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Latest Updates

* List of Events for Spring 2010 is available as a PDF download here

* New Page for Friends of Kennet with information about supporting this important work is here

* Updated Membership Application is available as a PDF download here

* Ormskirk and District Family History Society are scheduled to have a talk on the Canal by Phil Watkinson at their February meeting (Wed 24-Feb-2010). Also their following meeting (Wed 24-Mar-2010) will include the launch of the Canal Families website - BoatFamilies.org.uk

* Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society receives national award

The BURA Waterways Renaissance Award 2009 for Education and Learning was given to 'Bringing the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Back to Life', a joint project undertaken by the Leeds & Liverpoool Canal Society, Galloways (Lancashire's society for the visually-impaired) and British Waterways. The project highlighted the importance of small historical details in bringing the canal's heritage to life, details often ignored in large developments. The project, initially based around the Johnsons Hillock flight of locks near Chorley, first gave members of Galloways an introduction to canal history. Then, working with members of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society, the group produced historical information panels about the Leeds & Liverpool Canal aimed at the widest possible audience. More details can be found at www.galloways.org.uk.

The project was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Waterways Trust and Lancashire College. Even before the project received this award, its excellence had been noticed in Pendle, where the group was given a further grant by West Craven Together to provide similar information panels for the canal from Salterforth to Greenberfield.

* Index to Clogs & Gansey - Original Series (os) and Nos 1-16 (1998-2005) with page numbers here...

* Details of Mile Posts Installation Ceremony 23-Oct-2008 is available as a PDF download here

* Bridge Names on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal is available as a PDF download here (0.1Mb)

* Bingley 5-Rise Locks leaflet is available as a PDF download here (2.6Mb)

Origins

For 178 years the Leeds and Liverpool Canal was a private company, leading an independent existence. But in 1948, together with the majority of the country's canals and railways, it was nationalised, and today is maintained by the British Waterways Board. With a total length of 141 miles, including branches, it is the country's longest canal. More in a Brief History of the Canal and a Canal Chronology

Operations

It costs British Waterways about £2.5 million per annum to keep the canal open. Almost £1 million of this is generated along the canal, comprising the income from boat licences, property leases, angling and water supply, while the rest is provided by the Government. This works out at £18,000 per mile, about double the cost of building the canal almost two hundred years ago. More in Waterways Now

Access & Use

Such expenditure can only be justified if the canal is used by many people. The Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society has been formed to help promote the canal and to encourage greater understanding and appreciation of the canal's history and environment. More in Leisure Access and Activities

Heritage

Historically, the canal had a great effect on the areas it passed through. It also had its own unique traditions. The Society will encourage the recording of these traditions, and the conservation and preservation of the canal's environment. Many canal side warehouses and lock-keepers cottages are listed buildings, and there are well over 100 other listed structures, such as bridges and wharfs, along the canal. The Society will work with those developing land and buildings along the canal, to ensure that the distinct traditions and heritage of the canal are continued.

Traditional Boatman's Gansey - A pattern for knitting a traditional boatman's gansey, taken from the 1930s gansey held by the National Waterways Museum, has now been worked out. The Society has a leaflet about L&L clothing which includes the pattern. There are also some boatwomen's clothes in the collection at Liverpool Museum, and we will be investigating the possibility of photographing and documenting them as well.

Education

These aims can only be achieved by education, not just of children, but of everyone. To achieve this, the Society will hold lectures, produce leaflets and booklets about the canal's history and organise rallies for the traditional boats which worked on the canal.

Slide presentation - the Society has a set of slides which will allow members to give a talk about the history of the Leeds & Liverpool and the activities of the Society. There are about 50 slides and there will be a set of notes giving an outline of each one. We hope that members can make use of the slides to give talks to local groups and to encourage others to join the Society.

The L&LCS can only develop its objectives through an active and enthusiastic membership.
To help promote awareness and ensure the survival of the unique traditions of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal,
please support these efforts by joining the Society