Northern England - Manchester area - England - Europe

Highlights

Highlights
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Boat owner
Waterway Guide

Wigan

Wigan, en spændende by med en stolt industriel fortid, findes et stykke vest for Manchester. Wigan har i lang tid været kendt som et kulmine-område. Den første mine blev grundlagt i 1450, og i storhedstiden var her 1000 miner indenfor en 5 kilometers radius af Wigans bymidte. I løbet af den industrielle revolution, resulterede Wigans formidable netværk af kanaler i et dramatisk økonomisk boom og derved en stor stigning i befolkningstallet. En af byens mest kendte lokationer er Wigan Pier, som er et vigtigt stop for handel på Leeds-Liverpool kanalen, der blev udødeliggjort af George Orwell i bogen ”The Road to Wigan Pier”. Bogen fokuserede især på de forfærdelige arbejds-og leveforhold for de, som arbejdede i kulminer i 1930´erne. Wigan Pier kan stadig besøges i dag. Idag er kulminerne væk og i løbet af de sidste par år er store områder, der tidligere bar præg af minedriften, blevet renset og forvandlet til moderne bebyggelser. Byen er derudover idag fyldt med smukke grønne områder. Du skal endelig ikke tro at Wigan er en grå industriby – tværtimod er her blevet gjort en stor indsats for at modernisere byens udtryk – og her findes mange spændende attraktioner. Eksempler på attraktioner kunne være: Haydock Park Racecourse – Tag et par timer på væddeløbsbanen. Turnpike Gallery – Galleriet specialiserer sig i nutidig kunst fra hele verden. Trencherfield Mill Engine – Se en af de største damp-motorer, der nogensinde har drevet en mølle. Astley Green Colliery Museum - Besøg områdets sidste tilbageværende kulmine-struktur.

Manchester

Manchester er kendt som Nordenglands hovedstad og er en af Englands førende byer – og var faktisk verdens første industrielle by. Manchester, byen hvor Rolls mødte Royce, har formået at genskabe sig selv over det sidste årti, og er i dag en spændende og pulserende storby. Den er hjem for mange spektakulære bygninger og arkitektoniske berømtheder, bl.a. den bevaringsværdige Corn Exchange og den smukke Manchester Hall. Byen er både livlig og trendy – og så er det tilmed nemt at komme rundt, takket være de omfattende Metrolink sporveje. Nogle distrikter fortjener en nærmere udforskning - f.eks. det centralt placerede Piccadilly Gardens. I byens vestlige del, er Millennium Quarter også ganske specielt, mens man i nordbyen finder Chinatown og Canal Street. I den sydvestlige del af Manchester, ligger Castlefield og det energiske Deansgate Docks, hvor man bl.a. finder mange gode restauranter. Ved Town Hall, lige på St. Peter Square, ligger et turistkontor. Her kan du købe billetter til guidede ture i byen.

Chester

Den skønne by Chester blev bygget af romerne, for bedre at kunne kontrollere de indfødte stammer i det nordlige Wales og Storbritannien. Byen blev dog pludseligt efterladt, da romerne tog afsted igen i det 5. århundrede. Herefter overtog angelsakserne byen, og i starten af det 10. århundrede, blev den forstærket af Aethelflaed, datter af Alfred den Store. Byggestilen fra begge perioder er stadig tydelig at spore i byen. Chester er spækket med gamle, vedligeholdte bygninger. Den mest berømte af disse, er et kompleks kendt som The Rows. The Rows er en serie af bygninger fra det 13. århundrede, bestående af gallerier og butikker på henholdsvis Watergate, Eastgate og Bridge Street. Gode attraktioner til et dagsbesøg i Chester er også The Toy Museum samt Grosvenor Museum.

Whitchurch

Whitchurch er en travl, men hyggelig, markedsby. Byen blev oprindeligt grundlagt at romerne, og et godt udgangspunkt for at udforske Shropshire, Cheshire og det nordlige Wales. Der arrangeres flere vandreture i omegnen og rundt i byen. Vil man være kulturel, kan man besøge Whitchurch Heritage Centre.

Pictures from the area - Manchester

Barton Swing Aqueduct

The 7 wonders of ancient times have inspired many a collection of wonders. The British waterways are no exception. Amongst the exceptional engineering achievements that make up the list you’ll find the Barton Swing Aqueduct. This aqueduct is the only turning aqueduct in the entire world. It leads the Bridgewater Canal over the Manchester Ship Canal. This masterpiece was conceived by Sir Edward Leader Williams and opened way back in 1894. It has enabled the smaller narrowboats travelling on the Bridgewater Canal to cross the big canal that connects the metropolis of Manchester to the ocean. It is definitely a must to sail across the aqueduct when going on a boating holiday in the Manchester area.

Anderton Boat Lift

Having raised and lowered boats between the river Weaver and the Trent and Mersey Canal since 1875, the Anderton Boat Lift is also known the Cathedral of the Canals. This extraordinary structure is one of the 7 wonders of the British waterways. Just like Barton Swing Aqueduct the idea for the Anderton Boat Lift was conceived by Sir Edward Leader Williams. The lift was in operation for more than a hundred years until 1983 where a maintenance crew found so much corrosion that the lift had to close. It stayed closed until 2002 where a comprehensive restoration project was completed. This included switching the lifting system from cable to hydraulics. Anderton Boat Lift is easily accessible from the base in Anderton and it is definitely worth sailing past this amazing structure.

The Standedge Tunnel

One of the unique experiences of a boating holiday in the United Kingdom is to sail through some of the many canal tunnels taking you under the hilly British landscape. The oldest and longest of these tunnels is the Standedge Tunnel which runs for almost 5 km between Marsden and Diggle in Northern England. As one of the 7 wonders of the British waterways it is a very special experience when the ground opens and sort of swallows your boat. This leads to trip through the undergrounds of the hills down to almost 200 m beneath the surface before the tunnel spits both the boat and crew out under the blue sky again 5 km later. It took almost 17 years to build the tunnel before it was finished in 1811. It was in operation until 1944 where it closed due to decay. In the beginning of this millennium it was restored and opened for tourists to sail through. Please note that you must book your passage through the tunnel in advance.

Stoke-on-Trent

By the river Trent you’ll find the city of Stoke. Or should we say cities of Stoke. Because back in 1910 the cities of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Burslem, Tunstall, Longton and Fenton entered a union under the name Stoke. The population of the city grew spectacularly during the industrialization where ceramics was the main industry in the city. Actually, the city was the main centre of the ceramics industry in Britain. A history that still lives on amongst the citizens who are also known as “Potters”. In the six boroughs you will find many museums dedicated to the history of ceramics. You can also take a stroll through some of the many elaborate parks and gardens. Stoke is also a great city for indoor activities if the weather forecast brings rain during your boating holiday. Maybe you would like try making your own ceramics?

Wigan

Manchester

Chester

Whitchurch

Pictures from the area - Manchester

Barton Swing Aqueduct

Anderton Boat Lift

The Standedge Tunnel

Stoke-on-Trent

Acton Bridge (Black Prince)

Black Prince base - Located near Northwich, Acton Bridge is a fantastic starting point for exploring multiple interesting routes.

The Peak District (Black Prince)

Black Prince port - Located on the newly developed National Garden Festival Site, is this one of the most popular Black Prince start-bases. On the location, you will find an exciting Waterworld with different activities that you can try even before you start your boat vacation.

Anderton (ABC Boat Hire)

ABC Boat Hire - This is one of the most northernly of our English bases with access to Cheshire, the remote and beautiful Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the Trent and Mersey. A local feature is the nearby Anderton Boat Lift and there is an on-site licensed restaurant, The Moorings.