Rochdale Branch Canal facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rochdale Branch Canal
The branch canal heading into Rochdale (in the centre). The route to Hebden bridge is on the right; that to Manchester is behind the photographer.
Specifications
Status	Filled in and built over
History
Original owner	Rochdale Canal Company
Date of act	1794
Date of first use	1798
Date closed	1920s
Geography
Start point	Rochdale
Connects to	Rochdale Canal

The Rochdale Branch Canal was a short waterway in north-west England. It connected to the main Rochdale Canal and went right into the town of Rochdale. This branch canal was used starting in 1794. For many years, beautiful gardens from Lark Mill House were along its western side.

Many different businesses grew up around the canal. At first, there were cotton mills and places that made things from iron and brass. Later, there was even a bakery, a jam factory, woollen mills, and sawmills.

The branch canal became less busy as the main canal did. After the 1920s, it was hardly used at all. It was officially closed in 1952. In the 1960s, the canal was filled in. Today, where the main canal basins used to be, there is now a car park for a shopping center.

Building the Canal: A Look Back

The idea for the Rochdale Canal started with a survey in 1791. A man named John Rennie drew up the plans. He was chosen even though he hadn't built canals before. Other engineers were too busy at the time.

In 1791, Rennie was asked to plan more branches. These included a branch to Rochdale, one to Oldham, and another to some lime works. A special law, called an Act of Parliament, was passed on April 4, 1794. This law created the Rochdale Canal Company. It also allowed them to build a canal across the Pennine mountains. This canal would link to other waterways in Sowerby Bridge and Manchester.

Opening the Waterway

Building the entire canal took about 13 years. But parts of it opened as soon as they were ready. The Rochdale Branch Canal was about half a mile (0.8 km) long. It opened in 1798. It ran from a basin at Richard Street to Halfpenny Bridge.

More parts of the canal opened in 1799. The whole canal officially opened in 1804. However, it seems more money was needed to finish everything. So, two more laws were passed in 1804 and 1806 to get more funds. A final law in 1807 helped sort out any remaining issues.

The Canal's Later Years

By 1927, boats had mostly stopped using the main canal. A law passed in 1952 officially closed most of the waterway to public boats. The canal then sat unused for 20 years.

But between 1972 and 2002, the main canal was slowly fixed up and reopened. In 2000, the canal's ownership changed. It went from the Rochdale Canal Company to British Waterways. However, there are no plans to reopen the Rochdale Branch Canal.

The branch canal was filled in during the late 1960s. A large shopping center now stands where most of the canal used to be. The old canal basin is now the shopping center's car park. Only a small part of the canal near Durham Street still has water. This small section is used by boats to turn around.

Businesses Along the Canal

The Rochdale Branch Canal was a busy place for businesses. Many factories and workshops were built along its banks.

In 1851, there were cotton spinning mills and an iron and brass foundry. These were located on the east side of the canal. On the west side, much of the area was taken up by Lark Mill House and its gardens.

By 1892, more cotton mills had been built. The old Oldham Road Mill was replaced by a larger building. This new building housed the Victoria Woolen Mill. The iron and brass foundry had split into two parts: Soho Woollen Mill and Soho Iron Foundry.

In 1910, some mills were known as Norwich Street Mills. Both Soho works became the Soho Iron Works. This was still true in 1930. By 1958, many buildings were simply labeled "works," so it's harder to tell what they were used for.

Changes on the West Bank

In 1851, Lark Mill House and its gardens were on the west bank. The gardens went right down to the canal, which had trees along its edge.

By 1892, Larkfield Cotton Mills and Lark Cotton Mills were built. In 1910, Lark Mill House was gone. Rows of houses had been built in its place. Lark Mills became the Bridgewater Mill.

By 1930, Windsor Mill was on the north side of the arm. It was used for mill furnishing. By 1958, Lark Mill had become the British Tours garage.

Changes on the East Bank

On the east bank, above the arm, were Moss Hall Mill and Gibralter Cotton Mill in 1851. Both were cotton spinning mills.

By 1892, they had become Moss Hall Cotton Mill. By 1910, this site was a bakery and jam factory. By 1930, it was used for warehousing.

Further along was Halfpenny Bridge, a footbridge. The Grecian Emery Works appeared on the east bank by 1910 and was still there in 1930.

Canal Basins

North of the railway, there was a short arm and two basins. The arm was as wide as the canal and had wharves with cranes. Next was a longer, wider basin with bays. A warehouse was on the east bank, and more cranes were marked.

In 1851, Vicars Moss cotton spinning mills and Union Sawmills were between the two basins. The last basin was very wide. It had warehouses on the east side and across the north end. The west side had wharves and more warehouses, with twelve cranes.

By 1892, Radcliffe Mill was gone. A dry dock with a crane and more wharves replaced it. Union Sawmills had been replaced by a sawmill. Vicars Moss Mills were now a woollen mill.

By 1910, the sawmills were replaced by wharves. A timber yard was on the east side of the middle basin. By 1930, Vicars Moss Mill processed cotton waste. Most of the first arm was filled in. A picture house and a billiard hall were built nearby. The dry dock was gone, and a masonic hall was built on the wharf.

In 1958, the first arm was a garage. The picture house and billiard hall were replaced by a "works," but what it was used for is not clear.