Leeds and Liverpool Canal (Rufford Branch)
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal (Rufford Branch) was built by Exuperius Picking Junior and opened on 17 September 1816. The canal joined the sea near Taunford. In 2001 the canal became famous when Arthur Taylor made a model of Livercorn Inclined plane out of matchsticks to encourage restoration of Wirral Aqueduct.
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal (Rufford Branch) is a broad canal and is part of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
It runs for 7 miles and 2½ furlongs through 8 locks from Lathom Junction (where it joins the Leeds and Liverpool Canal (Main Line - Liverpool to Wigan)) to Tarleton Junction (where it joins the River Douglas).
The maximum dimensions for a boat to be able to travel on the waterway are 62 feet long and 14 feet wide. The maximum headroom is 7 feet and 8 inches. The maximum draught is 3 feet and 7 inches.
AKA the Lower Douglas Navigation
The navigational authority for this waterway is Canal & River TrustRelevant publications — Waterway Maps:
- Waterway Routes 01M - England and Wales Map
- Waterway Routes 10M - Leeds and Liverpool Canal Map (Downloadable)
Relevant publications — Waterway Guides:
- Collins Nicholson Waterways Guides No 5 - North West & the Pennines
- Pearson's Canal Companion: Leeds & Liverpool - West Yorkshire Waterways
Relevant publications — Waterway Histories:
| Lathom Junction Junction with Leeds and Liverpool - Rufford Branch |
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| Junction Bridge No 1 | a few yards | 0 locks | |
| Lathom Locks No 1 Swing Bridge | ¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
| Lathom Locks No 1 | ¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
| Lathom Locks No 1 Footbridge | ½ furlongs | 1 lock | |
| Lathom Lock No 2 | ¾ furlongs | 1 lock | |
| Lathom Lock No 2 Footbridge | 1 furlong | 2 locks | |
| Runnel Brow Bridge No 2 | 2 furlongs | 2 locks | |
| Runnel Brow Lock No 3 | 2¼ furlongs | 2 locks | |
| Runnel Brow Lock Footbridge | 2¼ furlongs | 3 locks | |
| Railway Bridge No 2A (Wigan to Southport) | 3½ furlongs | 3 locks | |
| Moss Lock No 4 | 4¾ furlongs | 3 locks | |
| Moss Lock Footbridge | 5 furlongs | 4 locks | |
| German's Lock No 5 | 1 mile and 1¼ furlongs | 4 locks | |
| German's Bridge No 3 | 1 mile and 1¼ furlongs | 5 locks | |
| Chicken Lock No 6 | 1 mile and 3 furlongs | 5 locks | |
| Baldwins Bridge No 4 | 1 mile and 3 furlongs | 6 locks | |
| Prescott Bridge No 5 | 1 mile and 5¼ furlongs | 6 locks | |
| Railway Bridge No 5A (Ormskirk to Preston) | 2 miles | 6 locks | |
| Marsh Meadow Swing Bridge No 6 | 2 miles and 3 furlongs | 6 locks | |
| Marsh Meadow Winding Hole | 2 miles and 4¼ furlongs | 6 locks | |
| Rufford Lock No 7 | 2 miles and 6¾ furlongs | 6 locks | |
| Rufford Lock Footbridge | 2 miles and 7 furlongs | 7 locks | |
| St Mary's Marina | 2 miles and 7½ furlongs | 7 locks | |
| Fettlers Wharf Marina | 2 miles and 7¾ furlongs | 7 locks | |
| Chapel Bridge No 7 Rufford |
3 miles | 7 locks | |
| Rufford Old Hall Ancient Half Timbered Manor House. National Trust Property |
3 miles and 2¼ furlongs | 7 locks | |
| Town Meadow Swing Bridge No 8 | 3 miles and 4¼ furlongs | 7 locks | |
| Spark Bridge Sanitary Station | 3 miles and 7½ furlongs | 7 locks | |
| Spark Bridge No 8A | 4 miles | 7 locks | |
| Fearn's Swing Bridge No 9 | 4 miles and 4¾ furlongs | 7 locks | |
| Sollom Lock You now pass straight through the lock onto the canalised route of the River Douglas. |
5 miles and 1 furlong | 7 locks | |
| Strand Bridge No 10 Sollom and the disused lock onto canalised River Douglas |
5 miles and 1¼ furlongs | 7 locks | |
| Bank Bridge Winding Hole | 6 miles and ¼ furlongs | 7 locks | |
| Bank Bridge No 11 The bridge over the canal and river is Grade II listed. |
6 miles and 2¾ furlongs | 7 locks | |
| Town End Swing Bridge No 12 Tarleton |
6 miles and 6½ furlongs | 7 locks | |
| Town End Narrows | 6 miles and 7½ furlongs | 7 locks | |
| Tarleton Boat Yard | 7 miles and 1¼ furlongs | 7 locks | |
| Tarleton Lock Footbridge | 7 miles and 2 furlongs | 7 locks | |
| Tarleton Lock Tidal lock to the River Douglas |
7 miles and 2¼ furlongs | 7 locks | |
| Tarleton Junction Junction of Rufford Branch and River Douglas |
7 miles and 2½ furlongs | 8 locks |
- St Mary's Marina — associated with St Mary's Marina
- St Mary's Marina website
Wikipedia has a page about Leeds and Liverpool Canal
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is a canal in Northern England, linking the cities of Leeds and Liverpool.
Over a distance of 127 miles (204 km), it crosses the Pennines, and includes 91 locks on the main line. It has several small branches, and in the early 21st century a new link was constructed into the Liverpool docks system.
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