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Helena · Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 74 Location: yorkshire, UK

Harecastle tunnel are two tunnels which are part of the Trent and Mersey canal network, the first completed in 1777 which had no towpath so boats had to be 'legged' through, ( sitting at highest point of boat, lying on your back legs raised and doing a walking movement with your feet on the ceiling of the tunnel to make the boat move) and the second in 1827 to ease congestion off the first, this used to have a towpath but it was later removed. Only the second tunnel remains open today, the first was closed due to it subsiding. The colour of the water is due to iron oxide leaking into the water.

A headless ghost is said to haunt here, it is of a headless women Kit Crewbucket, who was murdered in the early 19th century, on a narrow boat by her travel companion, her shrieks are still said to be heard. And in earlier times boatmen were said to take a longer route than necessary just to avoid the tunnel.