Harry Arnold's Historic Views of the Sankey
Part 2: Hulme Lock & Cottage

Approaching the lock from the South, on the off-side in May 1962. The neglect of the canal would seem to have begun before the traffic to Sankey Sugar Works ceased three years previous, judging by the siltation in the partly-drained channel.

The water tower of Winwick Hospital, now gone, shows above the footbridge over the West Coast Main Line, which has yet to receive overhead electric lines.

The view from the North over the lock to its cottage in July 1961. Was the Ford van up on blocks to facilitate repairs… or was it an anti-theft device?

Again, the lack of gantries along the WCML, and the presence of semaphore signals, confirms the shot was taken in pre-electrification days.

A close-up view of the bottom gates and lock cottage from the towpath side. On the WCML the semaphore signals have gone, and the overhead electricity gantries are evident in this August 1974 shot.

Another August 1974 view looking down the lock chamber from the top gates. Soon after Harry took these views the canal was filled up with rubbish from the boundary with St. Helens in the North to just South of Hulme Lock.

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