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Leicester

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It was a rather grey- and cold - weekend when I visited the city... Leicester is the largest city in the East Midlands, and eighth largest in England. There was an Anglo- Saxon fort here, and later a Roman fort. The River Soar which flows northwards through the west of the city to meet the Trent. Much of its journey through the city is through industrial - or former industrial areas - but to the north is Abbey Park, where it looks its best. The abbey that gives the park it name no longer exists, besides the enclosing wall, seen on the left above. A rather nice bridge leads to what is now a cafe; the abbey was to the right. A statue stands in front of it - just about visible in the photo - of Cardinal Wolsey who died in the Abbey on his way to York. Abbey park is Leicester's premier park, and has a number of interesting features including the friendship garden... ...and a lot of geese. It is bounded on the southeast by the canal. Much of the river from Leicester onwards was made nav...
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The Rochdale Canal, Manchester

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The Rochdale Canal was a competitor to the Leeds-Liverpool, both aiming to connect cities either side of the Pennines. The Leeds-Liverpool was the first to start construction, but it was the Rochdale Canal that was completed first. And only a few years later, both were losing out to the railways. Although I was setting out to look at the Rochdae Canal, I started at the Ashton Canal. This is just eight miles long, and connects the Rochdale Canal to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. The Huddersfield Narrow Canal was another canal across the Pennines; less successful than the Rochdale as it was narrow! This is the view from Great Ancoats Street looking west towards the junction with the Rochdale. As you can see the area has been heavily redeveloped, and now looks very attractive. This is the view the other way, looking under the bridge, and you can see how narrow the lock is. This view towards the second lock gives a better idea of how it would have looked a century ago. The huge building to...
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