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MANCHESTER, ASHTON AND OLDHAM CANAL.
(SEE ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE CANAL.)

MANCHESTER, BOLTON AND BURY CANAL.
31 George III. Cap. 68, Royal Assent 13th May. 1791.

45 George III. Cap. 4, Royal Assent 12th March, 1805.

THIS canal was projected for the purpose of making a communication, by narrow boats of 7 feet wide, between the towns whose names it bears; but by an agreement entered into in 1794, with the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Company, for making a junction at Redmoss, the proprietors of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal were induced to make their canal capable of navigating vessels 14 feet wide, the same as those on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

By the first act obtained in 1791, and entitled, 'An Act for making and maintaining a navigable Canal from Manchester to or near Presto-lee-Bridge, in the township of Little Lever, and from thence by one Branch to or near the town of Bolton, and by another Branch to or near the town of Bury, and to Weddell Brook in the parish of Bury, all in the county palatine of Lancaster,' the proprietors were incorporated as "The Company of Proprietors of the Canal Navigation from Manchester to Bolton and to Bury." They were also empowered to make a canal from the River Irwell, near the Sugar House or Old Quay in Manchester, to a certain meadow near Presto-lee-Bridge, in the parish of Bolton, and from thence by one branch to Church Bridge in Bolton and to Bury Bridge in the parish of Bury, and from thence to Weddell Brook, in the same parish, and to make reservoirs, steam engines and other machines for supplying the same with water.

For completing the various works, the proprietors have power to raise £47,000, in shares of £100 each; and should this not prove sufficient they may raise a further sum of £20,000 either by themselves, or by the admission of new subscribers, or by mortgage. They are also empowered to demand the following tonnage rates.