The Bridgewater Canal in Manchester, in North West England, is connected to the River Irwell, River Medlock, Manchester Ship Canal and to Rochdale Canal in the city. The canal was built by Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater to transport coal from his mines in Worsley to his warehouses and the industrial areas of Manchester, opening on 17th July 1761.

Its construction was an integral part of the industrial revolution delivering fuel to the power industry. The canals transformed Manchester from a landlocked city into a major sea port, at its height the third-busiest port in Britain, despite being about 40 miles (64 km) inland. The Bridgewater Canal is often, although mistakenly, considered to be the first true canal in England.

Throughout this period, canal towpaths were an essential part of a navigable waterway and were used by the horses that pulled the (canal)boats. The introduction of steam and railway travel changed transport. The first steam tug was introduced to the Bridgewater in 1872 and the purpose of the towpaths began also to change.

The towpaths are now redeveloped to make them more accessible to users: cyclists and walkers. Pleasure craft have been using the canal since 1952. Meanwhile the old warehouses in Manchester have been transformed into office blocks, restaurants, apartments and new building estates. 

The railway is still important shown by the numerous bridges crossing the canal, bringing passengers to and from the city, the airport, Liverpool, Newcastle or Scotland. It all brings new life into Manchester.