LEEDS AND LIVERPOOL CANAL (continued)

[Stanley]

LEEDS AND LIVERPOOL CANAL (continued)

[This short piece which is an account of Salterforth quarries and their relationship to the canal was sent to me by Bob King from Auckland. I do not know the original source but it is an interesting account which I have not seen before. Posted by SCG 21 September 2004]

In 1851 we find that there were employed around the canal one boatman William Peckover; two coal dealers Levi Widdup and John Widdup; blacksmith Richard Widdup; plate layer John Driver; stone mason Stephen Broughton and seven labourers Thomas Widdup, Harry Crabtree, James Crabtree, Richard Simpson, Edmund Widdup, Edmund Widdup junior and Matthew Sutcliffe. Also employed at that time was Constable William Edmondson and Superintendent Constable Abraham Beanland, plus lawyer James Duckworth from Lothersdale.

Records that show in 1861 there were five boatmen James Waddington, Henry Shutt, William Crabtree, Henry King and John Starkie. The crew on board the coal boat "Fox" of 50 tons included Captain William Austin aged 49 from Habergham Eaves and the mate James Austin aged 18. The boat was delivering to Rainhall Rocks. At the same time there were employed locally seven quarrymen including William Mitchell a stone grinder born in Crawshawbooth, James Rawsthorne a stone cutter from Slaidburn, Edmund Broughton, William King and Aaron Whiteoak from Thornton in Craven and William Peckover and Henry Wormwell from Kelbrook.

Slowly the quarry workers were becoming used to using the canal.. The quarries up Moor Lane were opening up and stone being brought down to the canal by cart. Transport down the hill was with the use of a winch and rail track. One set of lines came down to the canal between the Anchor and the new bridge going towards Barnoldswick but unfortunately signs of this have since been erased by the farmer tidying up the land. The second incline came down to the boat yard at Burdock and by 1891 there were 23 Salterforth men working in the quarries and nine further men working as boatmen and leggers.

The work brought families from places such as Bentham, Bingley, Tatham, Lothersdale Burnley and Somerset. The Reeves family came from Norfolk and lived at Wanless Cottages on the right hand side of the road leading up Moor Lane. These cottages have since been demolished. Later came the Sayers family from Settle and Ellis who was a legger twice caught pneumonia, surprisingly surviving.

Mrs. Esther Redman (nee Thackeray) can remember her family coming to Higher Park Farm from Middlemoor to live with uncle Horner Dolphin, who was a quarryman like her father. When in the first world war her Dad was killed her mother used to take her and her brother up to the top of the lane at 6am every Monday morning. One of the quarrymen would give them a bag of sweets. Years later Esther met Jacky Grimes in Skipton and was able to thank him warmly. Mrs. Rachel Peel (nee Windle) also has memories of being told how her great, great grandparents used to harness themselves together to pull boats along the canal in both directions.

Times were hard and not without tragedy for on 1st July 1882, the steamboat "Weaver" went through Foulridge tunnel and emerged at the Barrowford end. The boat "Robin", transporting stone and manned by James Hartley Widdup and assisted by William Smith, a legger, followed the "Weaver" into the tunnel. Sadly through neglect the flyboat ‘Dee’ was not told that a second boat was coming through and thus entered the tunnel from Barrowford. Meeting "Robin" halfway through the "Dee" pushed "Robin" back to Foulridge. An argument arose and James Widdup and William Smith were each paid two shillings to compensate for loss of time. Shortly after 9pm the "Robin" set off again into the tunnel towards Barrowford. At 3am on the Saturday morning Richard Petty, the captain of "Robin" went to the Barrowford end of the tunnel expecting to find his boat there and continue to Burnley. After finding the boat had not passed through Barrowford locks he returned to the tunnel and shouted. He heard William Smith reply. At 6am. he entered the tunnel at the Foulridge end with a tug and found "Robin". Smith, was alive but confused and sick.

Widdup, a tall strong man of 25 of good character for steadiness and reliability was found prone down with his head leaning over the side, quite dead. He bore discolourations on his chest and lower part of his neck at the back. No medical examination was given and at the inquest at the home of William and Elizabeth Widdup (nee King) - Anchor Inn, the jury returned a verdict that Mr. James Widdup has suffocated while in charge of a boat passing through Foulridge tunnel. A recommendation was passed that greater care be paid to the ventilation of the tunnel and the passing in and out of boats. James was buried in Salterforth Quaker burial ground and recently his stone has been moved with other Quaker stones to Salterforth Cemetery near the top at each side of the path.



to be continued ......