Bradford Canal facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bradford Canal
The remains of the Bradford Canal where it joined the Leeds and Liverpool
Specifications
Maximum boat length	66 ft 0 in (20.12 m)
Maximum boat beam	15 ft 2 in (4.62 m)
Locks	10
Status	Destroyed
History
Original owner	Bradford Canal Company
Date of act	1771
Date completed	1774
Date closed	1922
Geography
Start point	Shipley
End point	Bradford
Branch of	Leeds & Liverpool Canal

The Bradford Canal was a 3.5-mile (5.6 km) long canal in England. It connected the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Shipley to the center of Bradford. The canal opened in 1774. It closed in 1866 because of health concerns. After four years, it reopened with a better water supply. The canal finally closed for good in 1922. Most of it has since been filled in. There are still some parts left, like a short section near the junction and a pumping station building.

History of the Bradford Canal

The idea for a canal to Bradford started in 1744. Some local people wanted to make the River Aire easier to travel on. This would have brought boats closer to Bradford. However, this early plan did not happen.

When the Leeds and Liverpool Canal was being planned in the 1760s, people thought about a branch canal for Bradford. In 1770, fourteen business owners decided to build this branch. They got special permission from Parliament on April 29, 1771. This permission, called an Act of Parliament, allowed them to raise money. They could raise £6,000 to build the canal. It would run from Shipley to a place in Bradford called Hoppy Bridge.

Building the Canal

The canal was 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long. It dropped 86 feet (26 m) through 10 locks from Bradford down to Shipley. Locks are like water elevators that help boats move up or down hills. The locks were 66 feet (20.1 m) long and 15.2 feet (4.6 m) wide. This was the same size as the locks on the nearby Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Abraham Balme, one of the original supporters, supervised the building work. John Longbotham gave engineering advice. The canal was finished by March 1774. It cost £9,424, which was about £3,500 more than planned.

Early Use and Trade

At first, the main cargo on the canal was stone. Limestone was brought from Skipton to kilns built next to the canal. These kilns made lime, which was used in building and farming. Coal was also important. Coal mine owners built special tracks to bring coal to the canal.

From the 1820s, wool from Australia became a big cargo. It was brought to Bradford for processing. Starting in 1828, passenger boats also used the canal. They carried people to places like Selby and Leeds.

Problems and Closure

The canal faced many problems, especially with its water supply. As Bradford grew, houses were built around the canal. This led to pollution from sewage. Mills also used water from the canal for their processes, then returned dirty water to it. The canal became very polluted.

In 1844, officials reported how dirty and smelly the canal was. Five years later, in 1849, there was a serious outbreak of cholera. This disease caused 406 deaths in Bradford. The city council wanted to buy the canal and close it to improve public health. However, other canal companies and businesses stopped them from getting enough money to do this.

In 1864, hot weather made the canal even worse. A local newspaper called it "that seething cauldron of all impurity." People went to court to get the canal closed because it was a public nuisance. The court ordered the canal company to stop taking water from the Bradford Beck. The canal officially closed on May 1, 1867.

Reopening and Final Closure

After the closure, businesses struggled to transport their goods. A new company, the Bradford Canal Company Limited, was formed. They bought most of the canal for £2,500. They planned to get water from reservoirs and streams. They also built steam pumping engines at each lock to pump water up the canal.

The canal began to reopen in sections. The first part reopened in 1872, exactly five years after it closed. The rest of the canal reopened the following April. Stone traffic returned, but most other goods were now sent by railway. The canal struggled to make enough money.

In 1878, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the Aire and Calder Navigation bought the Bradford Canal for £27,000. Even with new owners, the canal struggled to make a profit because of high maintenance costs. Traffic decreased during the First World War. By 1920, traffic was very low.

In 1921, a plan to abandon the canal was proposed. Local councils and businesses opposed it. However, a second attempt in 1922 was successful. The Bradford Canal officially closed for good on June 25, 1922. Only a small section at the start was kept for boats to moor. Much of the canal's path has since been filled in or built over. Some old bridges and a restored pumping station building can still be seen.

Regeneration Plan

In the early 2000s, there was talk of rebuilding the Bradford Canal. This idea was part of Bradford's bid to become the European Capital of Culture in 2008.

In 2004, Bradford Council, British Waterways, and Bradford Centre Regeneration formed a committee. They wanted to see if a new canal was possible. A study found that rebuilding the canal was possible and could bring many new developments to the area.

A map shows the proposed canal would mostly follow the old route. It would have 11 locks. Supporters believe a new canal could help bring new life and development to Bradford. By 2010, Bradford Council owned most of the land needed for the new canal. They were working to get the rest of the land.

Points of interest