Water busy junction! Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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This series of caches is dedicated to the Stockport branch of the Ashton Canal.
The canal was constructed between 1793 and 1797.
It left the Ashton Canal at Clayton, passing through Gorton and Reddish before reaching its terminus at the top of Lancashire Hill adjacent to the Nelstrop flour mill with a wharf area between Wharf Street and Gordon Street. The length of the canal from Clayton to Stockport was 4 miles 71 chains.
At the time of its construction the local area looked completely different than it does today, comprising generally of an agricultural landscape with little or no industry. Major changes occurred during the 19th century with the construction of new industries which used the canal to transport raw materials and finished goods. As well as goods the canal also transported people to their place of work. In 1849 a steam packet began to move people between Openshaw Bridge and Lancashire Hill, Stockport at a fare of 4d.
The main reason for building the canal was to move coal from the various coal mines around the district for consumption by local industry and local people. Most of this coal would have been offloaded at the Stockport coal wharfs at the Stockport canal basin.
I have ‘borrowed’ the above background information from : (visit link) where you should visit for much more interesting information on the canal.
This canal has many memories for me as a youngster growing up in the early 60’s. I lived only a matter of 200 yards from it until 1966 when we moved away. I have fond memories of fishing for sticklebacks and even goldfish!
The canal brought great wealth to the area and we owe much of our existence to the men who toiled to build it and those who worked on it for many years.
As the canals fell in to disuse, our little branch was filled in during the sixties and early seventies and much of the land had been reclaimed by either houses or businesses along the route, however there are one or two places where the canal route is still visible.
This series of caches has been placed at what I think are important spots along the route of the canal and illustrate a little of our social history that is so rapidly disappearing.
This was always a busy road junction and the canal passed under this through a short tunnel.
The original tunnel line is clearly visible with all the associated pipes routed over the top
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Onfr bs gur zvqqyr bar!