Barton Locks
The history
I've struggled to find any history on the Barton Locks in particular, other than that the building that now houses an operational hydro electric generator once housed a Mirlees engine. This engine was removed in 1993 and there are a couple of YouTube videos that look like they were filmed on a potato, showing the removal of the huge Mirlees engine. This engine is very similar to the one that lives at Mode Wheel Locks.
The little shed that hides the reciprocating pump that once powered the locks hydraulic equipment was replaced sometime ago with whatever is hidden in the new pump house. I did try to peek inside this one but the windows were too high up. The new pump house has a concrete water tank on its roof and is covered simply with wooden planks..
I found an interesting discussion on a FB page about how the lock keeping crews used to take pride their work place and even had a competition for best kept lock, where they were judged on the gardens and flower beds they tended to keep the place nice
The accumulator tower is home to a large iron accumulator and 100s of feathered sky rats. There is a ladder inside for the brave and pigeon shit resistant types. The accumulator was very difficult to photograph even with a wide angle lens.
Anyway here's some history on the canal itself
port
The Manchester Ship Canal was one of the most important civil engineering projects of the late Victorian period. When it opened in 1894 it was the largest river navigation canal in the world.
Built to cut the time and cost of transporting goods between Manchester and Liverpool by road and rail, it turned a landlocked city into a port. Ocean-going cargo ships could now sail from the Mersey estuary into the centre of Manchester.
The canal was a response to Liverpool port authorities increasing charges for handling goods. Manchester businesses backed the scheme as they wanted to cut their costs.
Construction started in 1887 with the finished canal 36 miles (58km) long.
A key part of Manchester’s economy for over half a century, traffic declined in the 1970s and 1980s when many ships became too big to navigate the canal.
After trawling the internet and YouTube, the latest video of the locks in action I could find was in 2020.
The explore
It was a pretty easy in and is far enough off the beaten track to be comfortable. The old reciprocating pump was my favourite feature, that and the decaying conveniences.
Enjoy
The history
I've struggled to find any history on the Barton Locks in particular, other than that the building that now houses an operational hydro electric generator once housed a Mirlees engine. This engine was removed in 1993 and there are a couple of YouTube videos that look like they were filmed on a potato, showing the removal of the huge Mirlees engine. This engine is very similar to the one that lives at Mode Wheel Locks.
The little shed that hides the reciprocating pump that once powered the locks hydraulic equipment was replaced sometime ago with whatever is hidden in the new pump house. I did try to peek inside this one but the windows were too high up. The new pump house has a concrete water tank on its roof and is covered simply with wooden planks..
I found an interesting discussion on a FB page about how the lock keeping crews used to take pride their work place and even had a competition for best kept lock, where they were judged on the gardens and flower beds they tended to keep the place nice
The accumulator tower is home to a large iron accumulator and 100s of feathered sky rats. There is a ladder inside for the brave and pigeon shit resistant types. The accumulator was very difficult to photograph even with a wide angle lens.
Anyway here's some history on the canal itself
port
The Manchester Ship Canal was one of the most important civil engineering projects of the late Victorian period. When it opened in 1894 it was the largest river navigation canal in the world.
Built to cut the time and cost of transporting goods between Manchester and Liverpool by road and rail, it turned a landlocked city into a port. Ocean-going cargo ships could now sail from the Mersey estuary into the centre of Manchester.
The canal was a response to Liverpool port authorities increasing charges for handling goods. Manchester businesses backed the scheme as they wanted to cut their costs.
Construction started in 1887 with the finished canal 36 miles (58km) long.
A key part of Manchester’s economy for over half a century, traffic declined in the 1970s and 1980s when many ships became too big to navigate the canal.
After trawling the internet and YouTube, the latest video of the locks in action I could find was in 2020.
The explore
It was a pretty easy in and is far enough off the beaten track to be comfortable. The old reciprocating pump was my favourite feature, that and the decaying conveniences.
Enjoy
