The Harry Arnold Archive - The Closure Years
Harry Arnold, Editor of the Inland Waterways Association's Members'
Journal "Waterways", is a native of Warrington, and has relatives living
near the Sankey Canal. Trade on the Sankey ceased in 1959, when the
sugar boats stopped running from Liverpool to the Earlestown Sankey
Sugar Works. The Canal was formally closed in 1963. Harry took most of
the photographs featured here during this period.
Harry has kindly allowed SCARS to use these images from his collection.
His articles appear in a wide range of waterways publications, and his
archive is extensive and valuable.
Images © Harry Arnold.
For further details, or for copies of photographs, Harry can be
contacted on harry@waterwayimages.com.
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Much later than the rest of the images here, this view of the EUSTACE
CAREY dates from May 1984. A number of old Mersey Flats were beached on
the outer shore of Spike Island, Widnes, among them the boat used the
basis of the SCARS' logo.
Launched on the Canal at Clare & Ridgeway's Sankey Bridges boatyard in
1905 for the United Alkali Company, it was a two-masted sea-going flat.
Sadly her remains were reduced even further after a fire not long after
this view was taken. Her ribs, and those of other flats are still
visible.
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The Woodend Locks at Widnes date from the 1830 extension of the Sankey
from Fiddlers Ferry. This view shows that in February 1962 the locks
were intact, and the keeper's cottages and bothy were still standing.
After subsequent years of neglect, the right-hand lock is now back in
service, but the top of the left-hand one has been turned into a
launching ramp for trailboats.
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Steam locomotive 78035 draws a goods train over the swing bridge from
Spike Island in February 1962. The new suspension bridge between Widnes
and Runcorn may be seen, dimly, in the background, right.
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Loco 42921 (?) draws a mixed goods train from Garston past the site of
the later Fiddlers Ferry Power Station. June 1961.
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A tractor and trailer cross the swing bridge west of Fiddlers Ferry,
January 1964. A train may be seen approaching under the pipe bridge to
the east.
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The loco seen in the distance in the previous view passes the swing
bridge approach. The buildings on the right are part of the Sheep Dip
Works (Hobson Archive), with concrete additions dating from the time
when the site was used by the Concrete Seacraft Company.
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A coal train passes opposite Fiddlers Ferry lock in January 1964. At
that time the buildings at the site of the station (opened 1856, closed
1950) are much as they were in 1901 (see the Hobson Archive). It may be
noticed that the signalling system has been changed - separate posts
have been installed for each line, and the signals are raised upwards
for safe.
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The swing bridge at the end of Station Road, leading to the Ferry Inn,
with the station buildings and signal box on the right.
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Hey Lock in October 1961. The keeper's cottage has disappeared, and only
a rough timber screen remains to shelter him from the wind. In the
distance, extreme right, may be seen the water tower of the famous
Vulcan Locomotive Works. Is the Vespa scooter by the lock Harry
Arnold's?
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After the official closure of the Sankey beyond Earlestown in 1931,
Bradley Lock was the last working lock on the canal until its closure.
Photographed in October 1962, just months before the Abandonment,
evidence of lack of maintenance is apparent.
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Wooden flats often sprung leaks and became unserviceable. In October
1961 a line of them was photographed between the Sankey Viaduct and
Newton Common Lock. Harry, fortunately, noted their names, carved into
their sterns - from nearest to camera: HERBERT, Winwick; QUEEN, Sankey;
PRINCE ALBERT, Winwick, and JOHN, registry not clear.
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The Sankey Canal can boast the first set of staircase, or double locks
in England, at Parr. Known as the "Old Double Locks", by October 1961
they had suffered the indignity of being partially dismantled, and a
sewerage pipe had been inserted across the top of the lower chamber. The
railway swing bridge, with its capstan still evident, illustrates the
accommodation which the railways had to make each time they crossed the
Sankey Canal.
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After the Old came the New - the second set of Double Locks on the
Canal, at Finger Post. Constructed for the extension to Ravenhead,
opened in 1757, they fell into disrepair after the 1931 Abandonment of
this section. The cottage was occupied until the 1960's, but demolished
a decade later after vandalism.
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Rubbish accumulated in the chambers over the years. After SCARS was
founded in 1985 the Double Locks were seized upon as an opportunity for
restoration to be demonstrated. SCARS began with buckets and shovels;
the IWA's Waterway Recovery Group took it up with barrow hoists and
gangs of volunteers; and St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council
finished the job with JCB's and mechanical lifts. The locks were
regated, and are ready to play their part in a restored navigation.
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