The canal was already established before the locomotive works was built. This canal was the Stockport branch of the ASHTON CANAL (known then as the 'Manchester and Ashton-under-Lyne Canal' - built 1791 to 1796)... This branch of the canal was fed from the main arm of the canal at Clayton (Stockport junction) approximately half a mile to the north of the depot. The canal travelled Southwards, under Ashton Old Road (known as Openshaw Bridge, This bridge was the dividing line between the Openshaw and Higher Openshaw districts), then under Ogden Lane and then further South over the GCR main line via an aqueduct and then through Reddish and on to Stockport, where, the canal basin was sited at Lancashire hill. The canal was constructed so as to carry coal to Stockport, that vital fuel which was required to raise steam to drive the machinary that was necessary for the industries that were developing in the area. The products of those industries being sent back to Manchester and beyond on the same canal.
The Stockport branch of the canal was built between 1793 and 1797.
It is not my intention to go into the history of the canal in any detail as there are some excellent web sites dedicated to the canal systems in the Manchester area that have been generated by some very eminent historians on the subject.
When Gorton Locomotive works was constructed in 1848 The Ashton canal had already been purchased by the MS&L Rly. Cottages for the works employees were built on land bordering on the canal on it's western bank on the corner of what was later to become Cornwall Street and Ogden Lane. At the southern end of the cottages a reservoir was constructed to supply water for the works, and was fed from the canal. To the south of the reservoir was the GCR main line.. This area covered just under five acres in total. Over the years the complex was utilised for many purposes, but the main purpose was to be the canal and boat maintenance depot. I remember the depot being used well into the 1950s, giving the facility an active life of more than100 years for which it was designed for.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CANAL DEPOT
1793 to 1797: Stockport Branch of 'Manchester and Ashton-Under-Lyne canal' constructed.
1848 : MS&L Rly.Works employees cottages and reservoir constructed.
1850 (approx): Canal depot established and dry dock built. The canal was already widened at the point of the 'arm' into the depot as there was docking facilities for 'High Bank Mill' on the opposite bank of the canal. Building the 'arm' to the depot atthis point saved further excavation work.
1855 : A school built near the cottages for the employees children, also a library and a reading room
for the MS&L workpeople along with a dining room.
1889 : School enlarged. By this time the areas around Openshaw and Gorton were being 'built up' by
large areas of terraced houses as the area was increasingly becoming one of the most
industrialised parts Britain, Long before now the original cottages were not sufficiant enough to
house all of the MS&L employees, and, it is probably in this period of time that the cottages were
cleared to make way for the school extension.
1897 : The MS&L Rly became The "GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY" on its push to extend the main line
to the Capital (known as "The London Extension").
1903 : Infants school conveted to a 'Barracks' ( accomodation for footplatemen who are away from
home at the end of their roster) Several other 'Barracks' were brought into use at about the
time. The childrens' playground is converted into gardens as a recreation area for footplatemen.
1923 : The GCR is absorbed into the LONDON & NORTH EASTERN Rly at the forming of the
"BIG FOUR".
1948 : Nationalisation: Gorton works and running sheds now part of ' British Railways' The Canal
itself comes under the newly formed "BRITISH WATERWAYS", though it is still an active part
of the locomotive works.
.......................................................
Between 1948 and before the 60s the "British Railways Staff Association" put their club on the
site stuated at the south end of the barracks. Towards the end of the 'Tanks' days "Bingo"
became the order of the day on a Friday lunch time. The 'caller' was usually one of the shop
foremen who were on the commitee. Nobody got into trouble for 'clocking in' late on Friday
afternoons after the bingo sessions.
NOTE: I was lucky enough to win one game and had great delight in collecting my
winnings from my foreman, (Tommy Hagan, one of the machine shop foremen ).
Another recreational past time as part of the clubs activities was fishing in the reservoir.
......................................................
1962 : Canal depot closed. Canal from Clayton to Stockport now derelect ( main Ashton branch rapidly
in decline also.
With the closure of the running sheds in 1965 it is probable that the BRSA closed also.
During its existance the depot had stables (very early on), a gasometer and three filter beds for the reservoir.
The District locomotive superintendent had offices on the land and next to this was rather a large house
( quite possibly the superintendents house ). There was also a greenhouse (no doubt for the barracks
garden. the works main canteen and a large store was also on the site. A British Railways map that I have dated 1962 shows the site as having quite a lot of smaller buildings, A pump house, a well, a mess for the
canal dock personnel. and two kitchens. There was also a three ton gantry crane approximately 30 feet wide
that reached over the dock arm and travelled about 150 feet southwards.
All that remains today of the depot site which is still recognisable is the frontage of the former "Barracks"
on Cornwall street and on Ogden Lane. The roof of the building has collapsed and only the the timber joists are still in position. Also still intact is the footbridge over the canal arm at the entrance to the former dry dock.
What a shame if the Barracks were to be demolished. This could be a subject for preservation or, for the facade to be integrated into any future development, (any body out there taking notice !!!!)
NOTE:: Barracks demolished late September 2004