"In water" two years before the Bridgewater Canal, the St Helens
Navigation was built to transport coal and was partly responsible
for the growth of all the towns along its length.
The published coordinates are for Pocket Nook Bridge, originally
a swing bridge that took the road over the canal. The stretch, if
you've walked from the Hotties, would have brought you past Todds
Bridge. This was also once a swing bridge but just one of many over
the canal. This as Todds is, of course, permanent and they have
spread in width for the modern traffic. The canal is no longer in
water from Todds bridge but only for a few hundred yards. To get to
the cache on foot you'll have to follow the narrow path to the left
of the car dealership.
Please turn a blind eye to the rubbish at this point. I'd have
made it a CITO if I could.
Sights to see whilst on this stretch; Matalan, KFC, CMH, &
the back of a hostel of some sort and after the bridge a bit of
canal thats back in water - YAY!
Seriously, once back by the canal you'll see a few remaining
historical remnants such as towrope roller to protect the bridge,
original bridge parapet and the railway swingbridge axis point.
Soak up the history!
