This slow relaxing trail has been called ‘The Beauty and the Beast’—the beauty of Worsley and the beast of Manchester. It is worth having a wander around Worsley before starting off towards Manchester. Information plaques along the canal give an insight into the bygone days of Worsley and its buildings. The canal was constructed when Lord Ellesmere, the Duke of Bridgewater, wanted to transport his coal from his underground mines in Farnworth and Bolton, some 10 miles away.
Worsley Delph, in Worsley, originally a centuries-old sandstone quarry near Worsley Brook, was the entrance to the Navigable Levels. Two entrances, built years apart, allowed access to the specially built M-boats (also known as Starvationers), the largest of which could carry 12 long tons of coal. Inside the mines, 46 miles of underground canal, on four levels, linked by inclined planes, were constructed. The mines ceased production in 1887. The water here used to be a ‘rusty’ color due to the iron ore from the underground tunnels of the mines seeping into the water.
The first interesting feature is the black and white building called the Packet House, one of the most photographed buildings in the Greater Manchester area. It was here Queen Victoria took a short trip along the canal after visiting Lord Ellesmere in 1861.
The lighthouse on your journey is the work of Phil Austin who built the tower, 36 feet high, with three floors and a 360-degree view at the top. Phil sold his canal barge to pay for his labor of love. Facing the lighthouse is The Waterside pub (formerly known locally as The Barge Inn), which serves morning coffee.
Back in the 1960s and 1970s, the Talk of the North nightclub hosted names like Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, Bob Monkhouse, and Tommy Cooper. When Tommy Cooper was appearing, he couldn’t be found anywhere in the club. After a frantic search, he was found two doors away in the local pub playing pool with the locals.
The Barton Aqueduct is a magnificent feat of engineering, which was opened in 1893 to replace Brindley’s 1761 stone aqueduct. The bridge swings, fully loaded with 800 tons of water, 90 degrees to allow shipping into and out of Salford Quays.
With over 200,000 sq. meters of retail floor area, the Trafford Centre is the second largest shopping center in the United Kingdom and has Europe’s largest food court and the UK’s busiest cinema. The centre is owned by the Peel Group, who also own the Bridgewater and Manchester.
