'Construction of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal was started in 1770 and the canal was finally completed in 1816. Originally limestone was expected to be the main cargo but coal became the most important cargo and coal carrying continued until the 1970s. The canal linked the textile towns of Blackburn, Burnley, and Bradford to which wool and cotton were imported from the docks at Liverpool. Manufactured goods were transported along the canal and via the port of Liverpool to the whole of the British Empire. Both Leeds and Liverpool have under gone regeneration in recent years and both have a lot to offer visitors.'