Distance marker on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Fri 02 Dec, 2011 11:04 pm

The photo (taken December 2 2011) shows what seems to be some badly eroded lettering on a stone block at the side of the towpath of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal not that far from the centre of Leeds. It's very hard to discern but it may start with a 1 and possibly an M next to it but the last (? third) letter is even more uncertain. I wonder therefore if it could indicate 1 M(ile) ?. It is though only a short way upstrean of a 1/2 mile post (see my next photo for that) and there is not 1/2 a mile between the two!I wonder if anyone knows what the lettering states? I have done a search of the Leodis and SL websites but have not found anything about the block.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Fri 02 Dec, 2011 11:12 pm

This is the photo (taken November 25 2011) of the 1/2 marker next to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal near the centre of Leeds. I assume it means 1/2 mile from where that distance seems to be measured from (near Office Lock next to some of the Dark Arches area).

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Fri 02 Dec, 2011 11:17 pm

This a photo of what seems to be the start of at least the measured distances of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal from near the centre of Leeds. It's 127 miles to Liverpool. The next photo shows a close up of the commerative plaque.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Fri 02 Dec, 2011 11:19 pm

This photo (taken Nov 25 2011) is a close up of the commerative plaque next to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal near the centre of Leeds.

Post by **chameleon** » Fri 02 Dec, 2011 11:49 pm

Leodian wrote: This photo (taken Nov 25 2011) is a close up of the commerative plaque next to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal near the centre of Leeds. Good clear image their Leodian, often these things come out rather indistinctly.

jim · Post by **jim** » Sat 03 Dec, 2011 12:32 am

Looking at your first image on this thread Leodian, I believe that the lettering may be "LLC", ie Leeds Liverpool Canal. Possibly at some time in the past there may have been a further inscription higher up the marker, now lost to weathering. Some canals used to place markers for the sequential lock numbers, and similarly for bridge numbers. Could the site of this stone be at such a location?

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Sat 03 Dec, 2011 1:20 am

jim wrote: Looking at your first image on this thread Leodian, I believe that the lettering may be "LLC", ie Leeds Liverpool Canal. Possibly at some time in the past there may have been a further inscription higher up the marker, now lost to weathering. Some canals used to place markers for the sequential lock numbers, and similarly for bridge numbers. Could the site of this stone be at such a location? Thanks jim. Yes it does look like it could be LLC. The photo (taken Dec 2 2011) shows the block at its location, which is a short distance downstream of Oddy's Lock (that is just out of view on the right). The small blur near the top edge above the path and covering a bit of the building is a pigeon that flew into view just as I was taking the photo (I thought I had missed it but found that I had not when I downloaded the photos I took!).

jim · Post by **jim** » Sat 03 Dec, 2011 9:38 am

There was once a railway bridge over the canal approximately 100 yards east of the lock. It led to the Albion Works of Greenwood and Batleys private sidings, and can be seen on Godfreys 1908 NW Leeds map. Could this be a possible candidate for the stone marker?

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Sat 03 Dec, 2011 4:16 pm

jim wrote: There was once a railway bridge over the canal approximately 100 yards east of the lock. It led to the Albion Works of Greenwood and Batleys private sidings, and can be seen on Godfreys 1908 NW Leeds map. Could this be a possible candidate for the stone marker? Hi jim.I've just been looking at some maps in the Old Maps UK website and in a 1:500 1890 map it shows a 'Stone' at what could be where the block is and another 'Stone' is marked a little further downstream that could be where the 1/2 mile marker post now is. A 'Stone' is also marked right at Wellington Road Bridge, but if that stone is still there it did not catch my attention during my two recent strolls to and from Oddy's Lock. A 1:1056 1850 map does not show the stones, but if they were there then they may have been too small scale to be noted.One feature in the maps is the absolutely amazing scale of the area covered with railtracks. They are masses of them! Albion Works is on the 1890 map but it does not show any railway line running across the canal in the Works immediate vicinity. It was interesting to see though that the Albion Works is marked "(Ammunition, Torpedo, etc.)"!

BJF · Post by **BJF** » Sat 03 Dec, 2011 5:30 pm

Greenwood & Batley produced a huge range of stuff