We sampled the food at Crooke Hall Inn which also sells eggs,milk and bread. It was good home cooked fare and at 2 for £10 excellent value.
Crooke is the home mooring for Ambush & Vitoria. They originally worked out of Ainscough's Mill in Burscough and Ambush now does regular runs up and down the Leeds Liverpool Canal selling diesel and coal
The first sign of Wigan on the horizon - DW Stadium, home of Wigan Athletic football team
Trencherfield Mill- now converted into offices and apartments,still retains the engine shed and probably the largest working steam powered mill engine in Europe,installed when the mill was built in 1907.
The ever famous 'Wigan Pier'- a landing stage for tipping coal wagons to barges. It overlooked the basin near the original terminus of the canal from Liverpool, opened in 1777, and was connected bu tramway to collieries south-west of the town. Hard to believe that in its heyday fifty thousand tons of coal per annum were transhipped here.
Space is limited here so instead of a lock gate arm to push its wound open by a handle, and very stiff it is too!!!
Its a right turn on to the Leigh Branch of the L/L(sigh of relief-escaped the Wigan flight of 21 locks)and we enter the first of Poolstock locks. This lock leaks very badly making the gate hard to open and was only possible with the help of 3 strapping lads passing by!!(no photo sorry we were too busy trying to get the gate to open)
More unusual winding gear.
We pass through a landscape once spoilt by mining but now restored as parkland and subsidence induced flashes, a wildlife haven.
Ahead is Dover Lock,it was moved to Wigan as a result of local subsidence.
Plank Lane lift bridge.
This stop plank crane announces the start of the Bridgewater canal.
Astley follows Leigh and after 6 1/2 hours cruising we decide to moor by Bridgewater Marina,Boothstown.
22 1/2 miles, 6 locks and 1 lift bridge.
