Bridgewater Canal

Canal in northwest England, initially built to carry coal from the Duke of Bridgewater's mines at Worsley (where underground waterways were constructed), to Manchester. The Duke of Bridgewater began its construction, under the direction of James Brindley, in 1759. By 1761 it had opened as far as Stretford, and was extended to the Cornbrook wharf in Manchester by 1763. The canal, which was sold to the Manchester Ship Canal Company in 1887, continued to be used for goods traffic until the mid-1970s. It is now used mainly by pleasure craft.

An extension to the River Mersey was opened in 1776; another extension, from Worsley to Leigh, was built from 1795. In 1796 passenger services were first tried, and by 1781 there were packet boats from Manchester to Runcorn, and from Manchester to Worsley. By 1824 there were services to Wigan, using the connection with the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Leigh. These services were later discontinued.