Manchester, Bolton, and Bury Canal: 1956 Film - The Forgotten Waterway

With kind permission of Terry Ashworth of Bury Cine Society we are showing you his 1956 film of the Manchester, Bolton, and Bury Canal called "The Forgotten Waterway". At the end of the film is an interview with Terry by Steven Parker which took place in 2008 and was filmed along the line of the canal.
Please subscribe and like this video to build out small youtube channel into something special, and follow us on social media.
Facebook:
/ 1185376324994344
Twitter:
/ heritage1970
Instagram:
/ ste_1936

[@johnathanryan2117]

Caught my first fish ( a perch) from the locks at Nob End ( stop laughing at the back) many years ago now. Lovely vid

[@Telssa1]

I cycle along the canal about once a month, or ferret my way on foot along the remaining towpath where it is filled in/no water. A lot of it is very pleasant, interesting and countrified; far from the grubby mess you'd expect. Great to see this footage .

[@johnthecloud]

There's quite a lot of variation as it winds it's why from industrial locations to the countryside, and back again. Sadly it's likely to change dramatically if they get their way and build houses all along it. I've got some drone footage that I took in 2022 around Elton Reservoir and the canal between Bury and Radcliffe that I've been meaning to upload. That footage will become more valuable if those changes do go ahead, and will show what a lovely green corridor it once was.

[@Nitramyeldud]

I never thought I would see a video about this canal, on KZbin. Great stuff. I still have some slides of the locks at Nob End in 1984.

[@franktuckwell196]

This great, however you look at it, better remembered than lost and completely forgotten. We all love it in our family.

[@davidhoult4653]

Thank you for this vid. Very fond memories of fishing with my Dad on the canal. 50s . Loverly , Lovely Memory to treasure.👏

[@michaelbates7025]

Absolutely brilliant, took me back to the best bollocking I ever had as a kid. I would be about six and had wandered off along Kiningry (Don't know if that's how it is spelt) But it's a footpath that ran along the side of the old Railway goods yard on Spring Lane. Later the site of Coney Green, Anyway I'd wandered along here until I reached the canal and was playing happily throwing stones into the canal totally unaware of the panic that was unfolding behind me. Eventually as the light began to fade, I was spotted by a policeman who had been out with lots of other people trying to find me. My god did I get it when I got back home, Sent to bed without any tea! Grandfather who relented a bit later, let me back down to have my tea. Never again did I wander off like that!

[@johnthecloud]

Thanks for you kind words, Michael, and for subscribing. I really appreciate it.

[@manchesterukabriefvideooftime]

Excellent that people were making documentary films for archive .. Long before KZbin was around Brill

[@johnathanryan2117]

Incredible footage. Glad to see it preserved and presented so well.

[@johnthecloud]

Amazing to see what has changed and what hasn't. The shots on Bury Bridge don't look that much different at all from today, and yet the canal round the corner has all gone.

[@whirligigable]

Excellent presentation and information John. I look forward to more videos from the Irwell Valley. Can't understand why this video and others have not had thousands of views. It is important that John's videos are liked and shared to help ensure that all are aware of the history of the area and its future potential.

[@johnthecloud]

Thanks. I think my videos need more cats and Star Wars!

[@stuwood4389]

This is fantastic.

[@bacupman37]

I love the old film footage that would look even better with some upscaling & ai added

[@bessonbach]

Growing up in Scholes St. and starting at Bury Grammar School in 1957, the canal and coal delivery by barge to Crompton's Paper Mill this was very much "in my own back-yard". Many fond memories!

[@joejackson6453]

Thank you.

[@paulggibbon3057]

Excellent

[@robsin2810]

History. Thank you.

[@mufcglen1878]

Fantastic. I feel like I've walked the canal with you.

[@johnthecloud]

Thanks Glen

[@carolbarlow9228]

I find this interesting i take my dogs at the back of our house near Radcliffe Road Bolton you can see old ruins of buildings and canal would love to see any photos of what it used to look like.

[@robsin2810]

Could you make a vlog, walking the canal 🙏🇦🇺👍

[@johnthecloud]

I have some videos of walks along the canal with Steven Parker uploaded on my KZbin channel they were filmed from 2007 - 2011.

[@TheDAT9]

Durty old town, durty old town.

[@vickyking3408]

Dont gob off to the public about fall outs otherwise interesting

[@johnthecloud]

To be fair Steven only say this: "Unfortunately I did have a fall out with John and Margaret 10 years ago. I did apologise. Since then Margaret has died. I have invited the canal society to be involved with these videos, but I don't know if they will. This is not about falling out, it's about the canal" I don't think that can be construed in any way as gobbing off, unless you've already formed a strong and negative opinion of the situation between Steven and the society he founded. To put this into context: the canal society expelled Steven at a meeting he could not attend because his mother had just died. He informed the society of this, but they still went ahead with the meeting - instead of adjourning to a later date - and chose to expel him in his abscence, when he was grieving and unable to defend his position. That was - and remains - a despicable and cowardly thing to do. Since then the society has removed all reference to its founding member from its history. You can't even add his name as the founder of the society to the Wikipedia page without the society actively removing any mention of him. So no, I don't think it's gobbing off. If anything it's showing a great deal of restraint.