The canal ran from The Irwell in Salford to Prestolee Locks and then branched to Bury and Bolton. The section to Bury was effectively abandoned in 1936 after a major breach and landslide jut east of Prestolee Locks and has largely been filled in near Bury. The Bolton section now ends about three quarters of a mile from the junction where the aqueduct over Hall Lane has been demolished. A duel carriageway road has been built on the approach to Bolton and Bolton Wharf.
Prestolee Locks. June 1978
Probably the bottom of the second set of risers. Grid Ref: SD 7523 0645 [MC-013-780]Prestolee Locks. June 1978
Prestolee Locks, Nob End 1989
Looking down the flight from the top lock of the upper set of riser locks (No.17). Grid Ref: SD 7527 0648 [MC-013-820]Prestolee Locks, Nob End 1989
Prestolee Junction. 1989
Grid Ref: SD 7531 0652 [MC-013-880]. To the left is the site of Lock 17 with the abutment of the bridge now known as the Meccano Bridge. The Bolton Arm is to the right with the overbridge hidden behind the bushes.Prestolee Junction. 1989
Breach from Nob End, Prestolee. 1989
This occurred in 1936 and was never repaired. Grid Ref: SD 7546 0657 [MC-014-020]Breach from Nob End, Prestolee. 1989
Old Colliery Site Pillars. September 1978
Location not specified but the only colliery shown on maps near the canal is Ladyshore, in which case the bridge to the west of the pillars is Ladyshore Bridge. Grid Ref: SD 7634 0671 [MC-015-010]Old Colliery Site Pillars. September 1978
Steam Crane East of Ladyshore. July 1978
Grid Ref: SD 7674 0682 [MC-015-450]. Presumably for transferring materials to and from the Mount Sion Bleach Works on the banks of the Irwell at this point.Steam Crane East of Ladyshore. July 1978
Steam Crane East of Ladyshore. July 1981
Grid Ref: SD 7674 0682 [MC-015-450]. The chimneys of the Mount Sion Bleach Works are in the background.Steam Crane East of Ladyshore. July 1981
River Irwell. July 1981
Viewed from the canal towpath about 250m west of Nickerhole Bridge, Looking southwest. Grid Ref: SD 7725 0658 [MC-016-060]River Irwell. July 1981
Radcliffe. 1989
Looking west from Nickerhole (or Cams) Bridge (No.28).Grid Ref: SD 7744 0673 [MC-016-310]Radcliffe. 1989
Radcliffe. 1989
Looking east from Nickerhole (or Cams) Bridge (No.28).Grid Ref: SD 7744 0673 [MC-016-310]Radcliffe. 1989
Radcliffe. 1989
Looking west from a point about 100m west of Victoria Street Footbridge. Grid Ref: SD 7807 0744 [MC-017-320]Radcliffe. 1989
Radcliffe. 1989
Victoria Street Footbridge. Bridge 30 (CRT 17B) Grid Ref: SD 7807 0744 [MC-017-320]Radcliffe. 1989
Spill Weir at Elton. 1989
Picture taken from Benny's or Bank Top Bridge (No.35 / CRT 20). Grid Ref: SD 7928 0923 [MC-019-680]Spill Weir at Elton. 1989
Elton. 1989
Looking west from Benny's or Bank Top Bridge (No.35 / CRT 20). Grid Ref: SD 7928 0923 [MC-019-680]Elton. 1989
Elton. 1989
Looking south towards the spill weir and Bennys (or Bank Top) Bridge (No.35/CRT 20). Grid Ref: SD 7928 0923 [MC-019-680]Elton. 1989
Elton. 1989
Near the site of a small wharf and short tramway to a location just the other side of the River Irwell. Grid Ref: SD 7934 0948 [MC-019-900]Elton. 1989
Bury. 1989
Looking south from the site of the former Daisyfield Cotton and Fustian Mill. Grid Ref: SD 7937 1012 [MC-020-600]Bury. 1989
Bury. 1989
Location given as Grid Ref: SD793100 so somewhere near the site of the former Daisyfield Mill,Bury. 1989
Bury, Daisyfield Viaduct (CPI2 @ 13m 64ch) crossing over the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal and River Irwell. 08 June 1975
Picture taken from Grid ref. SD 7948.1028, looking north-east. Daisyfield Viaduct survives as a footpath-cum-cycleway, and Bury Knowsley Street Station (closed 05 October 1970) was about 830 yards to the right. Road on left (with green lamp-post), is Wellington Street. River Irwell is below footbridge, which also survives (or a successor). Canal continued for another 650 yards northwards but now infilled and landscaped out of existence here.Bury, Daisyfield Viaduct (CPI2 @ 13m 64ch) crossing over the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal and River Irwell. 08 June 1975
Packhorse Bridge on the River Irwell.
Location not specified. It cannot be the one next to Prestolee AqueductPackhorse Bridge on the River Irwell.
Nob End, Prestolee. 1989
Looking West on the ninety degree bend from about Grid Ref: SD 7515 0645 [ME-001-150] on the Bolton Arm.Nob End, Prestolee. 1989
Stone Setts on Towpath. July 1981
Location of these not known but could be on the Botlon Arm at about Grid Ref: SD 7507 0651 [ME-001-250]Stone Setts on Towpath. July 1981
Croal Valley. July 1981
Picture appears to have been taken from near Nob End at about Grid Ref: SD 7506 0660 [ME-001-300]. The line of the canal can be seen near and to the left of the housing.Croal Valley. July 1981
Double Stop Grooves on the Bolton Arm. July 1981
There were several narrows for stop planks on the canal where it was close to the edge of the valleys of the rivers Irwell and Croal. From the description on the slide, this appears to be the one 300m south of Little Lever Wharf Arm. Grid Ref: SD 7506 0663 [ME-001-370]. There was also a sluice here with a run off down to the River Croal, which could be the brickwork next to the wooden box.Double Stop Grooves on the Bolton Arm. July 1981
Little Lever. 1989
Looking towards Nob End from the current end of the section in water on the Bolton Arm. Picture taken from about. Grid Ref: SD 7445 0709 [ME-002-220]Little Lever. 1989
Abandoned Narrowboat. July 1981
Probably in the wide section close to the current end of the Bolton Arm in water. Grid Ref: SD 7459 0705 [ME-002-100]Abandoned Narrowboat. July 1981
Abandoned Narrowboat. July 1981
Possibly in the wide pool near the current end of the section in water on the Bolton Arm. Grid Ref: SD 7453 0710 [ME-002-180]Abandoned Narrowboat. July 1981
Little Lever. 1989
Looking down the remains of the Bolton Arm from the infill at the end. Grid Ref: SD 7446 0709 [ME-002-300]Little Lever. 1989
Site of Hall Lane Aqueduct, Little Lever. 1989
Grid Ref: SD 7433 0713 [ME-002-350]Site of Hall Lane Aqueduct, Little Lever. 1989
