The Old Tram Road
 
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It is ironic that a scheme similar to the one originally suggested in 1800, as an alternative to the tram road, has been constructed to connect the Lancaster Canal with the national inland waterway network via the rivers Ribble and Douglas and the Rufford arm of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

The Millennium Ribble Link is the fist canal to be built in England since the 19th century. Work on the link, a £5.4 million project, included the construction of nine locks (seven canal, one river and one sea lock) and channel widening to allow navigation by 14ft beam boats.

The new 6 km canal follows the route of Savick Brook which enters the River Ribble west of Preston Dock. Boats are then be able to head downstream on the River Ribble and enter the River Douglas, which is linked to the Rufford Branch of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.

 
The footbridge under which boats enter the new waterway Boats from the Lancaster Canal enter the new waterway under a footbridge and into an upper basin were they wait to descend a three-lock staircase to a lower basin from which they pass under Tom Benson Way and the railway line before entering the canalised Savick Brook.
 
Boats in the basin at the lower end of the flight of locks Boats in the basin at the lower end of the flight of locks.
 
Overlooking the top lock is a 15ft wooden statue of a naked man. Symbolising water, he is part of an art trail built on formerly derelict land beside the canal link. The statue is one of four large sculptures to be found on the trail, the others symbolising earth, air and fire. Local artist Thompson Dagnall created them. The art trail is called “Gauging the Ripple”, Ripple being the name by which the River Ribble was known to local people at one time.
 
Looking up the flight of three locks from the lower basin Looking up the flight of three locks from the lower basin. The entrance to the new canal is under the bridge on the left.
 
The Ribble Link was completed on 12th July 2002 and, after a brief commissioning phase, was officially opened to navigation, by Margaret Beckett, MP, on September 20th 2002.

 
[Editors Note: see Press Notices for more information.]

 
Acknowledgement
 
This article is based on the book "The Old Tram Road", by Steve Barritt and is reproduced with the permission of the author and publishers.

Carnegie Publishing
Carnegie House
Chatsworth Road
Lancaster
LA1 4SL
ISBN 1-85936-058-0.

 
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