Many thanks to Mrs.Jean Bealey for her interest in local Stockport history and for access to her library of local history books.

Thanks to Phil Rowbothom for taking an interest in this project and for the only colour photograph on  the ‘As it was’ page.

I am grateful to Mr Bill Holmes and Mr Ian Thompson owners of the Ashton Packet Boat Co for putting up with us and allowing us to look around their maintenance yard . Also for the opportunity to photograph NB Joel and NB Maria, for the information given and the opportunity to watch them loading NB Forget Me Not owned by the Wooden Canal Boat Society.

Thanks to Mr John Bradshaw for all his help, contribution to these pages and enthusiasm.

My thanks to the Stockport Heritage Library for permission to reproduce some of the photographs and maps from their collection.

Thanks to Mr Philip Halstead for digging deep into his slide collection.

My thanks to the Pickfords for supplying information on the companies history .

Bibliography :

1. Stockport Advertiser History of Stockport - Astle
2. The Ashton Canal - Keaveney and Brown
3. Traffic and Transport - Gerard Turnbull
4. William Nelstrop & Co Ltd. 150 Years
5. The canals of North West England Volume 2 - Charles Hadfield

© W Bates, 2002 

Last update: 01 October, 2004