Waterway Routes

Maps and DVDs for the Waterways of Britain

Category: St Helens Canal

Crossing the Weir

< Next Gerard’s Bridge Branch Next > < New Double Lock Jn Old Double Locks Jn > The footpath / cyclepath regains the line of the towpath to the west of Park Road.  A bridge has...

Overgrown Channel

< Next Gerard’s Bridge Branch Next > < New Double Lock Jn Old Double Locks Jn > It’s easy to walk or cycle along the route of the canal and, with a little work, it will...

Low Footbridge

< Next Gerard’s Bridge Branch Next > < New Double Lock Jn Old Double Locks Jn > A low footbridge crosses the channel close to the normal water level.  After recent heavy rain the water levels...

Between the Buildings

Between the Buildings

< Next Gerard’s Bridge Branch Next > < New Double Lock Jn Old Double Locks Jn > Approaching St Helens the route of the canal is still protected as it’s squeezed between the industrial buildings on...

Merton Banks Bridge

< Next Gerard’s Bridge Branch Next > < New Double Lock Jn Old Double Locks Jn > Another bridge fixed close to water level.  The name has evolved and appears as Irelands Brow Bridge and Islands...

High Water Levels

< Next Gerard’s Bridge Branch Next > < New Double Lock Jn Old Double Locks Jn > Exceptionally high water levels after recent heavy rain meant the towpath became flooded and is hard to distinguish from...

Underwater Junction

< Next Gerard’s Bridge Branch Next > < End of Navigation Old Double Locks Jn > < Next Boardman’s Bridge Branch JUMP TO > < Ravenhead Branch Jn End of Navigation > Exceptionally high water levels after heavy...

Flooded Towpath

< Next Gerard’s Bridge Branch Next > < End of Navigation New Double Locks Jn > The Gerard’s Bridge Branch comes towards us and finished to the left of the photo.  The line of the water...

End of Navigation

< JUMP TO Gerard’s Bridge Branch Next > < Old Double Locks Jn New Double Locks Jn > The end of the Gerard’s Bridge Branch is to the left of the photo.  The towpath, nearer the...

Junction with the Boardman’s Bridge Branch

Junction with the Boardman’s Bridge Branch

< Next Ravenhead Branch JUMP TO > < End of Navigation End of Navigation > < Next Boardman’s Bridge Branch Next > < End of Navigation New Double Locks Jn > Where the Boardman’s Bridge Branch once went...

Junction with the Boardman’s Bridge Branch

< Next Ravenhead Branch Next > < End of Navigation Boardman’s Bridge Branch Jn > Looking back towards the start of the Ravenhead Branch where the Boardman’s Bridge Branch once continued from the left to pass...

Footbridge with clearance

< Next Ravenhead Branch Next > < End of Navigation Boardman’s Bridge Branch Jn > The first bridge on the Ravenhead Branch is a footbridge with adequate clearances making navigation possible. Waterway and Kilometerage HELENS-RB 24.700 OS...

Glass Bridge

< Next Ravenhead Branch Next > < End of Navigation Boardman’s Bridge Branch Jn > The glass sided footbridge links the two parts of Pilkington’s World of Glass in St Helens. Waterway and Kilometerage HELENS-RB 24.790 OS...

Railway Bridge

< Next Ravenhead Branch Next > < End of Navigation Boardman’s Bridge Branch Jn > The Railway Line through St Helens crosses a bridge over the towpath.  It’s not clear if the bridge over the canal...

Near the End

< Next Ravenhead Branch Next > < End of Navigation Boardman’s Bridge Branch Jn > Very near the end of the St Helens Canal is passes between modern shopping outlets and car parking spaces. Waterway and...

Limit of the Ravenhead Branch

< Next Ravenhead Branch Next > < End of Navigation Boardman’s Bridge Branch Jn > The limit of navigation of the Ravenhead Branch of the St Helens Canal.  The branch once continued for around 650m (700 yards) further...

Ravenhead Branch – End of Navigation

< Next Ravenhead Branch Next > < End of Navigation Boardman’s Bridge Branch Jn > This will be the limit of navigation on the Ravenhead Branch when it’s restored.  Visitor moorings and a winding point are...

Tavern Swing Bridge

< Next Ravenhead Branch Next > < End of Navigation Boardman’s Bridge Branch Jn > Photographed just beyond the current limit of navigation of the Ravenhead Branch, this is where the canal once passed from where...

Canal Street

< Next Ravenhead Branch Next > < End of Navigation Boardman’s Bridge Branch Jn > The final 400m (¼ mile) of the Ravenhead Branch once headed into the distance along what is, rather cheekily, called Canal...

Near the End

< Next Ravenhead Branch Next > < End of Navigation Boardman’s Bridge Branch Jn > From Tavern Swing Bridge in the distance near the white building, the Ravenhead Branch once came towards the camera along what...

End of the Ravenhead Branch

< JUMP TO Ravenhead Branch Next > < Boardman’s Bridge Jn Boardman’s Bridge Jn > We’re standing at the end of the Ravenhead Branch of the St Helens Canal.  This final section of the canal closed...

St Helens Canal Maps

Free Maps These are my free maps covering the St Helens Canal. Download these free maps (from the links at the end) to see how good my maps are, and to check you can...

Mersey Gateway

The Mersey Gateway project will provide a new road link to relive pressure on the existing road bridge at Runcorn. It’s being constructed to the east of the existing bridge, and scheduled for completion in...

St Helens Canal

History The St Helens Canal ran from the River Mersey near Warrington to reach the outskirts of St Helens.  It’s sometimes known as the Sankey Canal as it used the line of the Sankey Brook in...