Sowerby Long Bridge

Sowerby Long Bridge is a canal bridge built around 1798, with some parts rebuilt in the 20th century. It was constructed for the Rochdale Canal Company and features coursed squared stone. The bridge is built against a rock face and has a quoined horseshoe arch with tie-stones. There is a band that is truncated at the north-east angle and a parapet with ashlar coping. A pilaster buttress at the south-west angle rises into an ashlar pier topped with a pyramidal capstone. The north-east corner has been rebuilt from just below the band level upwards. The long tunnel has a towpath on the south side, which is lined with large kerb stones. The Rochdale Canal was opened between Sowerby Bridge and Rochdale in 1798. The original survey was conducted by James Brindley in 1776, followed by a resurvey by John Rennie in 1791, with construction supervised by engineer William Jessop and resident engineer William Crossley.