Worsley Delph project wins award
A RESTORATION scheme to revitalise one of Salford’s most historic sites has won a top national award.
Worsley Delph was the birthplace of the Bridgewater Canal in 1761 which was a catalyst for the Industrial Revolution.
Work to make the site more visitor friendly was carried out as part of a £5.5 million physical regeneration of the Salford stretch of the Bridgewater Canal funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Salford City Council, Bridgewater Canal Company and other partners.
Now Rochdale- based contractor Casey, which carried out the 14- month transformation on behalf of
Salford City Council, has been awarded a British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) National Landscape Award for regeneration.
The awards celebrate the top landscaping schemes in the country and the Worsley Delph scheme has now been put forward for a Principal Award in regeneration which will be announced at a grand ceremony in December.
Congratulating the company, Coun Mike McCusker, lead member for planning and sustainable neighbourhoods, said: “The Delph was a gateway to a network of coal mines and the challenges of draining the mines and getting coal to fast growing markets prompted the
Duke of Bridgewater to create England’s first true canal.
“Our project has cleared damaging vegetation, desilted the canal basin and improved access to and views of the site. We have also installed new information boards and artworks which tell the history of this unique location including a replica mine cart full of coal and a copy of the original Act of Parliament from 1759 that set the canal system in motion.”
The project also uncovered new, historic finds including mining boats, previously unrecorded tunnels and quays and a metal winch which would have unloaded goods delivered to the village.