Besides being the Captain and stockman of the Wool Boat Colin also likes to try his hand photography, and canal’s are the natural subject.
Quite a few of these photos we reproduce as A5 greetings cards which are available from The Wool Boat
Page updated 10.9.2022 with a image from Banbury. Not a canal we have boated on but Col had a go at helping a single handed boater through a lock and a lift bridge while having a wander before going to watch Southport FC loose away at Banbury Fc.
As this page could get quite big I’ve also put some pictures into extra gallery pages…
There was a breach on the Leeds and Liverpool canal at Rishton in October 2021, pictures here
For a good few years the town on of Middlewich in Cheshire has held a annual “Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival” in June, I’ve taken quite a few pictures there over the years and some are here
Pictures of The Leeds and Liverpool canal are here, updated 26.10.2022
Misty sunrise over the canal 15.1.2025
On a January morning the sun is just rising over Burscough and the Leeds and Liverpool canal in West Lancashire.
It was a misty start to the day, with the mist lingering in patches for most of the day, though the sun did burn it off in spells.
Image Cw 8948 copyright Colin Wareing of Colin and Carole’s Creations
Available to licence through Alamy here
Leaky tail gates lock 4 Rufford Arm
The tail gates, the bottom gates, on lock four of the Rufford arm of the Leeds and Liverpool canal have a slight leak on them.
This lock is called Moss Lock and is the 4th one down the branch which starts at a junction near Burscough. The branch, or arm carries on through 7 locks in total past Rufford to Tarleton. Here there is one more lock, the River Lock where boats can join the tidal River Douglas.
11.10.2024
Photo image Cw 8881 Copyright Colin Wareing
This image is available to licence from Alamy here
Bywash lock 4 Rufford Arm
The excess water from the canal above lock four of the Rufford arm of the Leeds and Liverpool canal flows around the lock in the stone bywash channel.
This lock is called Moss Lock and is the 4th one down the branch which starts at a junction near Burscough. The branch, or arm carries on through 7 locks in total past Rufford to Tarleton. Here there is one more lock, the River Lock where boats can join the tidal River Douglas.
11.10.2024
Photo image Cw 8880 Copyright Colin Wareing
This image is available to licence at Alamy here
Leaky gates lock 4 Rufford Arm
The tail gates on lock four of the Rufford arm of the Leeds and Liverpool canal have a slight leak on them.
This lock is called Moss Lock and is the 4th one down the branch which starts at a junction near Burscough. The branch, or arm carries on through 7 locks in total past Rufford to Tarleton. Here there is one more lock, the River Lock where boats can join the tidal River Douglas.
11.10.2024
Photo image Cw 8879 Copyright Colin Wareing
This image is available to licence through Alamy here
Boat owners only sign on New Lane moorings 28.3.2020
Homemade sign at the entrance to the New Lane boat moorings near Burscough.
This is a mooring on the Leeds and Liverpool canal near Burscough.
Whilst the path alongside the mooring is also a public foot path the boaters that are self isolating on their boats are concerned about members of the public walking past as the path is not two meters wide. The two meters is the recommended distance that the government have advised for social distancing in the present coronavirus epidemic.
There is a perfectly good towpath on the opposite side of the canal, with no boats moored along it, so the general public are being encouraged, by the boaters, to use that for their daily exercise.
Photo image Cw 7089 Copyright Colin Wareing
Available to licence through Alamy here
Boat owners only sign on New Lane moorings 28.3.2020
Home made sign at the entrance to the New Lane boat moorings near Burscough.
This is a mooring on the Leeds and Liverpool canal near Burscough.
Whilst the path alongside the mooring is also a public foot path the boaters that are self isolating on their boats are concerned about members of the public walking past as the path is not two meters wide. The two meters is the recommended distance that the government have advised for social distancing in the present coronavirus epidemic.
There is a perfectly good towpath on the opposite side of the canal, with no boats moored along it, so the general public are being encouraged, by the boaters, to use that for their daily exercise.
Photo image Cw 7088 Copyright Colin Wareing
Available to licence through Alamy here
From back a few years ago when The Slipway was still a Thwaites pub.
A lovely spring morning at Crabtree Lane swing bridge on the Leeds and Liverpool canal with boats moored outside The Slipway pub. The only problem is as happens quite often at the first use of the bridge of the day it didn’t work…CRT chaps are here trying to sort it out. We’re at least not going through today with The Wool Boat..we’re open outside The Slipway from 1-5.
Image Cw 1735 copyright Colin Wareing of Colin and Carole’s Creations
A narrow boat, “Slow Motion” passes through Banbury in Oxfordshire. The canal side in Banbury has been extensively redeveloped in recent years and looks very modern. There had been concerns that a historic boatyard, “Tooleys” to the left of this picture would be lost in the works, but thankfully it wasn’t. This is the South Oxford canal. Photo image Cw 9045 Copyright Colin Wareing
Page updated 2.6.2022 with image’s of the South Pennine Boat Clubs open day in April which Colin covered for Towpath talk with his report and pictures being published on page 6 of the June 2022 edition of the paper. You can see the page here.
Watch your heads and specs lads, in the first of two performances of “the unique and world famous handspike dance”. This dance is based on a mixture of Morris and sword dancing but instead of swords the dancer’s used Calder and Hebble Handspikes, the wooden tool used to open the paddles on the locks on the Calder and Hebble navigation. On Easter Monday in April 2022 the South Pennine Boat Club held a open day for visitors to come and have a look what they have to offer, learn about boating and to watch performances of the “the unique and world famous handspike dance”. The dancers are all members of the boat club and despite hours of practice the performance raised lots of laughs from the audience as heads, legs and arms became entangled. If you ever get the chance to catch the performance it is well worth. Colin Wareing 18.4.2022 Image Cw 7980 copyright Colin Wareing of Colin and Carole’s Creations
Up and over lads, in the first of two performances of “the unique and world famous handspike dance”. This dance is based on a mixture of Morris and sword dancing but instead of swords the dancer’s used Calder and Hebble Handspikes, the wooden tool used to open the paddles on the locks on the Calder and Hebble navigation. On Easter Monday in April 2022 the South Pennine Boat Club held a open day for visitors to come and have a look what they have to offer, learn about boating and to watch performances of the “the unique and world famous handspike dance”. The dancers are all members of the boat club and despite hours of practice the performance raised lots of laughs from the audience as heads, legs and arms became entangled. If you ever get the chance to catch the performance it is well worth. Colin Wareing 18.4.2022 Image Cw 7979 copyright Colin Wareing of Colin and Carole’s Creations
On Easter Monday in April 2022 the South Pennine Boat Club held a open day for visitors to come and have a look what they have to offer, learn about boating and to watch performances of the “the unique and world famous handspike dance”. This was the first of two performances of “the unique and world famous handspike dance”. This dance is based on a mixture of Morris and sword dancing but instead of swords the dancer’s used Calder and Hebble Handspikes, the wooden tool used to open the paddles on the locks on the Calder and Hebble navigation. The dancers are all members of the boat club and despite hours of practice the performance raised lots of laughs from the audience as heads, legs and arms became entangled. If you ever get the chance to catch the performance it is well worth. Colin Wareing 25.4.2022 Image Cw 7978 copyright Colin Wareing of Colin and Carole’s Creations
On Easter Monday in April 2022 the South Pennine Boat Club held a open day, at their base, for visitors to come and have a look what they have to offer, learn about boating and to watch performances of the “the unique and world famous handspike dance”. The visitors where able to get on the water by taking a ride in two boats, one on the canalised section of the River Calder, on the Calder and Hebble canal, or one on the river Calder. The trips on the River Calder were provided on a boat “Lady Victoria” from the Safe Anchor Trust’s fleet based in Shepley Bridge Marina, further along the Calder. “Lady Victoria” has just arrived back at the lock landing below Battyeford lock, with the passengers disembarking. Colin Wareing 25.4.2022 Image Cw 7977 copyright Colin Wareing of Colin and Carole’s Creations
The Mirfield Boat Company brought one of their wide beam canal boat’s to the South Pennine Boat Club open day on Easter Monday in April 2022. This recently finished boat was moored along the linear moorings at the boat club’s base for folk to have the chance to go aboard to be impressed with the what they saw, lots of “oohs, aaahs, this is nice, isn’t in big, we could live on this” type comments. Colin Wareing 18.4.2022 Image Cw 7976 copyright Colin Wareing of Colin and Carole’s Creations
https://www.mirfieldboats.co.uk/
Jerry Holland on the left with the high vis coat on left who is the association of waterways cruising rep for the South Pennine Boat Club in Mirfield, while Steve Moss on the right is a member of “the unique and world famous handspike dance group” from the club. On Easter Monday in April 2022 the club held a open day for visitors to come and have a look what they have to offer, learn about boating and to watch performances of the “the unique and world famous handspike dance”. Colin Wareing 27.4.2022 Image Cw 7975 copyright Colin Wareing of Colin and Carole’s Creations
The dry dock at the South Pennine Boat Club in Mirfield, West Yorkshire is being refilled with water. The dry dock was refurbished by members of the club following their takeover of the former boat yard site in 1985. They have since built a cover over it. The dry dock is for exclusive use of the club members and is in fairly constant use for repairs and maintaince of canal boats, both narrow boats and wide beam craft. Here it is being refilled with water to allow the next boat to float in before the water is let out again and the boat will come to rest on blocks, the position of which is indicated by the poles sticking up out of the water. On Easter Monday in April 2022 the club held a open day for visitors to come and have a look what they have to offer, learn about boating and to watch performances of the “the unique and world famous handspike dance”. Colin Wareing 27.4.2022 Image Cw 7974 copyright Colin Wareing
Deb Cook of the Mirfield Boat Company aboard a wide beam canal boat at the South Pennine Boat Club open day on Easter Monday in April 2022. This boat was new and had been built by the Mirfield Boat Company; Deb was welcoming people aboard at the South Pennine Boat Club open day, the first for three years for visitors. This recently finished wide beam boat was moored along the linear moorings with lots of the folk being welcomed aboard seemed impressed with the what they saw, lots of “oohs, aaahs, this is nice, isn’t in big, we could live on this” comments. Colin Wareing 18.4.2022 Image Cw 7973 copyright Colin Wareing of Colin and Carole’s Creations
Neil Clegg, roving trader fender maker, trading at the South Pennine Boat Club open day on Easter Monday in April 2022. Neil had come over from Lancashire via the Rochdale canal due to the stoppages on the Leeds and Liverpool canal. The South Pennine Boat Club held a open day, the first for three years for visitors to come and have a look what they have to offer, learn about boating and to watch performances of the “the unique and world famous handspike dance”. Colin Wareing 18.4.2022
Image Cw 7972 copyright Colin Wareing of Colin and Carole’s Creations
The club house and moorings of the South Pennine Boat Club in Mirfield, West Yorkshire. This has been the base of the boat club since 1985 when they took over an old boat yard. Since then they have developed the site clearing out the basin, building and extending the club house and re-commissioning and building a roof over the dry dock. On Easter Monday in April 2022 they held a open day for visitors to come and have a look what they have to offer, learn about boating and to watch performances of the “the unique and world famous handspike dance”. Colin Wareing 25.4.2022 Image Cw 7971 copyright Colin Wareing of Colin and Carole’s Creations
Location South Pennine Boat Club, Wood Lane, Mirfield, West Yorkshire. England.
On a bright but cool and crisp winter morning a group of six rowing boats or canoes from the Gloucester rowing club are passing canal boats moored on the Gloucester and Sharpness canal at Sellars Bridge about 4 miles south of the city of Gloucester. Sellars Bridge is on the outskirts of the village of Quedgeley. This canal was designed to bring ships into the city of Gloucester to avoid using the nearby tidal River Severn, which is why it is wide and deep. The date is 22.1.2022
Image Cw 7883 copyright Colin Wareing of Colin and Carole’s Creations
The sun is just coming up near the former Ainscough’s corn mill on cold winters morning in the centre of the Burscough. Picture taken from the narrow boat Emma Maye moored on The Leeds and Liverpool canal. Photo image Cw 7874 Copyright Colin Wareing
Out of the mist comes the fuel boat. “Ambush” approaches New Lane Bridge over the Leeds and Liverpool canal to the west of Burscough in West Lancashire. The boat is the former H and R Ainscough’s motor boat “Ambush” which started life as a grain carrier but is now used by Derek Bent to deliver diesel and solid fuels to boaters along the western end of the Leeds and Liverpool from Wigan towards Liverpool. Derek has “retired” lots of times, “but if I don’t do it who else will?” The cottages on the bank here used to be the homes of boat men that worked these wide beam canal boats on the Leeds and Liverpool canal. Image Cw 7844 copyright Colin Wareing of Colin and Carole’s Creations
A depression in the towpath at the side of lock wall at Eshton lock on the Leeds and Liverpool canal in Gargrave was discovered on Tuesday the 28th September 2021. Canal and River trust engineers think that water had got in behind the look wall and has caused it to bulge inwards to the lock and has created the depression in the tow path. The lock has been closed since Saturday the 2nd of October and work has started to get ready for repairs to commence. By Tuesday the 7th of December a work site had been established, fibre dams had been installed above and below the lock and scaffolding had been set up in the lock chamber while work continues ready for the rebuild of the lock wall. On the day this picture was taken there is no indication from the Canal and River Trust when the works will be completed and the lock reopened. Copyright Colin Wareing Cw 7828 Colin Wareing
As part of the winter 2020 -21 maintaince programme the Canal and River Trust are about to start fitting new bottom gates to the top lock on the Wheelton flight of locks near Chorley on the Leeds and Liverpool canal. Here some CRT lads are putting in stop planks into the grooves just above the top gates of the lock, These planks will be used to stop the water flowing into the lock while the work is going on. The hiab crane they are using to lift the wooden beams that are the stop planks is working from a work boat that is in the lock. The canal is closed to boat navigation and a safety fence has been put into place around the lock though the tow path remains open. This is lock no 58 of the canal. Image Cw 7476 copyright Colin Wareing of Colin and Carole’s Creations This image was published in the April 2021 edition of Towpath Talk on page 10. Read the article it was with here
As part of the winter 2020 -21 maintaince programme the Canal and River Trust are about to start fitting new bottom gates to the top lock on the Wheelton flight of locks near Chorley on the Leeds and Liverpool canal. These are the new gates waiting at the side of the next lock down the canal. Once the time has come to fit them they will be reloaded back onto a work boat and floated up to the top lock which is just beyond bridge in the distance. These new wooden gates are quite heavy at 35 tons each. The canal is closed to boat navigation and a safety fence has been put into place around the lock though the tow path remains open. Image Cw 7477 copyright Colin Wareing of Colin and Carole’s Creations.
This image was published in the April 2021 edition of Towpath Talk on page 10. Read the article it was with here
The spring daffodils are blooming alongside the swing bridge at New Lane near Burscough on the Leeds and Liverpool canal in Lancashire. This swing bridge is being operated, by pushing a button to work the electrics and hydraulics, by a mate of the lady who is steering the narrow boat. Warning lights and barriers come down to stop the road traffic to allow the canal traffic to pass. Photo image Cw 7536 Copyright Colin Wareing
On Tuesday the 23th March 2021 the Canal and River Trust revealed their plans for the repairs to Toddbrook reservoir at Whaley Bridge in Derbyshire. Within in the new plans the proposed new spillway channel will run across the front of these headquarters of Toddbrook sailing club, close to the line of the track in front of the building. This will mean that this building will need to be relocated, probably a few meters further back up the slope. Image Cw 7513 copyright Colin Wareing of Colin and Carole’s Creations Published in Towpath Talk May 2021