Hollinwood Canal Society

Events: January Working Party Postponed

2011-12-30T11:30:00.000Z

7th/8th January 2012: Working Party, Daisy Nook
Unfortunately, it has been necessary to postpone the working party weekend planned for 7th/8th January.

It had been hoped to work for the fist time on a section of the canal route in the borough of Tameside. The Countryside Service member who deals with this section of canal broke his foot and the meeting to decide what work could be done had to be called off. Since this was to be our first co-operation with Tameside Council and we were yet to establish what could and could not be done, we felt that we should wait until we were able to meet with him rather than a colleague who may be less familiar with the area and what we might tackle.

We would have continued with the weekend, but in our usual location of Daisy Nook, except there had been a request for the WRG team to help with some work on the Grantham Canal that had a deadline. We were asked if we wouldn't mind letting WRG go to Grantham instead and we agreed that this was a good idea.

Sadly, this meant losing our own January working party, as we are not able to muster enough volunteers without WRG. An alternative date has not yet been decided. Please check the web site again in the future.

If you have any question, please phone our Working Party Organiser, Mike, on 0161 355 5557.

Events: November Working Party

2011-11-12T14:00:00.000Z

19th/20th November 2011: Working Party, Daisy Nook [info: 0161 355 5557]
If you have not been on a working party before, why not come along and join in? You will be made welcome! Big muscles are not essential as you can be given work to suit your capabilities! You can come along on just one day or on both days.

Meet at Daisy Nook Car Park, Stannybrook Road, at 9.30 am on either day. Strong footwear and waterproof clothing recommended. Light refreshments provided. Lunch available at minimal cost.

Please phone our Working Party Organiser, Mike, on 0161 355 5557 for more information.

Annual Meeting 2011

2011-07-12T16:07:00.000+01:00

The Annual Meeting for Hollinwood Canal Society members will take place on Wednesday 27th July 2011.

The venue once again will be the Dog and Partidge pub, Oldham Road, Waterloo in Ashton under Lyne.

The event follows the same format as in previous years, with the short meeting beginning at 7.15 pm followed by the opportunity to socialise with fellow-members.

The pub serves good food and anyone wishing to eat should place their order at the start of the meeting and the food will arrive after the meeting ends.

Please let us know if you intend to be there. (01457 836273)

Concern for Footbridge

2011-07-01T16:34:00.000+01:00

Part of the decking has recently disappeared from the iron footbridge at Pinch Farm, between Crime Lake and Daisy Nook.

It is not known whether this was the work of vandals or a step to prevent people from crossing the bridge. Oldham Countryside Service, who manage the canal and towpath at Daisy Nook, do not know what happened to the bridge.

This attractive bridge is an unusual design for a canal bridge and it would be unfortunate if it were to deteriorate. It is thought that the bridge may be in private ownership and it is worrying that the land owner appears to have allowed the adjacent Pinch Farm to collapse completely.

Is this bridge a suitable candidate for listing by English Heritage? Would there be any advantage in doing so? We would welcome advice from anyone who has experience of listing and would be keen to learn of anything the Society might do to help safeguard the bridge.

Pinch Farm (or Pinch Hall Farm) was built more than 200 years ago on the edge of a hill overlooking the Medlock valley. The canal was constructed through a shallow cutting, separating the farm from its land, so an accommodation bridge was built to provide access. Because of the steep hillside, the only other access to the farm was from the towpath.

It is thought that the original was a wooden bridge which was replaced by the present iron footbridge around 1860 by the railway company that owned the canal at that time. Its style is unusual for a canal bridge, resembling more the style of footbridges constructed over railways.

Northern Canals Conference

2011-04-19T11:03:00.010+01:00

On 17th April the Society hosted a conference of the Northern Canals Association. Delegates came from canal societies from all over England north of Birmingham.

The conference was followed by site visits to Droylsden Wharf and to Daisy Nook County Park.

Thank you to our volunteers who helped the day to go smoothly!

Events: January Working Party

2011-01-10T11:25:00.000Z

15th/16th January 2011: Working Party, Daisy Nook [info: 0161 355 5557]

Why not come along and join in, even if you have not been on a working party before? You will be made welcome! Big muscles are not essential as you can be given work to suit your capabilities! You can come along on just one day or on both days.

Meet at Daisy Nook Car Park, Stannybrook Road, at 9.30 am on either day. Strong footwear and waterproof clothing recommended. Light refreshments provided. Lunch available at minimal cost.

Please phone our Working Party Organiser, Mike, on 0161 355 5557 for more information.

Level Survey for Daisy Nook Canals

2010-11-05T15:55:00.003Z

Modern technology has come to the aid of the Hollinwood Canal Society to check out the levels of the 213-year-old canal in Daisy Nook Country Park.

The GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite network was used to measure the exact heights above sea level of the canal between Crime Lake and Bardsley Bridge in Daisy Nook Country Park.

The Society is most grateful to N. D. Oliver and Co. Ltd., Chartered Land Surveyors, of Sale, who carried out the survey, and to the Business in the Community scheme, which enables businesses to benefit society by assisting community groups and charities.

Gina Hine, who is the North West Community Impact Manager for BITC, put the Society in touch with N. D. Oliver and Co. and arranged a site meeting at Daisy Nook. The survey was completed on 21st September.

N.D. Oliver and Co. gave their services free of charge and the Society only had to pay for the Ordnance Survey mapping used for the presentation of the results. This is a considerable help to a young Society that lacks huge financial resources.

The survey is a first step towards more detailed investigations exploring the plan to re-open the mile long stretch of water between Crime Lake and Bardsley Bridge, which includes part of the main Hollinwood Branch and much of the Fairbottom Branch.

In the past there has been mining subsidence in the area so it is necessary to find out whether this will be an issue. Other matters that will need to be investigated are ways to prevent leaks at Valley Aqueduct and on the embankment near Valley Farm, which had been a problem in the past.

The plan was first put forward in 2006 in a bid made jointly by the Society and Oldham Council for funding from IWA’s Jubilee Grant. The scheme was one of 9 chemes
short-listed out of 34 bids.

The work would have included removing the infill above Valley Aqueduct and carrying out repairs to that Aqueduct and the one over Crime Lane. The scheme would also have involved dredging as well as vegetation clearance, towpath improvements and a slipway. It would also have enabled a trip boat to be put onto the canal.

The short timescale in 2006 meant that a level survey could not be carried out at that time.

The Society’s Ed Mortimer said back in 2006, "While we are disappointed not to be awarded this grant, we are pleased with the enthusiasm shown for this scheme and the positive feedback received. As a new society, we did well for our bid to reach the shortlist. Putting the bid forward has helped to raise the profile of the restoration potential of this canal. Preparing the bid was a useful exercise involving the canal society working closely with Oldham Council."

The current economic climate makes it less likely that funding will be available for such projects in the immediate future but the level survey is a step towards being ready to make future bids.

In the mean time, working parties involving the Waterway Recovery Group North West are continuing to improve the condition of the Fairbottom Branch by removing trees growing in the canal bed as well as those damaging the wash wall and edging stones.

You can find more information about Business in the Community at www.bitc.org.uk and about N. D. Oliver and Co. at www.ndoliver.com

Events: October Working Party

2010-10-08T13:05:00.000+01:00

16th/17th October 2010: Working Party, Daisy Nook [info: 0161 355 5557]
If you have not been on a working party before, why not come along and join in? You will be made welcome! Big muscles are not essential as you can be given work to suit your capabilities! You can come along on just one day or on both days.

Meet at Daisy Nook Car Park, Stannybrook Road, at 9.30 am on either day. Strong footwear and waterproof clothing recommended. Light refreshments provided. Lunch available at minimal cost.

Please phone our Working Party Organiser, Mike, on 0161 355 5557 for more information.

Canal Heritage Day

2010-08-19T14:47:00.001+01:00

Good weather at the weekend helped to ensure a successful Canal Heritage Day for the Society.

Visitors came into the centre throughout the day to view the displays from the Hollinwood and Rochdale Canal Societies and Waterway Recover Group, to view the slideshow of old photos, take part in children's activities or talk to volunteers from the societies. 40 people took advantage of the guided walks around the canal features.

Plenty of positive comments were made, particularly from people who had known the area for years without knowing much about the canal.

[Photos: Ian Bradbury]

Canal Heritage Day 2010

2010-08-06T12:32:00.000+01:00

Take a step back in time next weekend and find out the fascinating story of the old canal that passed through Droylsden, Littlemoss, Hollinwood and Daisy Nook Country Park and how this quiet backwater was once one of the area's busy transport routes!

A special Canal Heritage Day is taking place on Sunday 15th August at Daisy Nook Country Park, off Stannybrook Road between Ashton-under-Lyne and Failsworth.

There will be guided walks at 11.30 am and 2.00 pm during which you can learn about Daisy Nook, its Locks, Aqueducts and Tunnel, Crime Lake and other features. The walks are less than 2 miles in length and will start at the Visitor Centre.

Inside the Visitor Centre from 11.00 am to 3.30 pm there will be a continuous slide show of old photographs of the canal and displays from local canal groups. There will also be a range of canal-related activities for children.

The Canal Heritage Day is an annual event run by the Hollinwood Canal Society in conjunction with Oldham Countryside Service and aims to increase awareness of the canal that shaped the area that is now the Country Park.

Come along and find out about the rich Industrial and Transport Heritage that played a big part in our local history.

Hollinwood Goes East

2010-07-19T23:17:00.004+01:00

Members of the Hollinwood Canal Society took a trip across the Pennines this weekend to represent the Society at the Chesterfield Canal Festival held at Worksop.

Damp weather kept the numbers of visitors to the Festival lower than expected but there was a constant trickle of people taking an interest in our display and in our canal.

Annual Meeting

2010-07-17T23:04:00.000+01:00

The members' Annual Meeting will take place on Wednesday 28th July.

The meeting will be in the conservatory at the Dog and Partridge, Oldham Road, Ashton under Lyne at 7.30 pm. Postcode for Satnav is OL7 9PT.

The meeting will be followed by the opportunity to have a meal and/or a drink and chat with fellow members. Orders for meals will be taken before the meeting begins.

Noah’s Ark moors up at Daisy Nook!

2010-06-29T23:25:00.007+01:00

As part of Oldham Countryside Service’s improvements to Daisy Nook Country Park, a children’s play area has been constructed in the shape of a boat.

Constructed mostly of wood, the boat has already been nicknamed by a number of visitors as “Noah’s Ark”!

A wooden walkway crosses a pond-dipping area in front of the boat, with a wall representing a pair of lock gates.

Canal pedants have pointed out that the “boat” represents a wide beamed vessel, rather than a narrow boat such as would have been seen on the Hollinwood Canal.

However, the Society is delighted that the design of this superb play area reflects the important role that boats played in the history of the Daisy Nook area.

Website Improved!

2010-03-10T22:50:00.000Z

The Hollinwood Canal Society website has been re-launched today with a much improved layout and more content!

The site has been sorted into four main sections. One section contains information about the canal itself, one is about the Society and one is a Gallery section featuring a variety of photographs. The fourth section is the News section and appears here in the form of a blog, which means that you can write comments about items, should you wish!

More content will be added, including maps and aerial views.

The new site tries to conform with accessibility guidelines, making it easy to read, even for those with visual or other disabilities.

Why not make a comment to let us know what you think?

Don't forget to call back later to see what else has been added!

Events: March Working Party

2010-02-25T22:53:00.000Z

20th/21st March 2010: Working Party, Daisy Nook [info: 0161 355 5557]
If you have not been on a working party before, why not come along and join in? You will be made welcome! Big muscles are not essential as you can be given work to suit your capabilities!

Meet at Daisy Nook Car Park, Stannybrook Road, at 9.30 am on either day. Strong footwear and waterproof clothing recommended. Light refreshments provided. Lunch available at minimal cost.

Please phone our Working Party Organiser, Mike, on 0161 355 5557 for more information.

Droylsden Marina in use!

2010-02-19T20:27:00.020Z

The new Marina at the Droylsden end of the Hollinwood Canal is now in use and boats have started to moor there.

The management of the marina is being carried out by Portland Basin Marina and enquiries about moorings should be made to 0161 330 3133.

Construction of the homes and offices in the Droylsden Wharf scheme around the marina is currently on hold due to the recession, so there had been worries that the marina might sit disused for a while.

The floating mooring pontoons were put in place by development owners Watkin Jones. Guy Holding of Portland Basin Marina has installed power and water and made access to the pontoons secure.

Boats moored at the floating pontoons

The marina offers boaters electrical power metered to every boat, water supply on the pontoon and secure lock-in access. Elsan disposal is available nearby at Fairfield Junction. Gas bottles can be supplied.

Boats moored at the floating pontoons

The marina is close to frequent bus services, Droylsden Library, shops and a 24-hour Tesco.

Guy says that he has had a lot of enquiries and hopes to fill the pontoons before long.

Vandals Attack Valley Aqueduct

2010-01-29T21:02:00.005Z

Regular users of the Fairbottom Branch towpath that crosses Valley Aqueduct were dismayed to discover that vandals had attacked the stonework towards the end of November.

Nearly half of the heavy coping stones had been dislodged and pushed over and a large section of the centre of the parapet wall had been smashed, with the stones crashing down onto the road below.

Oldham Council acted promptly and put the stones into safe storage until the wall could be repaired. During December the council then sent a team to carry out the repairs.

The original damage to the parapet of Valley Aqueduct at the beginning of December.

Unbelievably, within a few days of the work being completed, most of the repaired section had been wrecked again, along with a lot more stones.

The area of damage extended further around the curve of the wall, and the parapet was demolished down to towpath level in places.

The second lot of damage. Part of the repair to the first attack can be seen where the new mortar is lighter than that of the surrounding stonework..

Daisy Nook Country Park rangers were very upset by this further damage, as the first repair had been costly. The fallen stones have once again been removed and the roadway under the aqueduct blocked off in case of loose stonework falling.

At the time of publication it is not known how soon the parapet can be repaired or whether it would be possible to reinforce the wall in some way.

It remains a mystery how so much damage could be done without attracting attention. The towpath across the aqueduct is in constant use during the daytime with walkers, cyclist, dog owners and horse riders. At night time it is a long dark walk from the nearest areas of housing. It also defies explanation why anyone would put so much effort into such mindless and pointless destruction of a historic structure.

Working Party

2009-11-23T21:41:00.010Z

November 2009’s working party saw more clearance of trees growing in the bed of the Fairbottom Branch by volunteers from WRG North West and Hollinwood Canal Society.

Somewhere there's a team of volunteers removing tree growth from the canal bed.

More photos from the November Working Party can be seen here.

New Footbridge in Droylsden

2009-09-02T23:03:00.003+01:00

A new footbridge has been constructed over the line of the canal!

The footbridge is alongside Manchester Road, Droylsden, only a few yards from the Droylsden Wharf basin at the end of the short section of canal re-opened in 2008.

The new bridge is parallel with the road bridge across the infilled line of the canal, and is part of the preparation for the construction of the Metrolink tram line for Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive.

The footbridge is lifted from the trombone trailer. Photo: GMPTE

It was known that the road over the existing Manchester Road Bridge needed to be widened in order to accommodate the tram tracks. This had been a cause of concern for the Hollinwood Canal Society as there was the risk that the canal line might be obstructed.

However, Tameside Council engineers insisted that the Metrolink construction would not obstruct future restoration. The solution that was chosen was to widen the road by making use of the broad footpath on one side of the road. The footbridge has been constructed parallel to the road bridge in order to carry the replacement footway. Tameside Council engineers had specified that the new footbridge should have at least the same headroom as the existing road bridge

The Hollinwood Canal Society is delighted with this solution and commend the far-sightedness of GMPTE and of Tameside Council for ensuring that the Metrolink works have not created an additional obstacle to the restoration of the canal.

The footbridge in place in front of the road bridge over the canal line. Photo: GMPTE

The footbridge in place in front of the road bridge over the canal line, showing the service conduits built into the deck. Photo: GMPTE

The footbridge in place in front of the road bridge over the canal line, seen from the new canal basin. Photo: Hollinwood Canal Society

More photographs of the new footbridge can be found on this page.

Canal Heritage Day 2009

2009-08-23T16:56:00.001+01:00

Our Canal Heritage Day 2009 was held on Sunday 16th August at Daisy Nook Country Park.

It featured guided walks where visitors could learn about Daisy Nook and its Locks, Aqueducts and Tunnel, Crime Lake and other features.
space

In the Visitor Centre there was a continuous slide show of old photographs of the canal and displays from local canal groups. There was also a range of canal-related activities for children.

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(Click photo for larger version. Press Back button to return here.)

Annual General Meeting 2009

2009-06-10T17:05:00.000+01:00

The 2009 Annual General Meeting of the Hollinwood Canal Society will be at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 15th July at the Dog and Partridge, Oldham Road, Waterloo, Ashton-under-Lyne.

It will be a fairly short meeting, followed by the opportunity for a drink and a chat.

Meal are available after the meeting but must be ordered at the start.

Working Party

2009-01-31T18:05:00.023Z

A very productive Working Party took place in January on the Fairbottom Branch, where trees are encroaching halfway across the canal from the far bank.

The team sets about cutting back the overhanging branches and cutting back the trees growing from the canal bed.

There were many thin branches that needed to be cut back before the trees in the canal bed could be tackled.

A woven fence was made from some of the branches cut down. Some of the branches used as stakes will take root so this will eventually become a living hedge.

See more photos from this weekend in our Photo Gallery.

Working Party

2008-11-30T18:41:00.024Z

In November 2008, our Working Party undertook a number of tasks, including removing tree stumps from the towpath edge on the Fairbottom Branch, re-laying edging stones and clearing vegetation from around the locks.

There were a couple of places on the Fairbottom Branch where edging stones had slipped into the water.

That's all the stones fished out - now we've got to see about getting them into place!

With ropes and levers and lots of helpers, the heavy stones are carefully positioned.

With the stones in place the gaps have to be filled with small stones and packed firmly.

The edging stones firmly re-laid and the towpath edge is as good as new!

See more photos from this weekend in our Photo Gallery.

Boathorse Returns to Canal at Daisy Nook

2007-08-30T14:56:00.011+01:00

A second successful "Canal Day" was held this summer at Daisy Nook Country Park.

The day of canal-related activities was organised by the Hollinwood Canal Society for Oldham Countryside Service as one of the events on offer for the public at Daisy Nook this year.

The event was designed to help raise awareness of the canal and its heritage in the park, including how the canal operated and how it fitted into the wider canal network. The range of activities on offer made sure that there was something for all ages.

Sue Day and Bonny attracting the crowds with a demonstration of boathorse harnessing.

Guided walks set off at 11.30 am and 2.00 pm, giving people the opportunity to learn about the history of the canal and look in more detail at some of the canal features in the Country Park, such as the locks and aqueducts.

There was an opportunity to meet Bonny the Boat Horse at 1.00 pm. Visitors watched a boathorse harnessing demonstration and heard about the lives of the boatmen and their horses from canal society member Sue Day.

There were also demonstrations by a lace maker as a reminder of another of the traditional skills that were found on the waterways.

Throughout the day a range of canal-related activities for children was available. Also attracting attention under the gazebo was the model lock complete with boats!

A slide show of old photographs of the canal was shown throughout the day inside the Countryside Centre, which jogged many memories for those who knew the canal years ago, but were also of interest for those who only remember the canal as it is now.

All the activities were free of charge.

Activities for all ages were provided.