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Another large subsidence in
the banks of the Bolton-Manchester-canal, the second within a
week, occurred on Saturday night when some 30 yards of the bank
midway between Ringley and Clifton gave way and crashed into
the River Irwell 50 feet below.
Owing to the recent rain the
river was swollen and most of the debris was swept away. Two
empty barges were left aground immediately above the break.
As was the case at Little
Lever the week before, the subsidence occurred at a point where
the canal passes over a fold in the rock and had apparently been
caused by water percolating through the earth to the rock face,
thus moistening it and causing the landslide. Trees and broken
masonry were left in the breach and although a considerable amount
of water ran to waste, the situation was undoubtedly saved by
prompt the action of a cyclist who hurried to the canal offices
at Nob End to give the alarm.
Half a dozen men were immediately
rushed to the scene, and in a short. time they dammed the canal
with heavy baulks of wood provided for such emergencies. Work
was continued until late at night and a man was left on duty
to safeguard late users of the canal towpath.
Nearly three miles away from
the larger burst on Monday, the break occurred below Rhodes lock
and Kilcoby Bridge. It is in what is know as the Five Mile Stretch,
and owing to the prompt action of the canal men the water was
only a foot lower than normal on the Ringley side, whilst the
difference at the other side could barely be noticed. The works
of the Clifton Chloride Electrical Company and Pilkington's pottery
are less than a mile from the spot but neither of them is affected.
Once Busy
Now fallen into obscurity
through the development of road traffic, the Bolton-Manchester
canal was at one time widely used as a means of transport. It
has played an important part in the development of industry locally,
this being the case particularly in the bleaching trade. Packet
boats plied between Manchester and Bolton, terminating at Bolton
at the old Church Wharf, and in addition to its commercial use
the canal was used by employees at the Chloride Works, and the
Potteries as it affords a short cut. otherwise they would have
to make a detour of about a mile.
Busy with repairs
Paper Works Employees Kept Idle
The canal burst and the recent
heavy rains have resulted in an extended holiday for the employees
of Messrs. W. Broadbent and Sons, Creams Paper Works.The employees
should have recommenced work on Monday after their annual holidays,but
owing to the swollen river the turbines could not be started.
Now that a wide channel has
been made through the debris from the landslide which blocked
the bed of the river practically all danger of flooding in the
mill has gone.
The whole of the labour employed
at the burst is concentrated upon the river bank and over 30ft.
of rock and earth has to be removed before the bed of the river
regains its former width. A track has been laid down and the
workmen have now the additional help of trucks.
A wall a yard thick is being
constructed out of the rock and coping stone brought down by
the torrents and will form a new bank for the river when the
rubble is removed.
It is calculated that this
work will take about a fortnight to complete. |
