Lock 92, Rochdale Canal
Castlefield Basin, Manchester, UK
associated engineer
William Jessop
date 1799
UK era Georgian |
category Locks |
reference SJ830975
ICE reference number HEW 1748
The Rochdale Canal was the first of three trans-Pennine canals. The Manchester section of it joins with the Bridgewater Canal at Castlefield Basin, as well as the Ashton Canal at Piccadilly. Lock 92 is the end lock of a flight of nine doubled-chambered locks into the basin. It is also known as Duke's Lock.
The Duke of Bridgewater, Francis Egerton, paid for the construction and management of Lock 92 to ensure that the Rochdale Canal did not take water from his own Bridgewater Canal. The lock is 22.6m long and 4.3m wide, with a 3m rise.
Rochdale Canal closed to navigation in 1952, with the exception of a 3km stretch between Castlefield Basin and Ashton Canal. Restoration work began in the 1980s and the entire canal re-opened in July 2002. There is a restored lock keeper's cottage adjacent to Lock 92.
The Waterways Trust took over the Rochdale Canal Company in August 2000, and the canal is managed by to British Waterways. It forms part of the South Pennine Ring of waterways.
Research: PD
bibliography
www.manchester2002-uk.com
www.penninewaterways.co.uk