History Collides

Patricroft marks a historic intersection between rail and canal – the place where the Bridgewater Canal, the first true man-made canal, is crossed by the first steam powered passenger and goods railway line from Manchester to Liverpool. And another ‘first’ – it’s the location of the first railway pub, the Queen’s Arms.

It has a rich history of industry. The canal and railway provided the ideal transport links for engineering works. In 1836 James Nasmyth chose to set up his Bridgewater Foundry here. The company went on to become a global supplier of steam locomotives and it was here that Nasmyth developed his famous steam hammer. One of the steam hammers has been preserved as a monument to Nasmyth on Green Lane. Today, Patricroft is a reminder of our great industrial past, and has an incredibly important place in the story of the Bridgewater Canal.