St Helens Archive Service grant leads to fascinating new book on the Sankey Canal

Article date: 10 September 2024

Earlier this year, the Sankey Canal Restoration Society excavated the Newton Common Lock Keeper's cottage, unearthing parts of the building that hadn't been seen for many years. Built between 1755-1757, around the time of the canal's construction, the cottage has a rich history, being in engravings from the early 19th century which show the magnificent Grade I listed Sankey Viaduct - the first of its kind in the world - before its demolishment in the early 1970's.

Thanks to a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant as part of the 'Creative Underground' project, coordinated by St Helens Borough Council's Archive Service, Sankey Canal Restoration Society have been able to publish a new book, 'The History of Newton Common Lock Keeper's Cottage: An investigation of a lost industrial archaeological feature of the Sankey Canal' - which explores the history and archaeology of the unique building, with records and memories of some of its last residents - revealing fresh insight into the lost working life along the canal.

With excavation works being carried out in 2002 and again more than 20-years later in March this year which found interesting remains such as small shards of pottery and terracotta roof tiles, the society reveal in the 55-page book - written by Dr. David Harrison -  its ambitious plans for the site, hoping to rebuild the cottage as a heritage centre and tearoom in time for the 200th anniversary of the Rainhill Trials in 2030,  which is expected to attract thousands of rail enthusiasts from around the world, as a place of celebration of the famous cross point of England's first industrial canal and first passenger railway.

Doctor Barrie Pennington, vice chair of the Sankey Canal Restoration Society who provided the foreword for the book, said: "Our role as the Sankey Canal Restoration Society is to highlight the important influence of canals in this country and particular this one in the North West (Sankey Canal) which was the first in England.

"The book came about because we were successful in obtaining funding from St Helens Borough Council which has allowed us to document the work that has been done on the cottage foundations. Having given many copies out already, we'll be doing a reprint so that we can get it out to as many of the public as we can and we're very grateful to the council for its support in making this possible."

Councillor Kate Groucutt, St Helens Council's Cabinet Member for Business, Leisure and Culture, said: "Sankey Canal is a fascinating part of the borough's history and it's passionate groups like the Sankey Canal Restoration Society that ensure its significant contribution to the world will never be forgotten.

"As a council, our heritage means a great deal to us - as we know it does to a lot of residents and groups. That's why it's a pleasure to be able to award National Lottery Heritage Fund grants like this as part of our archive's 'Creative Underground' initiative to enable projects like this to come to life so that residents are able to learn about our borough's proud history."