Canal Society Goes On Tour

The Hollinwood Canal Society took to the road over the summer to promote itself, with its display stand appearing at Marple Locks Festival (above) and at Diggle Canal Festival (below) where we had a Mayoral visit! Although the field was muddy at Diggle, the rain held off until we left!

Thanks to all those members who helped out.

Annual Meeting 2011

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

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

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

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

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

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.