Bridgewater Canal opened
Swing Aqueduct
First major canal and underground colliery
First steamboat

In 1758, the very first steamboat in the world was built at Worsley, and used on the Bridgewater Canal. Two years later in 1760, James Brindley built the first major canal and underground colliery at Worsley. This was the start of the transport revolution, which led to the Industrial Revolution. n 1758, the very first steamboat in the world was built at Worsley, and used on the Bridgewater Canal. Two years later in 1760, James Brindley built the first major canal and underground colliery at Worsley. This was the start of the transport revolution, which led to the Industrial Revolution.
The Bridgewater Canal was the first cut canal in the world and in 1763, coal distribution and delivery from Salford was improved to such an extent by the canal that the recorded price of coal being sold in Manchester dropped to half the cost prior to the canal opening.
In 1893, the first and only swing aqueduct in the world was built at Barton, carrying the Bridgewater Canal across the Manchester Ship Canal. In 1893, the first and only swing aqueduct in the world was built at Barton, carrying the Bridgewater Canal across the Manchester Ship Canal.