Sat 11 Jul 2009

Starting our journey at Liverpool and ending at Manchester, 17 members and friends enjoyed a wonderful day out on the Manchester Ship Canal. The forecasted rain didn't appear and the day turned out quite favorable with blue skies and some sun. We had a constant commentary throughout our 6 hour journey. Some interesting facts emerged. A meeting was called in June 1882 by Daniel Adamson, along with Hamilton Fullton and Edward Leader Williams . The estimated cost of construction was over £5,000,000 and was expected to take 4 years to complete. It was finally completely filled with water in November 1893 and opened to its first traffic in January 1894. Then on 21st May 1894 Queen Victoria visited to perform the opening ceremony. The Manchester Ship Canal is the eighth longest ship canal in the world
and it enabled Manchester to become Britain's third biggest port. Joan Dickinson.

Thanks to David Wilding for providing many photos and a CD of the trip for the Society records. The prints will be available to view at future Society meetings.

While walking along the A6 Preston Road, Chorley, near the Hospital I noticed the long derelict house ‘Northolme’ now being demolished. Neglect and vandalism meant that was the only remaining option. The house has seen much better days and was originally built by the Hibbert family and was the home of Chorley’s Sir Henry Hibbert. He was responsible for many advances in Chorley. Additionally he had a key role in the 1903 Education Act and was knighted for his education work in the same year. As chairman of the County Council Education Committee he pressed for Chorley to be given a new secondary school. B.H.

The following passage is reproduced from ‘A History of Chorley – by Jim Heyes’
Relatively little is said nowadays about the part played in education by Sir Henry F. Hibbert (1850-1927). He served on the town council from 1891 and was MP for Chorley from 1913 to 1918. Education was dear to his heart - and especially sport, for as a boy he had been severely ill and regained his health partly through rigorous sporting activity. He had a key role in the 1902 Education Act and was knighted for his education work in 1903.