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Hollinwood
Canal Society
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Along the Hollinwood Canal   -   Fairbottom Branch
At the top of the fourth lock in Daisy Nook, the Fairbottom Branch leads off to the right, running eastwards for half a mile to Bardsley Bridge. The towpath runs along the south side.
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A short distance from the junction, the canal widens on the far side. This area was once a loading wharf for coal from Wood Park colliery, which was brought by wagons on a tram road.
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Fairbottom Branch
Looking east along the Fairbottom Branch.
Fairbottom Branch
Looking west along the Fairbottom Branch.
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Fairbottom Branch
Narrows where stop planks could be placed in the event of any breach of the aqueduct or steep valley side.
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Fairbottom Branch
Looking east towards Valley Aqueduct.
The canal soon crosses Valley Aqueduct, overlooking Valley Farm. The steep road running below is very quiet and it is hard to believe that this was the main road used by coaches and wagons between Oldham and Ashton before the present straight road across Bardsley Bridge was built. The section of canal across Valley Aqueduct is currently dry.
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Valley Aqueduct
Valley Aqueduct across the old coach road.
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east of Valley Aqueduct
East of Valley Aqueduct. To the left was once an arm where coal from Bardsley Colliery was loaded.
Fairbottom Branch
Looking west from Bardsley Bridge.
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Bardsley Bridge
Bardsley Bridge under the main A627.
Bardsley Bridge is the end of the part of the canal that is in water. The canal bed through the bridge is in use as a bridle way. The navigation beyond the bridge was closed in 1904. A footpath now follows the remains of the canal beyond the bridge for another 400 metres to its terminus at Fenny Field Bridge. A tram road led from here along the valley to coal pits at Fairbottom and Rocher Vale and the iron works at Park Bridge.
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If you are walking the canal route, you can either walk back along the Fairbottom Branch to re-join the Hollinwood Branch towards Crime Lake and Hollinwood, or catch a bus from Bardsley Bridge to Ashton or Oldham.
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Previous section - junction with Hollinwood Branch.    Next section - Crime Lake.
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