Wednesday
May 28th saw the unveiling of two plaques marking the line of the
Stockport Branch of the Manchester and Ashton-Under-Lyne Canal, known locally
as the ‘Lanky Cut’. The first at 2pm was at the side of Nelstrop’s flour mill,
Albion Mill at the top of Lancashire Hill. The second at 2.30 was at North
Reddish Park Community Centre. The plaques were unveiled by the Mayor of
Stockport, Councillor Chris Murphy and his wife Dot and in attendance was Peter
Scott of the Manchester & Stockport Canal Society and other dignitaries.
Also
present at Albion Mill was one of the directors of the mill.
Unlike
the blue plaques around Stockport which are round, the two unveiled are green
and oblong in appearance.
Plaque at
Albion Mill
The
canal was an important trading route into Stockport and its terminus was at the
top of Lancashire Hill beyond the mill, where there was a coal wharf and other
businesses. Unfortunately it fell into disuse and like so many other canals it
became derelict and in 1971 it was filled in.
Over
the years the potential for use of the canals for leisure purposes was realised
and many were restored by engineers and enthusiasts alike. Most notably locally
is the Peak Forest Canal and the branch from Marple to Macclesfield. More
recently the Huddersfield and the Rochdale Canals were restored to navigation
and along with the Cheshire Ring opening up new routes popular with narrow boat
owners with the potential for going further afield all over the country, and
the canals are popular with other users such as walkers, cyclists and anglers
alike. Unfortunately this popularity came too late for the ‘Lanky Cut’ and what
could have been a useful amenity for local people was lost and largely built
over in places. The Huddersfield Canal had been built over where it went
through Stalybridge and there was a proposal to divert the route via the River
Tame and rejoin the original route further along. This was rejected however,
and buildings on the original route were demolished. Where the Rochdale went
through Failsworth a CO-OP supermarket built over the canal was demolished and
rebuilt and the canal and a new basin constructed.
The
aim of the Manchester and Stockport Canal Society is to bring back the canal
which should never have been lost, and you can look at the society’s web site
by typing in Stockport Canal in the address bar of the computer. Anyone can
also become a member of the society and receive news about forthcoming events
and activities. Someone once called them
a ‘bunch of dreamers’. Looking at the Huddersfield and Rochdale canals shows
what can be done if we dare to dream. However, bringing the Stockport Canal
back may be a nightmare for some along its route!
