Elizabeth Charnley

Regional Qualification(s):

Bridgewater Canal Green Badge

Language(s):

English

Phone Number(s):

07979232817

Contact guide

Introduction:

A born and bred 'Lancashire Lass,' I was born in the cotton mill town of Bury and now live in Eccles, Salford.

I am a champion Eccles Cake baker and would love to take you on a tour of Eccles and sample one of my Eccles cakes.

The canal system has featured in my whole life and I am proud to be a Green Badge Guide for the Bridgewater Canal in Salford, having grown up living close to the Manchester, Bolton & Bury canal and lived for a couple of years near the Trent & Mersey canal in Staffordshire, as well as piloting a narrowboat along various stretches of canal in England.

I am fascinated by the liquid history that flows along the Bridgewater Canal in Salford and would be happy to guide you on a walking tour, a cycling tour, on your own or a hired canal boat or you can turn your guided tour into a workout with Nordic Walking as I am also a Nordic Walking Instructor. I can create a tour especially for you - following a theme or for your own family history.

A guided tour with me will bring alive the stories of the Bridgewater Canal and we can visit some areas that are not normally accessible to the public.

From royalty & nobility to the pit brow lasses, mini miners, waifs & strays and everyone in between, there are stories old & new, magnificent grade 1 listed churches, 21st century sculptures and a clock that strikes 13. Visit the world's first (& only) swing aqueduct, a 'castle in the air,' a cathedral in miniature and a scheduled ancient monument. See the marks carved by stonemasons over 260 years ago, the toilet reported to have been used by Queen Victoria and practice your alphabet. Oh, and don't forget the orange water - it's everyone else's canal that's a funny colour, not the Bridgewater.

I have been a volunteer ranger on the Bridgewater Canal in Salford for many years and have worked on every part of the canal's 5 mile route through Salford, so I know my guiding area intimately and can't wait to show you the sights.

My husband Mark is also a Green Badge Guide and we often work together on specialist group tours.

Look forward to meeting you soon!

Personal Interests:

Royal visits
Suffragist Elizabeth C W Elmy
Nordic Walking
churches
canals
transport

Special Interests:

Birds & Animals

The Bridgewater Canal in Salford is a wildlife haven. As a volunteer ranger, I know the wildlife very well and will be happy to incorporate birds and animal spotting into any tour.

Churches & Cathedrals

My guiding area contains several grade 1 listed churches of national importance, one of which has been called a 'cathedral in miniature.' Whether you have a faith or none, I am happy to guide you in these glorious places of soaring architecture, quiet contemplation or to walk in the history

Countryside

The 5 miles of the Bridgewater Canal passes through urban landscape but feels much further away. With parks, a tranquil fully surfaced tow-path, wildlife, trees & village greens, the cradle of the industrial revolution has been transformed into a haven for walking, boating and cycling for all ages and abilities

Environment

Until the early 20th Century, most of the area around the Bridgewater Canal was a smelly, smoke logged area scarred by industry and coalmining activity. From 1903, the area started to undergo a transformation and this transformation continues today. For instance, since 2015, £5.5 million has been spent on making the Bridgewater Canal in Salford an environmental success, with green space accessible to all.

Industrial Heritage

in the late 1750's a young nobleman came north from London to his estates near Manchester and from that, the industrial revolution was cradled. We have 18th century engineering marvels, 19th Century Victorian masterpieces, 20th Century innovation and 21st Century technology to show, plus some world's firsts and a world's only.....

Genealogy

The Bridgewater Canal and later the railway brought people from all over the country to work in the area and also provided the means for people to seek a new life elsewhere. I am happy to assist you with your family tree research or to show you where people took their first step towards their new life, elsewhere in the UK or across the oceans

Folklore & Traditions

As a champion Eccles cake baker, I can show you where these famous sweet treats were 'born' and if you ask nicely, I can even bake you a few to sample. We also have ghost stories, a clock that strikes 13 and I'll show you where the locals nicknamed a stretch of road as "Amen Corner." You can also learn about our own local Botanist, "Dr" Evans, who helped thousands of people who would have gone without medical treatment otherwise

Food & Drink

From the world's first railway pub to high class dining, the area has it all - I can theme a tour around traditional pubs serving the finest real ales to cocktails and canapes and have a three course meal with each course in a different pub or restaurant. All with the history and stories around each venue.

Gardens

RHS Bridgewater is the flagship garden in the area and their first in the north west of England. I can guide and accompany you before, after or during your visit to show you the history of the site and the surrounding area. We also have gardens large & small including award winning railway station gardens & forest gardens to see.

Agriculture

I am highly experienced in guiding visitors with special needs and of all ages and abilities. I can accompany you on the special cruise boat that has wheelchair access as part of your private tour of the area. I specialise in wheelchair accessible tours, mobility scooter tours and tours for people with sensory losses such as visual and hearing impairment

Transport

The world's first information and people superhighway, the world's first inter-city passenger railway, an efficient underground transport network created in the 18th century (including a one-way system.) The area has it all and I can tailor a tour just for you and your special interests.

Walking Tours

The best way to see a new place is on foot and the best way to discover what's on your own doorstep is on foot. Take a guided tour with me and I will show you the sights and sites and tell you the history as we celebrate all things Bridgewater Canal in Salford

Driver Guide:

No