Historic stretch of Little Lever canal reopens with guided walk

A 700-metre stretch of towpath at Nob End, Little Lever, reopened earlier this month, allowing walkers to once again travel from Meccano Bridge, through the canal breach site and under Mytham Road towards Ladyshore.

The route had been closed while major repairs were carried out as part of Watson Homes’ Creams Mill development.

The restoration includes a section of the canal that has remained cut off since a catastrophic breach almost 90 years ago.

A aerial view of the work progressing to repair the breach

The temporary reopening gives residents a rare chance to see the scale of the engineering work taking place before the route closes again in the autumn and winter for the next phase of construction.

Among the upcoming works will be the installation of a huge canal liner, with the next major milestone expected in August 2027 when the restored section is due to be refilled with water.

(Image: Chris Nash)

The restoration focuses on repairing the 60-metre breach at Nob End, where the canal collapsed on July 6, 1936, after erosion and subsidence undermined the embankment.

Millions of gallons of water poured into the River Irwell below, effectively severing the canal.

Although nobody was injured, the breach was never repaired, contributing to the eventual decline and abandonment of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal.

Originally authorised by Parliament in 1791, the canal opened in stages from 1797 and became a vital route for transporting coal, stone, timber and other goods between Bolton, Bury and Salford.

Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal Society (Image: Chris Nash)

Today, around 40 per cent of the canal remains in water, with restoration groups continuing efforts to reconnect sections for future navigation.

Chris Nash, of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal Society, welcomed the latest progress.

He said: “We’re really pleased with the progress being made in partnership with Watson Homes and the reopening of this section of the canal.

“It’s fantastic that local people can now see the transformation taking place first-hand.

“The team at Watson Homes have asked for regular monthly meetings with us, which is a great example of partnership working in the community.

“We’d love to see this kind of collaboration replicated across the entire canal network as we work towards the long-term ambition of full restoration and reopening.”

Residents will have the chance to learn more about the project during a guided walk on Monday, July 20, showcasing the reopened towpath and the ongoing restoration work.

Sunrise over the Meccano bridge, Nob End (Image: John Norris)

The walk will begin at the Meccano bridge from 2pm until 4pm.

The guided walk is one of several events marking the 90th anniversary of the 1936 breach.

A Community Canals Celebration will also be held at Little Lever Sports Club on September 20, featuring community stalls, arts and crafts, music and entertainment.