on the canal and on past there we went, then past The Trafford Centre and soon we were approaching the Barton Swing Bridge.

Barton Road Bridge & M60

Onto the Swing Bridge we go

It is one of the wonders of the waterways, it carries the Bridgewater Canal over the Manchester Ship Canal. Designed by Sir Edward Leader Williams, it was built in the early 1890s in a bold style comparable to contemporary railway engineering.

Fly Boat

Gates seal off the 235ft-long 1450-ton section that swings at right angles to the Ship Canal over a central island. It replaces Brindley’s earlier aqueduct, built in 1761 and which carried the canal in a trough over 660ft long 39ft above the Irwell, truly a wonder in its day.

And we are over

Info Board at Worsley Delph

It was great going over the Swing Bridge and the views are lovely. You can see the Barton Road Bridge and also the M60 which was busy with traffic. Soon we were on the other side and on we went passing a light house on the canal, not sure why it is there!

Worsley Delph

Lighthouse by the canal

Lime Kiln Info Board

Filled in Lime Kiln

Soon we were at Worsley and the half-timbered Packet House came into view. It is a lovely building right on the canal. We turned around and then moored up.

Monument in the Park

The Packet House once marked the entrance to the Duke of Bridgewater’s coal mines. These were at first worked in conventional fashion, but to better reach the deep coal seams, he commissioned over 40 miles of underground canals. There were two main canals, one 100 feet above the other. From either side of these many minor canals linked up with dozens of pits. Coal was mined in this way until 1887. A particular kind of simple double-ended tub boat was used underground called a ‘starvationer’. These carried up to 12 tons of coal.

Moored by the Packet House

The Packet House

The old canal basin at Worsley Delph is still intact, and information boards help to explain its workings. It is a very interesting area. There was also Lime Kilns here although now they have been filled in.

We had a good walk around and in the park close to the canal is a monument and fountain in memory of the Third Duke of Bridgewater.

Nice View from the Bridge

Coming back to Barton Swing Bridge

We then went into the Secret Garden Café for a drink and a sandwich and it was really nice and then we headed back to the boat and set off back down the canal.

We went back over the Barton Swing Bridge and the Road Bridge was opening, I think it was just for maintenance as we couldn’t see any ships coming down and on we went and moored up outside The Trafford Centre.

Road Bridge Opening

Walkway from the Canal

We are going to have a look around the Trafford Centre and moor overnight here. There is a gate into the Trafford Centre from the canal but it is locked at night when the shopping centre closes.

We walked into the Trafford Centre and the entrance is really impressive with lots of statues and fountains. You walk through Barton Square past the Sealife Centre and then up an escalator and along a really impressive walkway which goes over the road and then you are in the main shopping centre.

Walkway over the Road

Entrance to Trafford Centre

It is massive and very impressive and was so clean, it looked like it had just opened. There are many shops, all the usual ones and some designer shops. There is also a food court which has different areas, China Town and New Orleans.

Downstairs there is another food court set around a swimming pool and the area is made to look like decks on a cruise ship and it is complete with the Bridge of the Ship and clouds and stars on the ceiling. It is probably one of the most impressive shopping centres we have been in.