L&L 200th anniversary

THIS year the 200th anniversary of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal is being celebrated, with numerous activities along its length.

This will culminate on the actual date of the 22nd October when the education boat, Kennet, will recreate the first ever trans-Pennine journey along the canal, Alan Tilbury tells us.

Finally completed

It was on this date in 1816 that the waterway was finally completed after many difficulties, the usual one being its construction running out of money, but the first boat, it is recorded, made the journey in five days.

It was of course instrumental in fuelling the industrial revolution of Lancashire and Yorkshire with its boats carrying all manner of produce.