Visit of the Inland Waterways Preservation Society to the Sankey: by Andy Screen

On 4th February, I led a walk on the northern part of the Sankey for the Inland Waterways Protection Society, the group of volunteers who have restored Bugsworth Basin on the Peak Forest Canal. It was over 10 years since IWPS last visited the canal, on that occasion walking the length from Bewsey to Widnes.

Around twenty souls (and a dog) met at Carr Mill Dam from where a convoy of cars made its way to Winwick. The walk started at Hulme Lock where there was much interest in the remains of the lock cottage and in particular in the story behind the return of the engraved stone bearing the lock's name. At Winwick Quay the participants were shown the recently uncovered boathouse but unfortunately could offer no new clues as to its purpose or what sort of boat it may have housed. At Winwick Lock the deteriorating condition of the gates was noted (cue a SCARS work party!) and at Alder Lane there was some discussion over the ability of masted flats to pass under the new bridge (which being built in 1954 pre-dated the last boats to of Sankey Sugar Works by some 5 years).

At Winwick, Andy Screen points out the boathouse site.

Further on, there was concern at the prospects of 'eliminating' the open culvert carrying Newton Brook across the canal on the St Helens/Warrington boundary, but this was countered by the very pleasant surprise at the mile and a half of fully watered canal that followed (below). Those who had not visited the canal had not expected to find any 'boatable' lengths, and the prospect of some sort of trailboat rally on this length was suggested by a number of those present.

Next, the gradual encroachment of the embankment above the canal on the former Sugar Works site was observed and then with renewed vigour the party passed through the viaduct and headed up to Newton Common, noting with some disappointment that their preferred lunchtime stop, the Ship Inn, closed some 30 years ago!

Sandwiches were had (above) at the picnic spot near Penkford Bridge, in sight of the next stretch of watered canal, which needs another SCARS' clean-up. A number of anglers were using the length just beyond the bridge, an encouraging sign of use which our visitors noted, and then we trudged through the infilled section up to Havannah Flashes and the scant remains of Engine Lock. At the footbridge just beyond the 'geography' of the canal and the brook was explained, and there was some amazement at the way in which the realigned brook has scoured so deeply through the former bed of the canal. Amazement almost to the point of disbelief until we arrived at Broad Oak Basin, where it is possible to put things into a better perspective. Armed with Mike Stammers' recent book on the area, we pointed out where in the basin the remains of the three flats are buried, but needless to say could see no evidence on the ground.

Passing up through Old Double Locks (right, looking different from Theo Barker's 1947 view of the lock and the pound below, at foot of page ) and a fruitless search for the datestone - has it been removed?) we sped on up the Blackbrook Branch. The plan was for a 'bathroom stop' at the visitor centre, but we saw the back of the Ranger's Landrover leaving just as we arrived, and sure enough, the door was locked. Too bad , but a brief visit to the Ship next door was permitted.

After a quick look round Stanley Basin, we wandered up the first few yards of the tramway that led to Pewfall Colliery, noting the site of the engine pit by Stanley Hall, and of Copperhouse Row, the cottages built for workers at Thomas Patten's copper works. We next moved onto Patten's other industrial concern here, the 1773 Stanley slitting mill, on which some archaeological work has been undertaken in recent years. We scrambled up to observe the site of the dam and lodge which sat at the back of the mill and provided it with its water power, and noted where the contour canal, which brought iron ingots from smelting works at Carr Mill, entered the lodge.

We walked along the full length of the contour canal, along the way peering through the trees to note the terminus of the Blackbrook Branch, and made our way to the footbridge which crosses the canal feeder just shy of the East Lancs Road crossing.

Although the light was just about good enough to backtrack to the terminus basin for a last look at the Sankey proper, it had been a long day and the assembled party decided we should return to the cars at Carr Mill.

The walk concluded on the dam, looking out over the water as the late winter sun cast a sheen upon it, contemplating how the scene would have been some fifty years ago when there were funfairs and the like here, attracting folk from far and wide. A good time was had by all.

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