Lancaster Canal

Lancaster Canal
Cathouse Bridge (No. 64) over the navigable section of the canal in Garstang
Map
Specifications
Maximum boat length70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
Maximum boat beam14 ft 0 in (4.27 m)
Locks14
StatusNavigable
Navigation authorityCanal and River Trust
History
Original ownerLancaster Canal Navigation Co
Principal engineerJohn Rennie
Other engineer(s)William Crossley
Date of act1792
Date of first use1797
Date completed1826
Geography
Start pointPreston
End pointKendal
Branch(es)Glasson Dock
Connects toRiver Lune, Ribble Link
Lancaster Canal
Kendal Canal Head
178
Sedgwick aqueduct
 A590  Kendal Link road
Hincaster Tunnel
(380yd)
174
 A590  Kendal Link road
End of watered section
171
Stainton aqueduct
Killington Reservoir
Peasey Beck
165
Crooklands aqueduct
canal feeder
 M6  culvert
162
 A65  Moss End culvert
canal feeder
160
Farleton aqueduct
154A
 M6  Spinney culvert
153A
North Road culvert
145
New Mill aqueduct
144
Burton aqueduct
141A
 M6  Cinderburrow culvert
Tewitfield locks (8)
139
 A6070  culvert
End of navigable section
Tewitfield Marina
Quarry
Capernwray Arm
132A
railway bridge
132
Keer aqueduct
129B
 M6  motorway
121
 A6  Town End bridge
120
Hest Bank Swing Bridge
107
Lune Aqueduct
106
 A589  Bulk Road aqueduct
Lancaster
97
railway bridge
River Lune
Lock and dock
Glasson Basin
94
 A588  Ashton road
Sixth lock
Fifth lock
Fourth lock
Third lock
Second lock
First lock
Glasson Branch Junction
82
Cocker aqueduct
69
 B5272  Snape Wood Bridge
Garstang marina
Bridge House marina
63B
 A6  Preston Lancaster Road
Garstang
61
Wyre aqueduct
Catterall basin
52
Calder aqueduct
47
 A6  Green Man bridge
Barton Grange marina
46
Brock aqueduct
Bilsborrow
38
Hollowforth aqueduct
Moons Bridge marina
33
Woodplumpton aqueduct
Swillbrook marina
28A
 M55 
16A
 B6241  Tom Benson Way
Ribble Link
locks 1-3
11A
 A5085  Blackpool Road
Ashton basin
Preston
Original terminus
Southern Section
Fishergate tunnel
Avenham Park inclined plane
River Ribble trestle bridge
Tramway
Penwortham inclined plane
Walton inclined plane
Walton summit
Whittle Hill Tunnel
 M61 
Johnsons Hillock Locks
now Leeds and Liverpool Canal
Wigan locks

The Lancaster Canal is a canal in North West England, originally planned to run from Westhoughton in Lancashire to Kendal in south Cumbria (historically in Westmorland). The section around the crossing of the River Ribble was never completed, and much of the southern end leased to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, of which it is now generally considered part.

Of the canal north of Preston, only the section from Preston to Tewitfield near Carnforth in Lancashire is currently open to navigation for 42 miles (67.6 km), with the canal north of Tewitfield having been severed in three places by the construction of the M6 motorway, and by the A590 road near Kendal. The southern part, from Johnson's Hillock to Aspull, remains navigable as part of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The planned continuation to Westhoughton was never built.