A Brief History continued

Freight Traffic - although limestone had been envisaged as the canal's major traffic, it was soon obvious that the demand for coal was far greater than had been anticipated. During much of the nineteenth century in excess of one million tons were carried annually compared to about fifty thousand tons of limestone. However the toll payable on these traffics was low, and the canal made just as much money from carrying merchandise. Many types of goods were carried, wool to Yorkshire, grain from Liverpool and Birkenhead docks to East Lancashire flour mills, machinery, groceries, beer and spirits, cement, the list is endless. Cotton was also moved, though as East Lancashire became predominately a weaving area, the tonnage carried was never high during the twentieth century.

Competition - the canal was a very successful and efficient carrier, well able to survive railway competition. In fact the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway had to lay men off at Burnley in the 1880's as the canal, due to improvements, was taking so much traffic away from them. It was only when road transport developed after the First World War that the canal's trade really declined. Coal remained the main cargo, but demand declined as industry changed over from steam to electric power. Canalside collieries closed or coal quality declined, and the last regular traffic, from Plank Lane colliery to Wigan power station, ceased in 1972.

Water Supply - originally water for the canal came from the River Douglas, in Lancashire, and from Eshton Beck, in Yorkshire. Reservoirs were opened around Foulridge when the summit level was being built. Over the years, as traffic increased, more reservoirs were opened, at Rishton, Foulridge, Barrowford and finally Winterburn. The water from the reservoirs has always been of a high quality, though there have been problems from other sources. The supply from the River Douglas used to be heavily polluted, but a new sewage works has improved this dramatically. Farmers washing their sheep in the canal was, for a time, another problem. However, in the main, pollution is the result of the canal's major role in land drainage, and damage is caused by accidents on land alongside the canal.

Passenger Traffic - passengers travelled along the canal virtually from its opening. Packet boats worked between Liverpool and Wigan, with the service extended to Manchester after the Leigh branch opened in 1821. They also operated in Yorkshire, but the number of locks there made the service slow, and it did not last for long. Blackburn and Burnley were also served, but the packet boats could not compete with railways and they stopped during the 1840's. By then people had begun to travel the canal for leisure, with coal boats sometimes used for outings during the summer months. By the end of the 19th century there were a few pleasure boats kept on the canal, though it was not until after the Second World War that recreational use expanded.

Promotion - the Inland Waterway Association was formed in 1946 and has successfully protected Britain's canals from subsequent closure proposals. Their enthusiastic promotion has increased public awareness of canals and today more and more people are using them, not only for pleasure boating, but also for walking, cycling, fishing and other leisure activities.

Hopefully this guide will help you to become one of the many who enjoy visiting the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and its surroundings every year.