History

1803 - Death of the Duke

On the death of the 3rd Duke of Bridgewater in 1803 his will left the canal and mines to a trust of three to run for “as long as the lives of all the Peers of the House of Lords and of their sons who were living at the time of the Duke’s death and for a further 21 years as allowed by law”, it did in fact function for 100 years to 1903 although the navigation part of the Trusteeship was sold to Bridgewater Navigation Co Ltd, in 1872 with completion in 1874.

Lord Francis Leveson-Gower as beneficiary, came to live at Worsley in 1837 changing his name to Lord Francis Egerton in accordance with the will, he was created Earl of Ellesmere in 1846.

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