The Rochdale Canal Company Records
1790-1963
Archives
Find it!
Total copies: 1
Minute [Order] Books 1791-1938; Draft Minute [Order] Books 1837-1855; Resolution Books 1813-1855; Minutes of Sub Committees 1847-1925; Minutes of Canal lessees 1855-1876; Orderly Book 1792-1800; Abstract of General Committee Minutes 1794-1839
Agendas: Board and Sub-Committees 1850-1944; Works Committee 1898-1925; Traffic Committee 1900-1925; Agents' meetings 1892-1921; Lessees' meetings 1856-1876
Early Share Issues 1791-1810; Consolidated Ordinary Stock Share Issue 1894-1957; Transfer of shares 1794-1925
Ledgers 1794-1936; Ledgers for rents 1833-1891; Journals 1800-1850; Cash Books 1794-1923; Receipt Books 1792-1887; Bonus Books 1812-1834
Letter Books 1791-1953; Private Letter Books 1809-1909; Bills and Acts of Parliament 1719-1939; Maps and Plans 1792-c. 1960
Papers of William Jackson & Sons 1888-1894
Related Material:Some material is in the custody of the British Waterways Trust at Ellesmere Port.
Place:Rochdale Metropolitan Borough/Greater Manchester/England
Manchester Metropolitan District/Greater Manchester/England
Title:
The Rochdale Canal Company Records
Date of work:
1790-1963
Reference number:
GB124.B2
Level of description:
Fonds
Includes:
Custodial history:
The Rochdale Canal was first proposed in 1766 at a meeting at the Union Flag Inn, Rochdale. Support for the plan came from 47 subscribers who put up money for a preliminary surveys which were undertaken by James Brindley one of which followed a similar line to the later canal and one via Bury. The idea was to provide a link between the Irish and North Seas via major industrial centres in the Manchester area. Whatever the outcome of those surveys the project slept for twenty years when canal building became something of a 'mania'
In 1791 another meeting was held to promote a canal connecting the Calder & Hebble Navigation on the east of the Pennines to the centre of Manchester where it would meet the Bridgewater Canal at Castlefield Junction on the west side of the Pennines. This time the survey was carried out by John Rennie assisted by William Crossley of Brighouse who had already done a preliminary survey. Although the promoter's initial efforts in negotiating with rival companies and gaining parliamentary approval were not successful, permission was gained to construct the canal on 4th April 1794.
The line was to run between the Duke of Bridgewaters canal at Castlefield in Manchester via Failsworth, Littleborough, Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd to join the Calder & Hebble at Sowerby Bridge with branches to Castleton (Rochdale) and Hollingwood (for Oldham). Cutting began in 1794 and by 1804 was fully operational and thus built up a large volume of trade giving it a head start over its nearest rival, the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. Because of its broad width small coasters could cross he Pennines from the east coast to the west. Within 25 years the Rochdale was a profitable success. In 1839 the Manchester & Salford Junction Canal provided a half mile link to the allow traffic to reach the River Irwell without having to use the Bridgewater Canal and as the Irwell was close to the Manchester , Bury and Bolton Canal traffic from this canal could now use the Rochdale navigation.
Although profits had continued to rise the railways were beginning to cut into revenues and a rate cutting wars were fought with the railway companies but agreements had to be made to avoid both modes of transport going out of business. During this decade the Rochdale Canal Company fought off several take-over bids form other canal companies fearing being taken over themselves. After fighting of the Aire & Calder company they then had to fight take-over bids launched by rail companies. Although they were successful in keeping control, in 1855 the Rochdale eventually leased the canal to a partnership of 4 different railways of which the Lancashire and Yorkshire was the biggest shareholder. Tonnage continued to be high but the figures are deceptive since much of the traffic used only the few miles in central Manchester where the canal formed links to other canals. The main traffic on the canal was used only by local carriers who rarely ventured far.
After 45 years the lease ended and in the meantime the company had started to run its own carrying business. To this end the Rochdale had taken over Jacksons, an established local carrier. The fleet totalled 68 boats of varying sizes but by 1921, after 31 years, the company gave up this business due to dwindling profits. From this time on the decline was rapid with the company asking the state for aid which was not forthcoming so by 1937 the last boat passed across the whole Pennine length. By 1952 the company had sold most of its property, leased many of reservoirs to the local authorities and officially abandoned the cross Pennine route. However, the link between the Ashton Canal and the Bridgewater Canal was kept open and was hardly used until pleasure boats became popular in the 1970s.
Although the cross Pennine route had not been used for many years it was in the 1980s that the canal was cleared up and the company saw that it was perfectly placed to take advantage of charging for licences
Finding aids note:
in the searchroon and on the web siteSubject:CANALS
Source:
Deposited 15th & 22 Sept 1983; 14th Nov 1983; Jul 1985 Feb 1986.
Access restrictions:
Unrestricted
Use restrictions:
Unrestricted
General notes:
Arrangement:The archives is arranged into series which consist of minutes, financial records and correspondence. Each series is arranged chronologicallyContact for appraisal and access:
Chris Holmes, Senior Estate Surveyor - North
Direct Line: 0113 281 6837
Mobile: 07710 175499
chris.holmes@britishwaterways.co.uk
Topics:
Record types:
Greater Manchester County Record Office
Language:
English
Record number:
7182915
Find it!
Total copies: 1