Black Bear Canal

[pommie lass]

I seem to remember that there used to be a canal running under the Black Bear Bridge years ago but it doesn't seem to be there anymore.  Also on the Victoria Park side I thought there was a pub.  Not on Knutsford Road but down below beside the canal.  Is my memory deceiving me?

[Dizzy]

The Black Bear Canal (Runcorn & Latchford Canal??) used to run under the bridge Pommie but it was all filled in years ago, in the 70's I think.   It ran from Manor Lock on the River Mersey (Howley) to the 20 Steps Lock at Stockton Heath where it met and joined the Manchester Ship Canal.

Obviously before the Manchester Ship Canal was built it went much further but as I'm guessing you weren't born in the late 1890's you wont remember that part of it   

Theres quite a bit of info available on line about it if you google 'Black Bear Canal'

I've no idea about the pub you mention though....

[algy]

There were no other pubs on the Black Bear canal other than the Black Bear Inn.

[pommie lass]

Thanks for the info.   Perhaps it wasn't a pub but was there some other building down there?  As I said, it is years since I was there so my memory is a bit hazy. 

[observer]

Just for interest: did they lay a drain pipe from the Mersey to the MS Canal, when they filled in the Blackbear Canal?  Presumably this would act as an overflow for the River?

[Dizzy]

I've no idea Obs but I've never heard any mention of one.

[algy]

Just for interest: did they lay a drain pipe from the Mersey to the MS Canal, when they filled in the Blackbear Canal?  Presumably this would act as an overflow for the River?

No drain required Obs as each end of the Black Bear (Latchford) Canal were at a higher level than the Manchester ship canal and the River Mersey, water was supplied via a feeder stream from Woolston New Cut so all they had to do was dam the supply stream off at the Woolston end and drain the canal. The feeder stream entered the canal just above Marsh Lock by Kingsway bridge. The maps show each end of the feeder.

 

Latchford end - Feeder supply into the Black Bear canal.

 

Woolston end - Feeder stream supply from Woolston New Cut.

[francine]

I think the pub you mean could be the Bridge Inn Latchford.

[P J]

The Brook Inn was just past the Black Bear bridge on the left, near to what was Raddon Court

[P J]

There was a bit of a joke regarding the Brook.  It was tiny,  they said that if  the locals wanted a game of darts they had to open a window and stand outside and throw 

[P J]

incidentally, my allotment on Victoria Park is on the Black Bear Allotment site.  I am forever turning up old bits of china and loads of clay pipes.

[Davy51]

Apparently, for any interested parties, there is a history discussion about Woolston New Cut tonight ,Tues 26/1/16, at Alford Hall ,Manchester Road, starting at 7 30pm. I believe the venue is the old Thames Board club for people with longer memories.