Photo-a-Day  (Friday, 1st May, 2015)

Great shot.

This is a big photo, I have to scroll up and down to see it all.
Should it not be a wind down because that boat is pointing towards Appley Bridge

Mick - the boater is winding the paddle up to let the water out of the lock.
Do you know the other use of 'winding' on the canals? It means turning around - but it's pronounced with a short 'i', as in the wind which blows. Cut-outs in the side of the canal to provide places for full-length boats to wind are called winding-holes.

I watched the construction of the Gathurst viaduct which commenced 15 months after I moved to Shevington. For the Motorway Archive see:-
http://www.ciht.org.uk/motorway/m6prewar.htm
Extract:In June 1958, while the Preston and Lancaster By-passes were under construction, the route of the 27 miles of motorway between Thelwall and Preston, bypassing Warrington on the east and Wigan on the west, was confirmed. Two major bridges were required - the thirty-six span Thelwall Bridge (commonly known as the Thelwall Viaduct), over the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Mersey and the six-span Gathurst viaduct across the Douglas valley west of Wigan. Because of their size and complexity an early start on their construction was vital and work began in September 1959.

Great shot, as usual, Dave.

Good points, Ernest and good description. I also remember the viaduct being built Photo on ALBUM of the viaduct half built.

http://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=5&id=6611&gallery=Gathurst&offset=20

Just love your shots Dave. This one holds special memories for me of my childhood . Much appreciated Dave.

Would Leonard Fairclough's have built this bridge??

Now thats a name from the past Broady. The character in Corrie, a builder, was named after him and the firm. My firm, Tarmac, were great rivals of Leonard Fairclough for contracts at the time!

Broady; Extract from The Engineer dated 7th August 1959:-
"The Thelwall Viaduct will carry the motorway over the River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal east of Warrmgton; it will be a mile and a quarter long with 36 spans. A span of 336ft will give 75ft headroom over the waterway and will be of riveted steel construction. It will consist of cantilevers and a suspended section, with balancing cantilevers forming the span on each side. The approach spans will be of welded steel and the deck throughout will be of reinforced concrete. The contract for the viaduct and its approaches (total cost about £5, 250,000) has been let to Leonard Fairclough Ltd.
The Gathurst Viaduct, north-west of Wigan, will be just under a quarter of a mile long and will be a six-span structure, taking the road over the River Douglas, the Leeds and Liverpool canal and the Wigan - Southport line of British Railways. The bridge will be of welded steel girder construction with a reinforced concrete deck. It will cost about £870,000 and the contractor is A. Monk and Co., Ltd.
The Thelwall and Gathurst Viaducts have been designed by the Lancashire County Surveyor and Bridge Master Mr. James Drake, M.I.C.E."

Thanks very much for that Ernest. I worked for McAlpine and I know in the 70's we would construct the roads in a Joint Venture with Fairclough who would construct the Bridges.

Thanks Ernest for the detailed info. Interesting to read Arthur Monk from Warrington were awarded the contract. Another great rival to Tarmac.
Footnote: It was common practice in the 60's and 70's for building firms to "take cover" allowing another to out bid. Then the next big contract would be yours! Like a merry-go-round.

hi ya dave my brother bob worked on the m6 viaduct has a shuttering joiner in all weathers but he,s still with us at 86years