Books by John Bradburn

Widnes is an industrial town within the borough of Halton, in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, with an urban area population of 57,663 in 2004. It is located on the northern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the south of Widnes across the Mersey is the town of Runcorn. Upstream and 8 miles to the east of Widnes is the town of Warrington, and downstream 16 miles to the west is the city of Liverpool. Historically part of Lancashire, prior to the Industrial Revolution Widnes consisted of a small number of separate settlements on land which was mainly marsh or moorland. In 1847 the first chemical factory was established and the town rapidly became a major centre of the chemical industry. Widnes continues to be a major manufacturer of chemicals and there has been a degree of diversification of the town's industries. Widnes lies on the southern route of the Liverpool to Manchester railway line. The Sankey Canal (now disused) terminates in an area of Widnes known as Spike Island.

Explore the fascinating history of Manchester in this fully illustrated A-Z guide to the city's people and places.

A guided tour of Manchester's historic city centre, showing how it has changed and developed over the past century and more.

Opened on 17 July 1761, the canal has a special place in history as the first to be built in Britain without following an existing watercourse, and so became a model for those that followed. Affectionately known as the 'Duke's Cut', the Bridgewater Canal revolutionised transport in this country and marked the beginning of the golden canal age, which lasted from 1760 to 1830. However, as the rail network surpassed the canals as a method of transporting goods, the canal fell into disuse and in 1963, just before the great canal revival, the impressive Runcorn locks were filled in. We may still see them again as there are new plans to restore the locks, but the canal remains popular with walkers and pleasure boaters. In this new book, authors Jean and John Bradburn take the reader on a fascinating journey, and show just how the Bridgewater Canal has changed and developed through time.