THE HERITAGE IMAGE REGISTER»HERITAGE PHOTO ARCHIVE MAIN COLLECTION»CANALS»Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal Survey

The Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal opened in 1791 to carry coal from numerous coal mines down into Salford, Manchester and beyond. Other cargoes included wood pulp, and cotton brought up the canal from Manchester and beyond. There was a series of locks at Nob End, Little Lever on to the summit level between Bolton and Bury. In 1936 a disastrous breach near the locks led to its eventual closure.