Latchford Locks

Looking east from the locks towards the Thelwell Motorway Viaduct

The locks consist of a large lock for ocean-going vessels and a smaller lock for coasters, tugs and barges. There’s a ship mooring area was provided on the canal’s south bank to enabled two large vessels to pass. The locks are still used by the occasional ship but now look pretty derelict. It looks like the westerly gates of the smaller lock have rotted away.

There’s not a lot here, I visited them because I like engineering (I have a civil engineering degree).

I’ve actually been through the locks, though I don’t remember. It was on a school trip along the Manchester Ship Canal back in the late sixties.

Looking west from the locks towards the Latchford Railway Viaduct

Latchford railway viaduct opened in 1893 to carry the railway from Stockport to Warrington over the Canal. The wrought iron viaduct, with a span of 250 feet (76 m), weighed more than 1,200 tonnes. The last passenger service ran in 1962, but the line continued to carry freight. It closed to all traffic in 1985, when the cost of keeping the viaduct operational became prohibitive. Sadly, you can’t walk across it.

Large lock gates at the eastern end of the lock

Hut by the main lock

Small lock gates at the eastern end of the lock

Small lock and the Latchford Viaduct