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Latest comment: 3 years ago6 comments4 people in discussion
Can anyone back up any of these claims? Wardle canal is certainly shorter - the other claims also seem suspect. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 217.41.58.48 (talk) 13:17, 3 March 2009 (UTC)Reply
Hmmm. Well, looking at the above, and then at the current copy ... we say something like The canal is described as the straightest in UK,[1] however, it is not the deepest (4.6 m (15 ft)) or the widest (20 m (66 ft)). The shortest waterway is the 47 m (154 ft) Wardle Canal in Middlewich, Cheshire[2] and the Manchester Ship Canal is 8.5 m (28 ft) deep and 35 m (115 ft) wide.[3]. Why do we care? It seems odd to list what it is not ... it is as if the article, which presumably did once (see above) make those claims, is now arguing with itself. Why bother? It makes for a strange read – I don't care about all the things it is not, like being coloured red and green stripes and being full of caramel sauce and bathing unicorns; we should just say what it is unless there is an interesting RS which makes a point of some disputed claim about its dimensions etc. Otherwise, it seems like we have the waterway equivalent of a straw man, whatever that might be. I would be interested to hear what others think. Sure, in the absence of other views I might just rip most of that stuff out, but I would much rather know what you think. Best to all, DBaK (talk) 19:37, 20 December 2020 (UTC)Reply
The problem here is that the original text has been removed. It originally said that it was the shortest, deepest, and widest canal in England, but the webpage that stated that has since been modified, and only includes the straightest claim now. I agree that it should be removed. Bob1960evens (talk) 18:02, 26 December 2020 (UTC)Reply
Promising, thanks Bob. Any other views? I think I could give it maybe another day and then edit. We can always come back here and discuss if the removal distresses anyone? Cheers DBaK (talk) 18:06, 26 December 2020 (UTC)Reply
It's an urban myth amongst the people of Ulverston; perhaps worth mentioning as such, but a good source would be needed. Here's a source, but I'm not sure of its quality [1]. Maybe it was the straightest, shortest and deepest when built, and the fact eventually became the myth. I'll check my history books in due course. Arcturus (talk) 18:14, 26 December 2020 (UTC)Reply
