Prestolee is a Village in the county of Greater Manchester.
The Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal in the Prestolee area near Kearsley is a noteworthy segment of the once bustling canal system of North West England. This canal, originally constructed in the early 19th century, was instrumental in the industrial development of the region, providing a vital transportation route for goods, particularly coal, cotton, and other industrial materials.
Historical Significance
The canal was opened in 1797 and played a crucial role in linking the towns of Manchester, Bolton, and Bury, thereby enhancing the industrial capabilities of each town. The Prestolee area, near Kearsley, is particularly significant due to the presence of Prestolee Locks, a series of locks that were engineered to manage the elevation changes along the canal. These locks facilitated the smooth passage of cargo through varying levels of the canal, which was an engineering marvel at the time.
Prestolee Locks and Aqueduct
One of the most impressive features of this area is the Prestolee Aqueduct, which carries the canal over the River Irwell. This stone structure is a testament to the engineering prowess of the period and remains a point of interest for both historians and engineers. Alongside the aqueduct, the Prestolee Locks are another focal point, demonstrating the complex water management systems used to navigate the canal’s elevation.
Decline and Restoration
By the mid-20th century, the importance of canals had waned with the advent of rail and road transport, leading to the decline of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal. Many sections of the canal fell into disrepair, including areas around Prestolee. However, the latter part of the 20th century and the early 21st century have seen renewed interest in the canal’s heritage and potential for leisure use.
Efforts for restoration have been spearheaded by local groups passionate about preserving and revitalizing the canal. These initiatives aim to restore navigability where possible and promote the canal corridor as a recreational and wildlife area. The area around Prestolee has benefited from these efforts, with improved pathways and the restoration of some of the historical features.
Today’s Prestolee
Today, the Prestolee area near Kearsley offers a picturesque setting that attracts walkers, cyclists, and history enthusiasts. The canal’s paths provide scenic views and a peaceful environment for outdoor activities. The historical structures, including the locks and aqueduct, offer a glimpse into the industrial past and serve as educational points for visitors interested in the engineering and industrial history of the region.
The ongoing restoration projects continue to enhance the area’s appeal, contributing to the conservation of this important historical asset and providing a space for community engagement and environmental stewardship. Thus, the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal at Prestolee near Kearsley stands as a symbol of industrial history and modern regeneration, bridging the past with the future in this part of North West England.
There are great places to visit near Prestolee including some great towns, hills, ancient sites, round cairns, hiking areas, old mines, ruins, historic sites, lakes, historic monuments, rivers and streams, woodlands, geological features, nature reserves, villages, historic buildings, country parks, waterfalls, events, bluebell woods, sssis, parks, shopping centres, gardens, canals, cities, museums, disused railway lines, moated sites and airports.
Prestolee's best nearby towns can be found at Bolton, Westhoughton, Horwich, Little Lever, Salford Quays, Rochdale, and Littleborough.
Hills to visit near Prestolee include Winter Hill, Winter Hill Summit, Adam Hill, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, The Great Knoll, and Burnt Edge.
Prestolee's best nearby ancient sites can be found at Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, Noon Hill, Two Lads, Hanging Stone, Rivington Cup Marked Stone, and Rainsough Hill Camp.
There are a several good round cairns in the Prestolee area like Winter Hill Tumulus, White Brow Cairn, and Noon Hill.
Prestolee's best nearby hiking areas can be found at Winter Hill Summit, Hole Bottom, Hole Bottom Mining Area, Crooked Edge Hill, Whimberry Hill, Burnt Edge, and Turton Moor.
Prestolee has some unmissable old mines nearby like Winter Hill Mines, Winter Hill Tunnel, Rivington Moor Colliery (ruin), Rivington Moor Brickworks (ruin), Hole Bottom Mining Area, Wildersmoor Pit Kilns (ruin), and Prospect (ruin).
Don't miss Rivington Moor Brickworks (ruin), Winter Hill Brick and Tile Works, Ouzel Hall (site of), Wildersmoor Pit Kilns (ruin), Prospect (ruin), Rivington Moor Bell Pits (ruin), and Burnt Edge Colliery (ruin)'s ruins if visiting the area around Prestolee.
Hole Bottom, Winter Hill Brick and Tile Works, and Hole Bottom Mining Area are some of Prestolee best historic sites to visit near Prestolee.
Lakes to visit near Prestolee include Reservoir Of Dean Mills, The Turton Reservoirs, Turton and Entwistle Reservoir, Jumbles Reservoir, Wayoh Reservoir, Rivington Lakes And Reservoirs, and Yarrow Reservoir.
The area around Prestolee boasts some of the best historic monuments including Two Lads, Holy Well Spring, Bury Castle, Worsley Green Monument, and Hyde War Memorial.
Rushtons Brook, Holden's Brook, Stones Bank Brook, Cadshaw Brook, Roscow Clough, Dean Brook, and Raveden Brook are some of Prestolee best rivers and streams to visit near Prestolee.
Prestolee has some unmissable woodlands nearby like Fox Hill Plantation, Ousel Nest Quarry, Walker Fold Woods, Raveden Clough, Roscow's Tenement Clough, Dean Wood - Rivington, and Rivington Hall Wood.
Jumbles Fossil Tree, Fairy Battery, The Margery Flags at Rivington Pike, Tigers Clough, and Jepsons Clough are great places to visit near Prestolee if you like geological features.
Ousel Nest Quarry, Doffcocker Lodge, Nob End SSSI, Leverhulme Park, Aspull Sough, Wigan Flashes Local Nature Reserve, and Pennington Flash are some of Prestolee best nature reserves to visit near Prestolee.
Villages to visit near Prestolee include Cadshaw, Rivington, Barrow Bridge, Bromley Cross, Chapeltown, Whelley, and Standish.
There are a several good historic buildings in the Prestolee area like Turton Tower, Prospect Tower, Archway at Turton Tower, Medieval Style Railway Bridge at Turton Tower, Smithills Hall, Sheephouse Farm, and Dean Gate.
Country Parks to visit near Prestolee include Smithills Country Park, Moses Gate Country Park, Cutacre Country Park, Hollingworth Country Park, Haigh Country Park, Pennington Flash, and Burrs Country Park.
Don't miss Roscow Clough Waterfall, Smithills Hall Park Waterfall, Langshaw Ford Weir, Raveden Clough Waterfall, Raveden Plantation Waterfall, Yarrow Reservoir Overflow Cascade, and Upper Rivington Reservoir Yarrow Outflow's waterfalls if visiting the area around Prestolee.
There are a several good events in the area around Prestolee like Rivington Pike Easter.
Don't miss Dean Wood - Rivington, Rivington Hall Wood, Horrocks Wood, Old House Ground Plantation, and Etherow Country Park's bluebell woods if visiting the area around Prestolee.
Places near Prestolee feature a number of interesting sssis including Nob End SSSI.
Parks to visit near Prestolee include Queens Park, Hall Lee Bank Park, Moss Bank Park, Wythenshawe Park and Gardens, Gorton Park, Debdale Park, and Heaton Park.
Don't miss Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park, Manchester Christmas Markets, The Trafford Centre, and Manchester Arndale's shopping centres if visiting the area around Prestolee.
There are a number of gardens near Prestolee including The Rock Garden, The Walled Garden at Moss Bank, and RHS Garden Bridgewater.
The area around Prestolee boasts some of the best canals including Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal at Prestolee, The Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Haigh, Top Lock at Wigan, Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Crooke, The Leeds and Liverpool Canal near Shevington, Rochdale Canal Western Section, and Bridgewater Canal.
Prestolee's best nearby cities can be found at Salford, and Manchester.
Salford Museum and Art Gallery, and The Imperial War Museum Salford are great places to visit near Prestolee if you like museums.
The Old Whelley Line, Lancashire Union Joint Line, Ringley Road Station (ruin), Clifton - Accrington and Colne Line (disused), and Linnyshaw Loopline are some of Prestolee best disused railway lines to visit near Prestolee.
Prestolee is near some unmissable moated sites like Wigan Golf Club,
There are a several good airports in the area around Prestolee like Manchester Airport.
Prestolee History
There are some historic monuments around Prestolee:
