Bridgewater Canal
circa 1922
This striking photograph captures a quiet industrial moment on the Bridgewater Canal near Broadheath, a district known in the early 20th century for its vital role in northwest England's manufacturing boom.
In the foreground, a horse-drawn barge glides silently along the water, guided by a canal man and his loyal dog. This method of transporting goods — using towpaths and heavy draft horses — was still common in the 1920s, although slowly being replaced by motorized transport.
Dominating the skyline is the unmistakable chimney of the Linotype Works, a landmark of Broadheath’s industrial past. The Linotype and Machinery Company was a global producer of typesetting machinery and a major local employer, with its presence defining the town’s identity and economy.
Historical context:
The Bridgewater Canal, completed in 1761, is often credited as the first true canal in England. By the 1920s, although its golden age had passed, it still played a key role in transporting coal and industrial goods across the region.
This image is not only a testament to the era’s working-class life and ingenuity but also a poignant glimpse into a transitional period, just before the final decline of horse-drawn canal transport.
Do you have old photos of industrial Broadheath or the Bridgewater Canal?
Share them on Oldpik.com and help preserve the working-class heritage of Britain’s waterways.
SEO Tags:
Bridgewater Canal 1922, Broadheath canal photo, Linotype works chimney, horse-drawn barge England, industrial Trafford history, Bridgewater Canal old image, canal transport UK 1920s, historic canals Cheshire, Oldpik British industrial photos
In the foreground, a horse-drawn barge glides silently along the water, guided by a canal man and his loyal dog. This method of transporting goods — using towpaths and heavy draft horses — was still common in the 1920s, although slowly being replaced by motorized transport.
Dominating the skyline is the unmistakable chimney of the Linotype Works, a landmark of Broadheath’s industrial past. The Linotype and Machinery Company was a global producer of typesetting machinery and a major local employer, with its presence defining the town’s identity and economy.
Historical context:
The Bridgewater Canal, completed in 1761, is often credited as the first true canal in England. By the 1920s, although its golden age had passed, it still played a key role in transporting coal and industrial goods across the region.
This image is not only a testament to the era’s working-class life and ingenuity but also a poignant glimpse into a transitional period, just before the final decline of horse-drawn canal transport.
Do you have old photos of industrial Broadheath or the Bridgewater Canal?
Share them on Oldpik.com and help preserve the working-class heritage of Britain’s waterways.
SEO Tags:
Bridgewater Canal 1922, Broadheath canal photo, Linotype works chimney, horse-drawn barge England, industrial Trafford history, Bridgewater Canal old image, canal transport UK 1920s, historic canals Cheshire, Oldpik British industrial photos
Adulto
Animal
Arquitectura
Bote
Edificio
Canal
Canino
Ciudad
Perro
Fábrica
Puerto
Caballo
Masculino
Mamífero
Hombre
Al aire libre
Camino
Persona
Mascota
Muelle
Camino de sirga
Transporte
Vehículo
Agua
Frente al mar
Envíado por JOSE M LOPEZ el 22 de marzo de 2025
Image
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