Manchester’s Canal Bridges: The One That Swings Aside

Two routes across one valley

At Barton, the Bridgewater Canal crosses above the Manchester Ship Canal on an aqueduct—a bridge that carries a canal. Boats float across in a long iron channel filled with canal water. When a ship needs to pass below, the bridge turns aside with the channel and its water. The ship can then continue along the lower canal.

At Marple, a stone aqueduct carries the Peak Forest Canal over the River Goyt. This bridge stays in place. It keeps canal boats high above the river, while locks farther along the route raise and lower them between different canal levels. The canal opened in 1800; the locks followed in 1804.

A railway bridge was built beside the aqueduct in 1863. Its twelve stone arches and iron span carry trains higher above the valley. From the canal route, you can see how builders made room for both crossings. The railway tracks are not part of the walk.

• Canal & River Trust — Peak Forest Canal history ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-07
• Canal & River Trust — Marple Locks ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-07
• Historic England — Marple Railway Viaduct ↗ · reviewed 2026-09-13
• Historic England — Barton Bridge, Barton Aqueduct And Control Tower ↗ · reviewed 2026-09-13
• Salford City Council — Barton Aqueduct Pocket Park ↗ · reviewed 2026-09-13

A bridge that could turn

Historic England dates Barton’s moving aqueduct to about 1894 and names Sir Leader Williams as its engineer. A road bridge beside it also turns to let ships pass. A control tower stands between the crossings.

Salford’s Barton Aqueduct Pocket Park preserves parts of the earlier stone bridge. You can see old remains and the later swing bridges from its public paths. The working island and machinery are off limits, and a visit does not guarantee that either bridge will turn.

• Historic England — Barton Bridge, Barton Aqueduct And Control Tower ↗ · reviewed 2026-09-13
• Salford City Council — Barton Aqueduct Pocket Park ↗ · reviewed 2026-09-13

Making room in the city

At Store Street, builders carried the canal over a road that crossed its route at an angle. The stone arch dates to around 1794–1799. Its angled form kept both routes on their course.

At Castlefield, Lock 92 raises or lowers boats beside Castle Street Bridge. The structures were changed around 1804 to help the routes fit together.

Part of Castlefield Viaduct now holds a National Trust garden. Check its calendar and lift notices. Entry covers the garden, not the other railway structures nearby.

• Historic England — Store Street Aqueduct ↗ · reviewed 2026-09-13
• Canal & River Trust — Manchester wellbeing walk ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-07
• Historic England — Rochdale Canal Lock Number 92 And Castle Street Bridge ↗ · reviewed 2026-09-13
• Canal & River Trust — walk from Castlefield ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-07
• National Trust — Castlefield Viaduct ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-07
• National Trust — Castlefield project history ↗ · reviewed 2026-09-13

Why the goods needed these routes

The canals and railways carried goods from mines such as Astley Green. There, an engine pulled ropes over wheels on a tall steel tower to lift coal and carry workers up and down the shaft. Lancashire Mining Museum offers opening sessions and separately listed engine demonstrations. Visitors do not go underground.

Stockport Viaduct opened in 1840. More tracks were added in 1888–1889 as traffic grew. You can see the bridge from public streets and riverside paths. Trains still use the deck.

Choose one area rather than trying to join all these places into a walk. Check its current visitor details. At each crossing, look at the routes above and below: the builders had to make room for both.

• Lancashire Mining Museum — visitor information ↗ · reviewed 2026-09-13
• Historic England — Astley Green Colliery: engine house and headgear ↗ · reviewed 2026-09-13
• Stockport Council — Mersey Valley Way ↗ · reviewed 2026-09-13
• Historic England — Stockport Railway Viaduct ↗ · reviewed 2026-09-13