Walton Summit is an industrial area between Clayton Brook and Bamber Bridge. It is in the South Ribble district, and is near the M61, M65 and M6 motorways. It has a short length of single carriageway motorway from the M65/M61 roundabout. Historically, what is now Walton Summit included an area called Seed Lee.
The area specifically, does not have a long industrial past. The area remained largely rural despite, as late as the 1960s, after the then recent construction of the Preston Bypass section of the new M6 motorway, which was opened in 1958. Despite this, the area was important toward the south east near Brindle as the summit of the Lancaster Canal’s Walton Summit canal basin. This southerly stretch of canal was linked to the northern section at its Preston basin via the Lancaster Canal Tramroad, and early from of horse-drawn railway. When the steam-powered railways arrived, and it fell out of use, it became locally known as the “Old Tram Road”. It is marked this way on the first Ordnance Survey maps of the 1840s.
The Original Walton Summit
Walton Summit, as the name implies, was the highest point within the historical ‘Walton’ area, which stretched from the south bank of the River Ribble to Clayton Brook. The later industrial estate, to the north of here, took its name from ‘Walton Summit’, it is not Walton Summit.
Walton Summit on a Modern Map
At the time of the construction of the Lancaster Canal, in the late 18th century into the early 19th century, a canal basin was created at the north end of the southern section of the Lancaster Canal. This section of the canal went from Walton Summit south all the way to the outskirts of Wigan. The canal basin was used to transfer goods between the canal boats (barges) and the wagons on the tramway (or tram road).
From the Preston Digital Archive
A PLAN of the Basin and Inclined Plane on the LANCASTER CANAL at the end of the Summit Level. William Cartwright 1801.
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More information about the Tram Road can be found below, which is a link to another page within this website.
The canal basin at Walton Summit remained remained connected to the canal network until the end of the 1960s, by that time the Lancaster Canal had been adopted as part of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. An initial lease started in 1851 and the transfer agreement was made permanent in 1864. Work on the M61 motorway in 1969 & 1970 cut through the canal and left the basin stranded.
During the late 1970s, and early 1980s, the Clayton Brook estate in Clayton-le-Woods was developed. It was constructed by the Central Lancashire New Town Development Corporation as part of a wider expansion in the area, alongside similar developments at Clayton Green. At that time, the canal basin was filled in and the Walton Summit became a recreation area. I don’t know whether the basin was filled in with the dock-like stonework underneath, or whether it was all removed.
FAREWELL TO THE SUMMIT
The following text is taken from a 1968 publication entitled “FAREWELL TO THE SUMMIT” that was given to me by a friend who has a mutual interest in Canal related history.
It was written by Ian Moss to accompany a visit to the Southern section of the Lancaster Canal towards Walton Summit and the adjoining Tram Road to Preston. At the time, both were in a state of disuse, but were much more visible than today. At the time of the visit, the construction of the M61 Motorway was underway, and this highway cut through the canal. Thus, putting it out of action forever.
https://www.mylancs.uk/2024/02/farewell-to-summit-lancaster-canal.html
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The Last Boat to Walton Summit
In 1968, five teenagers ventured up a soon-to-be-closed canal arm.
HUGH POTTER was one of them…
Forty years ago (written in 2008), as Flower Power and protest movements were becoming fashionable around the world, protest in the canal world had already been well known for two decades. The canal system was still suffering from closures, mostly from that new saviour of people’s freedom, the motorway. How wonderful they seemed, enabling carefree travel all over the country.
If only we could have foreseen…
The following are pages, about the five teenagers’ adventure in 1968, are from the Waterways World in March 2008:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1c60NjoHsGFurZpkmiwEogX5LAxnvaZ3o/view?usp=drive_link
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Restoring Preston Basin
The most complete online historical account of the Lancaster Canal and the Tram Road, in Preston and Walton le Dale, can be seen on the Restoring Preston Basin website.
The Restoring Preston Basin campaign proposes the restoration of the 300 feet (91 metre) long Preston Basin of the Lancaster Canal, repurposing the site of the 19th century basin as a 21st century multi-purpose amenity, recreational and biodiverse space.
Preston Basin, the Ribble Aqueduct and the Tramroad:
https://www.prestonbasin.org/history-of-preston-basin#h.gpy6cqt2i4f8
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First Boat to Walton Summit
From the Manchester Mercury, 14th June 1803, p. 4. British Library Newspapers:
On the first instant, a Boat laden with Coal was navigated on the Lancaster Canal, thro’ the Tunnel at Whittle Hills, and her cargo was discharged into waggons at the termination of the Canal at Walton. Twenty seven waggons were laden, each containing about one ton, and were drawn by one horse, a mile and a half, along the rail road, to the works of Messrs Claytons, at Bamber Bridge. The waggons extended nearly one hundred yards in length upon the rail road; Geo. Clayton, of Lostock Hall, Esq. rode upon the first waggon, and the tops of the others were fully occupied. The intention of navigating a boat through the Tunnel, upon this day, was not generally known; it was merely a private experiment, but the news spread quickly to the adjoining parts; old and young left their habitations and employments to witness a sight so novel, and before the Boat reached her discharging place. She was completely crowded with passengers, who anxiously rushed into her at every bridge. The workmen were regaled with ale at Bamber Bridge; and amongst the toasts of the party were given, “The glorious first of June,” The memory of Lord Howe,” and “The healths of the surviving heroes of that memorable day.”