Canal Bridge Canal Canal Bridge

The Canal Bridge over the Rochdale Canal at Luddenden Foot was built around 1798 for the Rochdale Canal Company and was widened around 1882, likely for the Luddenden Foot Local Board of Health. It is constructed from coursed squared stone and ashlar, featuring a single segmental arch that spans the canal. The central core, dating from about 1800, is supported by canal walls that curve inward and are topped with large kerbstones. The outer arches on the north and south sides are slightly taller, with the southern arch featuring an iron arch and the northern arch made of ashlar voussoirs. Both arches have rock-faced stone and a moulded ashlar band below the ashlar parapet, which includes a plinth on the carriageway side and triangular coping. Each face of the arch is flanked by battered buttresses with bands, dentilled on the south side, that rise into ashlar piers capped with pyramidal stones. The later work matches the style of the bridge over the River Calder, which was also erected by the Local Board of Health in 1882. For further historical context regarding canal construction, refer to Sowerby Long Bridge.