1st April 1974
The first boat enters Marple top lock heading towards Manchester. This marked the reopening of the Lower Peak Forest and Ashton canals after a campaign of 10+ years  which was led by the Peak Forest Canal Society

Agreement was reached in 1971 between British Waterways Board, local authorities and voluntary organisations to fund the restoration programme. This included the repair of the 16 locks on the Marple flight, a further 18 locks on the Ashton Canal, plus other repairs such as the rewatering of Store Street aqueduct in Manchester and much dredging work.

This journey was the first official passage of the canals since the early 1960s. An official opening ceremony followed in May 1974, but navigation of the complete Cheshire Ring would not be possible for another year. Work was still continuing to reopen the short section of the Rochdale Canal in Manchester city centre which connects the Ashton Canal at Picadilly with the Bridgewater Canal at Castlefields.