Brian J Goggin wrote:
> In what sense was the word "pier" used on inland waterways in the
> first half of the nineteenth century?
>
> We think of it now as something projecting from the shore into a body
> of water (as it might be a canal basin or a stretch of river) but was
> that always so? Could the word be applied to a quay or wharf parallel
> to the body of water? What sort of pier was Wigan Pier?
>
There were similar loading bays to Wigan Pier in many places round there
(there are excellent photos in existence of the one at Crooke being used
and last time I was there the site was still recognisable). They weren't
known as piers generally to the best of my knowledge, but as tipplers,
as that's what they did.
It seems that the pier of Wigan pier was the long timber trestle viaduct
that ran to the tippler, rather than the point itself.
Even in 1929, it could be said that "*Wigan* *Pier* is a deathless
resident in the realm of original ideas — it abuts on the infinite and
not on any mere material canal."
------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canals-list/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canals-list/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
