Hulme Lock Branch Canal

Hulme Lock Branch Canal

This branch canal was constructed in 1838 with modifications carried out in 1962. It is built from sandstone, brick and concrete, with timber and steel lock gates.

The canal forms an east-west arm with a passing pound, terminating in a turning basin to the west that leads to a north-south lock to the north. The Hulme Lock Branch Canal links the Bridgewater Canal with the River Medlock at the point where it meets the River Irwell.

The branch canal meets the Bridgewater Canal at an acute angle, forming a rounded ended promontory between the two, marked with three metal mooring bollards. Both waterways remain in water. The side wall of the Bridgewater Canal is coffered with steel with a timber coping above, and concrete lines the walls and surface of the tip of the promontory.

Approximately two metres from the tip of the promontory is a pair of lock gates, fixed open, constructed of oak with steel sweeps. From here the promontory surfacing changes to sandstone flags. The side walls of the junction lock, which is approximately four metres wide, are of squared sandstone blocks. Approximately eight metres from the gates the top course of the left wall returns at ninety degrees to follow the outline of the sunken emplacement for a former swing bridge; the recess is blocked with concrete at the water's edge. Beyond this, recesses in both walls mark the former location of the inner lock gates. The walls then change to engineering bricks with bullnose copings.

Approximately thirty-five metres from the entrance the arm widens to form a passing pound on the right hand side, twenty-five metres in length and four metres wide.

Approximately ninety-five metres from the entrance the right hand wall continues but the left hand wall opens out to create a turning basin approximately twenty-five metres square, set at approximately forty-five degrees to the arm. The walls here are of concrete.

In the far right corner of the basin a lock leads off to the right, underneath the arches of two parallel railway viaducts. There is a closed set of timber lock gates at the entrance, where the walls change back to engineering brick with bullnose copings and recesses to accommodate the gates when open. The gates are painted timber with rolled steel sweeps and cast iron balances. This lock has a fall of approximately three and a half metres, with the bottom third walled in squared sandstone blocks and engineering brick above with bullnose brick copings. The outer gates are half open and of the same design as the inner gates. The lock walls terminate with rounded ends topped with metal safety railings.

Outside the outer gates a steel bridge spans the lock. Inside them a steel gantry oversails with a mobile attaching point, reportedly lifting gear from the 1962 alterations, left in place. Metal ratcheted winches for closing the outer gates are found on both sides of the lock, but for the inner gates only the left hand one survives. These items form part of the listed building.