Chester Canal
Encyclopedia
The Chester Canal was a canal
linking the south Cheshire
town of Nantwich
with the River Dee
at Chester, providing a route for produce (including salt) from Nantwich to reach Chester and, beyond it, the sea via the Dee estuary.
was under construction. The canal was an attempt to reduce the perceived threat of the Trent and Mersey Canal from damaging the profitability of the Port of Chester and River Dee Navigation. The canal was a broad canal, designed with locks which were 80 feet (24.4 m) by 14 in 9 in (4.5 m) suitable for broad-beam barges.
Work started immediately, but was hampered by financial and engineering problems, and so progress was slow. The plans were changed, with the main line going to Nantwich, and the Middlewich section becoming a branch. Construction of the main line was completed in 1779, but the branch to Middlewich was not built, and there were difficulties at the Chester end, with a failure to reach an agreement with the Dee River Company resulting in delays to the building of the lock into the river. The canal was uneconomic, with limited outlets, and the company collapsed in 1787.
was completed, which linked the Chester canal with the River Mersey
at Netherpool (later renamed Ellesmere Port
). The Northgate Locks within Chester had previously been a five chamber staircase lock, but in order to connect to the Ellesmere Canal's Wirral section, they were modified to a three chamber staircase, with a canal basin at the junction. With a proper outlet to the north, the joint canals were more successful, and the two companies merged in 1813, to become the Ellesmere and Chester Canal Company.
was authorised by an Act of Parliament, to construct a canal from Nantwich to a junction with the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal
at Autherley in the Midlands. With the prospect of being part of a link between Liverpool and the Midlands, the joint company pressed on with the construction of the Middlewich branch, which would give an outlet to Manchester and the Potteries industrial centre around Stoke on Trent. This was opened in 1833, and the new Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal finally opened in 1835, having suffered from engineering problems during construction. It was a narrow canal, suitable for boats which were 7 ft (2.1m) wide.
The two canal companies worked together from the start, in a bid to ensure that both remained profitable despite competition from the railways. A merger with the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal
in 1845 was followed in 1846 by the formation of the Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company
, making the Chester Canal the oldest part of the Shropshire Union Canal
network. Profitability was maintained, with the result then when most of the Shropshire Union network of canals were abandoned in 1944, the sections which had originally been the Chester Canal, the Ellesmere Canal, the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal and the Middlewich Branch
were all retained. The only other section which was not abandoned was the Llangollen branch, which was used as a water supply channel, rather than for navigation.
The Chester Canal Heritage Trust
was started in 1997 to promote the canal.
, Waverton
, Hargrave
and Tiverton
before passing Barbridge Junction
, where the branch to Middlewich begins, and Hurleston Junction
, which has given access to the Llangollen Canal since 1806. There is a junction with the line to Autherley just before the canal reaches the original terminus at Nantwich basin.
In Chester the canal passes through a deep cutting alongside the city's Roman walls.
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
linking the south Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
town of Nantwich
Nantwich
Nantwich is a market town and civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The town gives its name to the parliamentary constituency of Crewe and Nantwich...
with the River Dee
River Dee, Wales
The River Dee is a long river in the United Kingdom. It travels through Wales and England and also forms part of the border between the two countries....
at Chester, providing a route for produce (including salt) from Nantwich to reach Chester and, beyond it, the sea via the Dee estuary.
History
The canal was instigated by an Act of Parliament in 1772, which authorised the construction of a canal to run "from the River Dee, within the liberties of the city of Chester, to or near Middlewich and Nantwich". At Middlewich the Trent and Mersey CanalTrent and Mersey Canal
The Trent and Mersey Canal is a in the East Midlands, West Midlands, and North West of England. It is a "narrow canal" for the vast majority of its length, but at the extremities—east of Burton upon Trent and west of Middlewich—it is a wide canal....
was under construction. The canal was an attempt to reduce the perceived threat of the Trent and Mersey Canal from damaging the profitability of the Port of Chester and River Dee Navigation. The canal was a broad canal, designed with locks which were 80 feet (24.4 m) by 14 in 9 in (4.5 m) suitable for broad-beam barges.
Work started immediately, but was hampered by financial and engineering problems, and so progress was slow. The plans were changed, with the main line going to Nantwich, and the Middlewich section becoming a branch. Construction of the main line was completed in 1779, but the branch to Middlewich was not built, and there were difficulties at the Chester end, with a failure to reach an agreement with the Dee River Company resulting in delays to the building of the lock into the river. The canal was uneconomic, with limited outlets, and the company collapsed in 1787.
The impact of the Ellesmere Canal
In 1790 the plans for the Ellesmere Canal were published, and the directors of the Chester canal saw this as a chance to make the canal profitable again, and to build the Middlewich branch. The canal was repaired and revived. In 1805 the Wirral section of the Ellesmere CanalEllesmere Canal
The Ellesmere Canal was a canal in England and Wales, originally planned to link the Rivers Mersey, Dee, and Severn, by running from Netherpool to Shrewsbury. The canal that was eventually constructed was very different from what was originally envisioned...
was completed, which linked the Chester canal with the River Mersey
River Mersey
The River Mersey is a river in North West England. It is around long, stretching from Stockport, Greater Manchester, and ending at Liverpool Bay, Merseyside. For centuries, it formed part of the ancient county divide between Lancashire and Cheshire....
at Netherpool (later renamed Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port is a large industrial town and port in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is situated on the south border of the Wirral Peninsula on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal, which in turn gives access to the River...
). The Northgate Locks within Chester had previously been a five chamber staircase lock, but in order to connect to the Ellesmere Canal's Wirral section, they were modified to a three chamber staircase, with a canal basin at the junction. With a proper outlet to the north, the joint canals were more successful, and the two companies merged in 1813, to become the Ellesmere and Chester Canal Company.
A new route to the south
In 1825, the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction CanalBirmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal
The Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal was a canal in England which ran from Nantwich, where it joined the Chester Canal, to Autherley, where it joined the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal...
was authorised by an Act of Parliament, to construct a canal from Nantwich to a junction with the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal
Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal
The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal is a narrow navigable canal in the English Midlands, passing through the counties of Staffordshire and Worcestershire....
at Autherley in the Midlands. With the prospect of being part of a link between Liverpool and the Midlands, the joint company pressed on with the construction of the Middlewich branch, which would give an outlet to Manchester and the Potteries industrial centre around Stoke on Trent. This was opened in 1833, and the new Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal finally opened in 1835, having suffered from engineering problems during construction. It was a narrow canal, suitable for boats which were 7 ft (2.1m) wide.
The two canal companies worked together from the start, in a bid to ensure that both remained profitable despite competition from the railways. A merger with the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal
Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal
The Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal was a canal in England which ran from Nantwich, where it joined the Chester Canal, to Autherley, where it joined the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal...
in 1845 was followed in 1846 by the formation of the Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company
Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company
The Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company was a Company in England, formed in 1846, which managed several canals and a railway. It was leased by the London and North Western Railway from 1847, and bought by it in 1922, but continued to act as a semi-autonomous body, managing the canals until...
, making the Chester Canal the oldest part of the Shropshire Union Canal
Shropshire Union Canal
The Shropshire Union Canal is a navigable canal in England; the Llangollen and Montgomery canals are the modern names of branches of the Shropshire Union system and lie partially in Wales....
network. Profitability was maintained, with the result then when most of the Shropshire Union network of canals were abandoned in 1944, the sections which had originally been the Chester Canal, the Ellesmere Canal, the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal and the Middlewich Branch
Middlewich Branch
The Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal is located in Cheshire, in the north west of England, and runs between Middlewich, where it joins the Trent and Mersey Canal, and Barbridge Junction, where it joins the main line of the Shropshire Union Canal...
were all retained. The only other section which was not abandoned was the Llangollen branch, which was used as a water supply channel, rather than for navigation.
Today
The canal is popular with pleasure boaters.The Chester Canal Heritage Trust
Chester Canal Heritage Trust
The Chester Canal Heritage Trust was started in 1997, to promote the canal in Chester, Cheshire, and educate about it. The canal was originally the Chester Canal, before becoming part of the Shropshire Union Canal network....
was started in 1997 to promote the canal.
Route
The canal passes through ChristletonChristleton
Christleton is a small village and civil parish on the outskirts of Chester in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The 2001 Census recorded a population for the entire civil parish of 2,112....
, Waverton
Waverton, Cheshire
Waverton is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies about 5 km south east of Chester...
, Hargrave
Hargrave, Cheshire
Hargrave is a village in the civil parish of Foulk Stapleford, the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester, and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England.St Peter's Church, Hargrave is a Grade II* listed building....
and Tiverton
Tiverton, Cheshire
Tiverton is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 406.-External links:...
before passing Barbridge Junction
Barbridge Junction
Barbridge Junction is the name of the canal junction located at Barbridge, Cheshire, where the Shropshire Union Canal Middlewich Branch terminates and meets the Shropshire Union Canal main line.-External links:***...
, where the branch to Middlewich begins, and Hurleston Junction
Hurleston Junction
Hurleston Junction is the name of the canal junction where the Llangollen Canal terminates and meets the Shropshire Union Canal main line at Hurleston, Cheshire, England....
, which has given access to the Llangollen Canal since 1806. There is a junction with the line to Autherley just before the canal reaches the original terminus at Nantwich basin.
In Chester the canal passes through a deep cutting alongside the city's Roman walls.