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Posted by Editor on 10th November 2011 at 06:45 PM
Video: Bridgewater 250th - Part 5 - Patricroft
by Tony Flynn and Tom Rodgers

In our fifth part of the Bridgewater Canal journey to celebrate its 250th anniversary, we continue from Monton Lighthouse into Patricroft, an area of incredible historic importance.

Patricroft is a place both of great industrial heritage and world firsts.

Its proximity to the Bridgewater Canal as a transport mechanism made it ideal for early heavy engineering firms to locate there.

Not only was it the home of James Nasmyth's famous Foundry, where his invention of the Steam Hammer is remembered, but it is also the site of the first ever railway to cross over a commerical canal.

The railway bridge at Patricroft was constructed in 1829 by the now-famous George Stephenson, inventor of the Rocket steam engine along with his son Robert. The bridge marks historic point at which these two important transport networks blended together.

We will also look at the Queen's Arms pub, a favourite of Nasmyth's Foundry workers, and its part in Queen Victoria's visit to the northwest in 1851.

Look out next week for Part 6 of our journey tracing the past and present of the Bridgewater canal as we head towards one of the great engineering marvels of the modern age - Barton Swing Bridge and Aqueduct.

To see the full story in order, watch Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8 and Part 9.

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by messi ( member )  13th November 2011
Great stuff again! Nice mention for the Queens Arms. I call in there whenever Im passing and would recommend a visit to a lovely 'proper' public house.

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Ex Seadog ( member )  11th November 2011
Another cracker Tony, well done. I'm sure you're right about the rope-marks on the bridge. Similar marks are found on many bridges around the canal network. I'm sure your films will no doubt end-up in archives available for study by forthcoming generations. It seems a pity you didn't mention the fight by locals to prevent the building of an incinerator on the Mitchel Shackleton site, and the consequent death knell of this proud area. As you know, the SAY NO group have fought and won the first two battles of this epic struggle... but the war isn't over yet. Whichever way it turns out, your piece could have been either a tribute to the efforts of the victorious locals, or a poignant memorial to their failure.

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Salford and Proud ( member )  10th November 2011
Probably the best one yet, keep sailing and informing us.

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