This canal now known as the Rufford branch of the Leeds & Liverpool,was historically part of the Douglas Navigation that ran from Wigan to the Ribble estuary,carrying millions of tons of coal along a poorly constructed river navigation that quite soon suffered from silting.Because of the importance of the route,from the tidal Douglas entry lock at Tarleton southwards,the Leeds & Liverpool Co adapted parts of it,namely from Sollom to the A59,and dug a fresh channel with better locks down to the main line Liverpool-Leeds near Burscough at Junction Bridge.The River Douglas was rerouted and banked up to assist drainage and land reclamation - the whole area had originally been under meres and lakes so changing levels also affected the plans.
Rufford now has two large marinas,always quite full of boats since this branch became a main access route linking the Leeds-Liverpool and other canal systems across the Douglas and Ribble estuary to the Millenium Ribble Link.The link's opening in 2002 enabled visiting the previously isolated Lancaster Canal making the Rufford branch quite popular recently.The canal complex at Lathom junction near Burscough,built C 1812, features cottages, a dry dock and an unusual stone towpath bridge amongst lovely original buildings and structures.
SEE FULL ALBUM featuring pictures and maps,aerial photos and interesting information on:
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