Canals

Macclesfield, the home of Hovis flour which was milled here between 1898 and 1904. The business outgrew the premises and was transferred to a mill at Trafford Park in Manchester whilst this mill became the publicity works and printed the paper wrappers for Hovis bread. It has now been converted to apartments after a long period of decline and then disuse.

The tanker narrowboat passing the Stanlow oil refinery on the Manchester Ship Canal. The boat was back home at the place where she used to be loaded with gas oil for transporting to Oldbury near Birmingham. It was more than 56 years since she last loaded here.

As the tanker narrowboat approaches Latchford Locks on the Manchester Ship Canal, she is rapidly being chased down by the Mersey Ferry Snowdrop with the Daisy Doardo and the container shuttle not far behind.

Thomas Clayton tanker " Spey " arriving at Ellesmere Port on the Manchester Ship Canal after a journey from Manchester.

Tanker narrowboat passing the Barton swing aqueduct over the Manchester Ship Canal. The aqueduct is unique. It carries the Bridgewater Canal and the tank can be swung clear to allow the passage of ships.

Morning departure from Mode Wheel locks on the Manchester Ship Canal. The Allied Mills in the background produce flour for a wide range of bread manufacturers in the north of England.

Wooden tanker narrowboat after leaving the Irlam locks on the Manchester Ship Canal.

Looking rather small on the vast expanses of the Manchester Ship Canal, a narrowboat tanker is swinging in to enter the bottom basin of the Shropshire Union Canal at Ellesmere Port. This particular boat once regularly made this entrance after loading gas oil at the Stanlow oil refinery a short distance up the Ship Canal.

Spey goes to Astley Green - a study by Tarboat junior using his phone camera.

The tanker narrowboat passes the road and rail bridges at Runcorn on its journey down the Manchester Ship Canal to Ellesmere Port.

The Ulverston Canal was completed in 1796, in order to provide the town of Ulverston with a port. At 15 feet (4.6m) deep and 66 feet (20m) wide, it was intended to accommodate large ships. Railway competition led to a decline through the second half of the 19th century. Commercial traffic ended c1914 and it was abandoned in 1945. These are the top gates of the sea lock with the 1 mile dead straight canal heading off towards the terminal basin.

Farmer's Bridge locks viewed from Newhall Street

It was Middlewich Boat & Folk weekend and there was lots happening around the canal. Here the tanker narrowboat is powered around the tight turn between the second and top locks on the Middlewich flight. The drydock is just off to the right on the outside of the bend.

Ex FMC Ibex leaving Bosley bottom lock. It was a much better day today with plenty of sunshine whilst working down the locks at Bosley.

A boat rather than a goat! :-) Ex Fellows, Morton & Clayton narrowboat Ibex at Buxton Road , Macclesfield, heading home after a run to Bugsworth Basin at the end of the Peak Forest Canal.

Went boating today and came home soaked because of a very heavy squall just as it got dark. A great day's boating all the same. Tanker narrowboat seen on the Wheelock flight approaching the double locks at Malkin's Bank. The lock on the right has moved inwards and is out of gauge and out of use.

Tarboat Junior straps a boat into a lock at Audlem on the Shropshire Union Canal. This technique stops the boat and closes the gate at the same time. :-)

Tanker narrowboat heads away from the lock at Stanthorne on the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal.