A massive breach hit the Manchester, Bolton and Bury canal in 1936 and it was never repaired, until now
Work is ongoing on repairing the huge canal breach in Little Lever (Picture: Craig Elias – all rights reserved)(Image: )
The restoration of a section of canal which was destroyed in a spectacular collapse almost 90 years ago is set to be completed this year.
A large part of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury canal near Little Lever was breached in July 1936, with millions of gallons of water from the channel cascading down into the River Irwell below.
The gigantic breach happened close to the Nob End locks, on the canal’s arm towards Bury. At the point of collapse, a bend of the River Irwell had eroded the valley side, creating a steep slope.
Remarkably no one was injured, but the massive structural failure led to the decline of the canal, which was never repaired, until now.
The 1936 canal breach at Little Lever (Picture – John and Margaret Fletcher Collection)(Image: )
Recently developer Watson has been restoring a 700 metre section of the waterway as part of the planning permission to build a new 255 home estate at the former Creams Mill site in Little Lever.
They described the massive engineering project as ‘technically challenging but incredibly rewarding’. The project is also being supported by other groups including Inland Waterways Association and volunteers from The Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal Society.
The canal society is currently finalising a feasibility study with Bolton and Bury councils and the Canal & River Trust to investigate reopening the canal to navigation from Little Lever to Bury and has also been instrumental in other improvement projects along the length of the canal.
The society’s vision is to progressively restore the canal to fully navigable condition, and in doing so create ‘blue-green spaces that aid wellbeing and environmental improvement’.
The project will restore a 700 metre section of the canal (Picture: Craig Elias – all rights reserved)(Image: )
Their work has seen several notable achievements. In 2008, the first length of the canal at Middlewood in Salford was fully restored, including construction of a new deep lock allowing access from the River Irwell.
The society also built the unique Meccano Bridge, near the breach site, in 2012 and undertook ‘big digs’ to reveal the flight of six locks at Nob End.
Mike Watson is a director at developers Watson. He said: “The canal restoration has been a centrepiece of the development taking place at Creams Mill.
“It is an opportunity to not only celebrate the rich heritage of the area, but rectify the severance caused by the original breach, allowing us to introduce a new towpath, pedestrian routes and a new stretch of waterway.
“It has been a technically challenging but incredibly rewarding project, and we’re very proud to see the restoration progress alongside the delivery of new affordable homes, upgraded infrastructure and local job opportunities.
“Looking ahead, planning permission has been granted for a neighbourhood café, which is currently in the final design process, with construction due to begin on-site this summer.
“Its opening in Spring 2027 will align with the completion of the canal works and the opening of a new woodland walk, along with a canoe school, which will allow the community to get out and enjoy the restored waterway.”
Currently works are ongoing to install the fill to the breach. After this, work will start in early February on the piling to form the canal channel.
Watson said the next stage after that would be progressing works to each end of the section of canal, out of water, preparing a tie in detail to ultimately allow the canal to be fully opened and linked through.
Early CGI of Watson’s Cream Mill site showing its relationship with the waterway- the development has since been subject to approved design changes (Pic: Watson)(Image: )
They said they were hoping to have all repair works to the canal completed in late summer 2026 and back in water by early 2027. A planned waterside café is currently going through the design process and work on it should start in the summer with a view to being complete and opened spring, 2027.
The proposed café has seating for around 20 people. Next to the café will be the infrastructure for the canoe school.