The Duke of Bridgewater died on 8 March 1803. However, in the early years of operation the Bridgewater canal was busy and profitable. Between 1806 and 1826 it was averaging an annual profit of the order of 13 per cent, and in 1824, the best year, it was 23 per cent. This supported the investment in the new line of locks opened in 1828.
Further investment took place around Runcorn during the 1800’s with the construction of the Runcorn and Weston Canal, linking the River Weaver to the Bridgewater Canal. A number of docks were also built in Runcorn
Waterloo Bridge
Waterloo Bridge was opened in 1828 when the new line of locks was completed. It was originally a 3 arch bridge, with extension either side added in 1896.
The Railways
The 19th century also saw the invent of the railways and major competition to the canals as a mode of transport. In 1868 the railway viaduct was completed at Runcorn. This was forty years after the new line of locks had been completed and the viaduct had to be engineered to go over the upper locks on each line. The railway viaduct is still in use today and forms part of the west coast main line. This will present some real technical challenges when reinstating the canal link with the viaduct being such a vital part of the country’s infrastructure.
The Manchester Ship Canal
In the late 19th century, exasperated by the dues being charged by the Port of Liverpool, the Manchester Ship Canal built. First proposed in 1882, it was completed until 1894 – over one hundred years after the Runcorn extension of the Bridgewater Canal was opened.
