View east from Marsh Farm to Stanworth Farm, 2 June 1997

View east from Marsh Farm to Stanworth Farm (see all photos of the same view)

Marsh Farm bridge is the one nearest the bottom of this picture. From this vantage point, the motorway can be seen through to Stanworth, where contract 2 begins, and then away into the distance. It vanishes over the hilltop near Tockholes about 4km (2.5 miles) away.

Date
Direction of view
East
Structures visible

Structure 17 (Marsh Lane overbridge)

Structure 19 (Leeds-Liverpool Canal underbridge)

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