Huddersfield Narrow Canal
The Huddersfield Narrow Canal connects the Huddersfield Broad Canal near the city of Huddersfield with the Ashton Canal near Ashton under Lyne in England over a distance of 35 kilometers . It represents a waterway across the low mountain range of the Pennines and was used for the transport of goods and goods between West Yorkshire and the west of England.
description
The construction of the canal was proposed at a meeting in Huddersfield in 1793 . Construction work began in 1794 and the inauguration took place on April 4, 1811.
The canal overcomes the height differences on its way over the mountains with 74 hand-operated locks , which in places follow one another very closely.
tunnel
The apex section of the canal crosses the site in a 5029 meter long tunnel, partly lined with bricks , today one of the standedge tunnels . This tunnel is the longest and highest canal tunnel in Great Britain . It is built so narrow that there was no more space for a towpath , which is why the otherwise horse-drawn transport boats were propelled here by so-called legging : people lay across the boat and walked, holding on to the boat, with their feet on the Along the tunnel wall. A passage could take several hours.
The Scout Tunnel crosses a short slope at Mossley.
Boats
The transport of goods and goods on the narrow canal required special narrowboats , which were built very narrowly, but were up to 22 m long to compensate.
Shutdown and reopening
In 1944 the canal was shut down because the movement of goods had become unprofitable in view of the emergence of road freight traffic. At the end of the 20th century, however, it was repaired for non-commercial boat traffic and has been fully open again since 2001.
Curiosities
The place where the canal runs under the 4ZO251B overhead line mast is considered to be unique in the world.
Web links
Coordinates: 53 ° 36'57 " N , 1 ° 54'1" W.