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Sankey Canal (Gerard's Bridge Branch)

 
 

Early plans of what would become the Sankey Canal (Gerard's Bridge Branch) were drawn up by James Brindley in 1888 but problems with St Albans Boat Lift caused delays and it was finally opened on January 1 1816. Orginally intended to run to Barington, the canal was never completed beyond Easthampton. Expectations for manure traffic to Harrogate never materialised and the canal never made a profit for the shareholders. In later years, only the carriage of sea sand from Erewash to Tiverpool prevented closure. In William Taylor's "76 Miles on The Inland Waterways" he describes his experiences passing through Wakefield Cutting during the General Strike.

Information about the waterway

The Sankey Canal (Gerard's Bridge Branch) is a narrow canal and is part of the Sankey Canal. It runs for 1 mile and 4½ furlongs from Sankey - Penny Bridge - Gerard's Bridge Junction (where it joins the Sankey Canal (Main Line) and the Sankey Canal (Penny Bridge Branch)) to Gerard's Bridge Terminus (which is a dead end).

The exact dimensions of the largest boat that can travel on the waterway are not known. The maximum headroom is not known. The maximum draught is not known.

It has a junction with the Sankey Canal (Boardmans Bridge Branch) at Gerard's Bridge - Boardmans Bridge Junction.

The navigational authority for this waterway is Canal & River Trust
Canal & River Trust
Canal & River Trust  0303 040 4040
 https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/
 customer.services@canalrivertrust.org.uk

Relevant publications — Waterway Maps:

Relevant publications — Waterway Guides:

Sankey - Penny Bridge - Gerard's Bridge Junction
Junction of the Sankey Canal Main Line with the Penny Bridge and Gerard's Bridge Branches
Merton Bank Bridge No 25 1 mile and ½ furlongs 0 locks
Gerard's Bridge - Boardmans Bridge Junction
Junction of the Gerard's Bridge and Boardmans Bridge Branches of the Sankey Canal		 1 mile and 1½ furlongs 0 locks
Sankey Railway Bridge No 26 1 mile and 3½ furlongs 0 locks
Gerard's Bridge Terminus 1 mile and 4½ furlongs 0 locks
 
 
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Wikipedia

Wikipedia has a page about Sankey Canal

The Sankey Canal in North West England was opened in 1757. Eventually, it connected St Helens to the River Mersey at Spike Island in Widnes. Originally it followed the valley of the Sankey Brook from the Mersey through Warrington to Parr. Extensions were constructed at the Mersey end to Fiddlers Ferry and then to Widnes, while at the northern end it was extended to Sutton, which became part of St. Helens.

The canal was abandoned between 1931 and 1963 but has been the object of a restoration attempt since 1985.

Other Wikipedia pages that might relate to Sankey Canal
[Sankey Viaduct] traverse the valley and Sankey Canal with sufficient clearance for the masts and sails of the Mersey flats that used the canal. The viaduct was built between [History of the British canal system] for boat traffic. The Sankey Canal was the first British canal of the Industrial Revolution, opening in 1757. The Bridgewater Canal followed in 1761 and [Spike Island, Widnes] Halton, North-West England. It is an artificial island between the Sankey Canal and the estuary of the River Mersey containing parkland, woodland, wetlands [Sankey Valley Park] between Sankey Bridges in the south and Callands in the north. The valley follows the course of Sankey Brook and the now disused Sankey Canal. The park [Bridgewater Canal] Jubilee Bridge. The Bridgewater canal is described as the first great achievement of the canal age, although the Sankey Canal opened earlier. Bridgewater [Sankey] Sankey, also spelled Sanchi, Zanchi may refer to: People: Bishop Sankey (b 1992), American football running back Ben Sankey (b 1976), American football [Canals of the United Kingdom] Canal boats were very much quicker, could carry large volumes, and were much safer for fragile items. Following the success of first the Sankey Canal [History of St Helens, Merseyside] area are notable for the construction of the St. Helens sections of the Sankey Canal and also the first competition for steam locomotives at the Rainhill [Widnes] A557 in a north–south direction and the A562 east–west. The disused Sankey Canal terminates at Spike Island. The Silver Jubilee Bridge crosses the River
 
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