Worsley Turn

I stopped to post a couple of letters on my way to work this morning, and decided to take a quick pic at the same time, as I was going to be office based for the rest of the day.

So..... crossing the road, this is the view along one of two arms which connect Worsley Delph and the former mines, to the Bridgewater Canal proper.

Immediately on the right is the Nailmakers House, one of the oldest buildings in Worsley - originally a 17th century house, it became a nailmakers shop when the Canal opened, and subsequently a reading room and lantern gallery. Full circle, it is now a house again.

Beyond that is the Packet House. Built in 1760, it was mock tudored in the middle of the 19th century. The name comes from the fact that the steps to the side of it led down to a Canal Quay where the Packet Boats stopped, taking passengers and packets (post) to Manchester in one direction and Runcorn in another. In front of it is the alphabet bridge, so called because it is topped by 26 planks where local kids learnt the alphabet.