ADDITIONS TO OUR ARCHIVE
by Peter Keen

1: Warrington Bridges

When the SCARS stall visits events around the region many visitors will pass it without making a purchase, some without even looking at the valuable merchandise on display. Others will stop for a browse and a chat. This is when SCARS people invariably ask if they have any materials pertaining to the canal or its region.

At a recent event in Widnes two members of the public offered photographs which they thought might be of significance. Mr. Bill Griffiths of Stockton Heath made available photographs showing two vessels and what, at first glance, appears to be two bridges. Closer examination, however, reveals that they are the two sides of the same bridge. The caption in the scrap book from which they were taken said simply 'Iron Bridge W'ton 1908'. Fortunately, colleagues have identified it as the railway bridge across the Mersey at Arpley, carrying the Garston-Fidlers Ferry-Lymm line.

The view above is taken from downstream, with Arpley and Penketh to the left. Under the bridge on the left a path runs under the bridge, and this is also in view on the right of the view over the page. The lattice-work on the northern side is visible over the top of the structure, but not on this side - was a reconstruction taking place at the time?

The two vessels look like Mersey sailing flats, with the older style d-shaped transoms,  which had been de-masted and had timber frameworks built on their decks. These frames would have been inadequate for supporting the bridge so it is assumed that they were being used to install the scaffolding beneath it, perhaps for maintenance purposes. It is unlikely that either of the vessels were fitted with engines as both seem to be under the control of ropes slung between them and the banks.

The one alongside the bank with the small boy standing proudly alongside creates a further mystery. Her name, SUSAN, is clear on the original photograph, but partly hidden by the udder post are the letters 'nwick', or perhaps 'nwich'. Again, a colleague has pointed out that the Sankey and this railway were both in the ownership of the same railway company (the London & North Western) at this time. It is therefore feasible that they used their own Sankey-based craft for maintenance jobs locally.  Most of these vessels were based at the maintenance yard at Winwick. Unfortunately the photograph is not clear enough to establish the correct lettering, and records on the Sankey and its maintenance fleet no longer exist, so the mystery must remain.

The bows of what looks like a pleasure boat are visible on the right-hand bank of the first picture, and it can be seen again on the left, behind the float, in the picture above. That is notable at such an early period, and it would be interesting to know more about it and its ownership.

Below is a recent picture taken from the same side as the one above. The roadway under the right-hand side can be seen, and the building on the right is visible in both views, which are just a century apart.

Our thanks to Mr Griffiths for his donation of these valuable pictures to the SCARS archive.

(Link to part 2: Fidlers Ferry)

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