DOCSLIB.ORG

The Shropshire Union Canal

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Shropshire Union Canal The Shropshire Union Canal Updates and corrections Further research needed ... Research is never complete, and eventually one has to publish. There are several topics I’d like to have known more about — here are a few: Why did most of the Shropshire Canal’s committee sell their shares in 1826? [Page 46] Where was the Shrewsbury Canal’s depot? [Chapter 4] Where in Ruabon parish was Rowland and Pickering’s experimental lift? [Page 68] Why was the Lilleshall Company, with its mines and ironworks, so reluctant to have a canal linked to the national network? [Page 114] Who built the Humber Arm — the canal company or the Sutherland Estates? [Page 114] There were at least 25 tramroads linked to the canal — little is known about most of them, rarely the dates of operation, and sometimes not even the type of track or the gauge. [Pages 157 & 158] Why did the SU invest in the Glyn Valley Railway and for several years operate it, as it was then tramroad technology some forty years out of date? [Pages 190 to 192] When were the last commercial loads carried on the Ellesmere Canal? — I’ve recently read some evidence that there was some carrying during the war. [Page 221] I’d welcome further information — my email address is <[email protected]>. A missing ‘k’ [Page 6] In the table of weights and measures, it should state that 1lb = 0.4536kg. River Weaver [Page 16] Under the 1721 and 1760s Acts, surplus revenue was to be used for the maintenance and improvement of roads and bridges in Cheshire. The wording in the book is a little sloppy — county councils did not come into being until 1889, when they took over the administrative functions of unelected county courts of quarter sessions. Iron tub-boat [Page 39] The iron tub-boat illustrated, LillCo749, was found by David Adams in use as a water tank at Brocton Leasowes Farm in 1972. It is possibly the oldest extant iron boat in Britain. Rowland and Pickering’s experimental lift [Pages 68–69] A third site has been suggested for the location of the experimental lift: at the northern end of Trevor Basin, where the covered interchange dock was built. The evidence for none of the suggested sites is strong enough to be convincing. The mystery remains. Water supply to the Shropshire Union Main Line [Pages 154–5] A further supply enters the canal in the Grub Street Cutting on the east side between Bridges 41 and 42. As designed, water which was not needed for the canal was conveyed across the cutting in Bridge 40 (‘Water Bridge’) into Blakemere Pool, following the original line of the stream. Pontcysyllte Forge [Page 196] The site depicted is on the south side of the ‘Water Line’, between the junction at Trevor and Postles Bridge, now occupied by houses in Bron y Gamlas. The caption is incorrect. Exuperius Pickering was given permission to build a coke works here in 1816 — he did not build the forge, which made wrought iron and its products. An ironworks had been constructed on part of the site by 1838, most likely by William Fox, but the building shown probably dates from the mid-1870s. Waste material from here was dumped on the field almost opposite, creating what is now known as ‘The Clinker’. Canal & River Trust: local organisation [Page 232] From August 2018 the parts of the former Shropshire Union system in Cheshire are in the North West Region, the other parts in England being in the West Midlands Region. Thus the boundary on the Main Line is above the Audlem Flight and on the Llangollen Canal is below the Grindley Brook Flight. The parts in Wales are in the West Midlands Region for day-to- day matters, but liaison with the Welsh Assembly is dealt with by the Wales & South West Region. The Middlewich breach [Page 233] The Middlewich Branch reopened on 21 December 2018, having been closed since 15 March. The cause of the breach was that all the paddles of Stanthorne Lock had been left up, causing the pound below to fill and overflow the bank on the embankment. What has not been satisfactorily explained is why there was no way of safely passing the surplus water. Wirral Community Narrowboat Trust [Page 236] Lyneal Trust; Vale of Llangollen Canal Boat Trust [Page 247] In addition to the Heulwen Trust (mentioned on pages 255–6 and 273) I should have mentioned the excellent work done by three other trusts operating narrowboats for people with disabilities. All are charities, run by volunteers. My apologies for the omission. The Wirral Community Narrowboat Trust, formerly the Wirral Narrowboat Association, started operation in 1984 and now has two modern boats. One boat is usually based at Christleton; the other sometimes operates from Ellesmere Port, Preston Brook or Trevor. The Trust was awarded the Queen’s Award For Voluntary Service in 2017. The Lyneal Trust, founded in 1985, provides canal and canalside holidays for people with disabilities and their carers, and which is run by volunteers. The Trust operates three canal boats from Lyneal Wharf, three miles east of Ellesmere, where it also has chalets. It was granted the Queens Award for Voluntary Service in 2008. The Vale of Llangollen Canal Boat Trust, founded in 1983, provides day trips from Trevor for disabled and disadvantaged people on its boat, Glas y Dorlan. Llanymynech Wharf Visitor Centre and the George Watson Buck [Pages 260 & 275] The section of the book dealing with the restoration of the Montgomery Canal omitted any mention of the reopened section at Llanymynech. The restored Visitor Centre provides displays and exhibitions about the canal, Heritage Area and other local places of interest. Since 2005 the boat George Watson Buck has provided trips on the short section of canal, which includes crossing the boundary from England into Wales. My apologies to all the hard-working volunteers without whom this valuable asset would not exist. Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust [Page 264] The Trust was actually formed on 21 October 2000. National Waterways Museum [Page 271] In October 2017 the National Waterways Museum took several of its deteriorating wooden boats out of the water and moved them to an off-site storage facility, just as I had hoped when I wrote the paragraph. This move to leased premises in Rossfield Road, about half a mile from the museum, was partly financed through the Arts Council England Resilience Project. The Boat Museum Society, which provides volunteer skills and financial support to the National Waterways Museum, changed its name to the Waterways Museum Society in 2018. It was founded in 1971 as the North Western Museum of Inland Navigation, becoming the Boat Museum Society in 1995 prior to it transferring its museum operation to the Waterways Trust in 1999. Peter Brown 21 March 2019 .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A Beginner's Guide to Boating on Inland Waterways
    Ti r A Beginner’s Guide To Boating On Inland Waterways Take to the water with British Waterways and the National Rivers Authority With well over 4,000 km (2,500 miles) of rivers and canals to explore, from the south west of England up to Scotland, our inland waterways offer plenty of variety for both the casual boater and the dedicated enthusiast. If you have ever experienced the pleasures of 'messing about on boats', you will know what a wealth of scenery and heritage inland waterways open up to us, and the unique perspective they provide. Boating is fun and easy. This pack is designed to help you get afloat if you are thinking about buying a boat. Amongst other useful information, it includes details of: Navigation Authorities British Waterways (BW) and the National Rivers Authority (NRA), which is to become part of the new Environment Agency for England and Wales on 1 April 1996, manage most of our navigable rivers and canals. We are responsible for maintaining the waterways and locks, providing services for boaters and we licence and manage boats. There are more than 20 smaller navigation authorities across the country. We have included information on some of these smaller organisations. Licences and Moorings We tell you everything you need to know from, how to apply for a licence to how to find a permanent mooring or simply a place for «* ^ V.’j provide some useful hints on buying a boat, includi r, ...V; 'r 1 builders, loans, insurance and the Boat Safety Sch:: EKVIRONMENT AGENCY Useful addresses A detailed list of useful organisations and contacts :: : n a t io n a l libra ry'& ■ suggested some books we think will help you get t information service Happy boating! s o u t h e r n r e g i o n Guildbourne House, Chatsworth Road, W orthing, West Sussex BN 11 1LD ENVIRONMENT AGENCY 1 Owning a Boat Buying a Boat With such a vast.range of boats available to suit every price range, .
    [Show full text]
  • Report 207 Cover Bleed.Indd
    NumberNumber 207 207 DecemberDecember 2014 2014 THE BOAT MUSEUM SOCIETY President: Di Skilbeck MBE Vice-Presidents: Alan Jones, Harry Arnold MBE, Tony Lewery DIRECTORS Chairman: Jeff Fairweather Vice-Chairman: Will Manning Vice-Chairman: Chris Kay Treasurer: Barbara Kay Barbara Catford Lynn Potts Terry Allen Sue Phillips Bob Thomas Cath Turpin Mike Turpin CO-OPTED COMMITTEE MEMBERS Martyn Kerry 8 Newbury Way, Moreton, Wirral. CH46 1PW Ailsa Rutherford 14 Tai Maes, Mold, Flintshire, CH7 1RW EMAIL CONTACTS Jeff Fairweather [email protected] Barbara Catford [email protected] Ailsa Rutherford [email protected] Lynn Potts [email protected] Andy Wood [Re:Port Editor] 34 Langdale Road, Bebington, CH63 3AW T :0151 334 2209 E: [email protected] The Boat Museum Society is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England Number 1028599. Registered Charity Number 501593 On production of a current BMS membership card, members are entitled to free admission to the National Waterways Museum, Gloucester, and the Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum. Visit our website www.boatmuseumsociety.org.uk The National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, CH65 4FW, Telephone: 0151 355 5017 http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/national-waterways-museum Cover: Bunbury Locks [Photo: © Steve Daniels Creative Commons] Number 207 December 2014 Chairman’s Report The Boat Museum Society (BMS) is the successor of the North Western Museum of Inland Navigation (NWMIN), which was the original body of volunteers who founded and operated the Boat Museum at Ellesmere Port which subsequently became the National Waterways Museum (NWM). The principal aim of the BMS is the preservation of the historic boats, artefacts, skills and knowledge associated with waterway life.
    [Show full text]
  • Falkirk Wheel, Scotland
    Falkirk Wheel, Scotland Jing Meng Xi Jing Fang Natasha Soriano Kendra Hanagami Overview Magnitudes & Costs Project Use and Social and Economic Benefits Technical Issues and Innovations Social Problems and Policy Challenges Magnitudes Location: Central Scotland Purpose: To connecting the Forth and Clyde canal with the Union canal. To lift boats from a lower canal to an upper canal Magnitudes Construction Began: March 12, 1999 Officially at Blairdardie Road in Glasgow Construction Completed: May 24, 2002 Part of the Millennium Link Project undertaken by British Waterways in Scotland To link the West and East coasts of Scotland with fully navigable waterways for the first time in 35 years Magnitudes The world’s first and only rotating boat wheel Two sets of axe shaped arms Two diametrically opposed waterwater-- filled caissons Magnitudes Overall diameter is 35 meters Wheel can take 4 boats up and 4 boats down Can overcome the 24m vertical drop in 15 minute( 600 tones) To operate the wheel consumes just 1.5 kilowattkilowatt--hourshours in rotation Costs and Prices Total Cost of the Millennium Link Project: $123 M $46.4 M of fund came from Nation Lottery Falkirk Wheel Cost: $38.5 M Financing Project was funded by: British Waterways Millennium Commission Scottish Enterprise European Union Canalside local authorities Fares for Wheel The Falkirk Wheel Experience Tour: Adults $11.60 Children $6.20 Senior $9.75 Family $31.20 Social Benefits Proud Scots Queen of Scotland supported the Falkirk Wheel revived an important
    [Show full text]
  • A Walk from Church Minshull
    A Walk to Church Minshull Aqueduct Marina photo courtesy of Bernie Stafford Aqueduct Marina, the starting point for this walk, was opened in February 2009. The marina has 147 berths, a shop and a café set in beautiful Cheshire countryside. With comprehensive facilities for moorers, visiting boaters and anyone needing to do, or have done, any work on their boat, the marina is an excellent starting point for exploring the Cheshire canal system. Starting and finishing at Church Minshull Aqueduct Marina, this walk takes in some of the prettiest local countryside as well as the picturesque village of Church Minshull and the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal. Some alternative routes are also included at the end to add variation to the walk which is about five or six miles, depending on the exact route taken. Built to join the Trent and Mersey Canal with the Chester Canal, the Middlewich Branch carried mainly coal, salt and goods to and from the potteries. Built quite late in the canal building era, like so many other canals, this canal wasn’t as successful as predicted. Today, however, it is a very busy canal providing an essential link between the Trent and Mersey Canal at Middlewich and the Llangollen Canal as well as being part of the Four Counties Ring and linking to the popular Cheshire Ring boating route. The Route Leaving the marina, walk to the end of the drive and turn north (right) onto the B5074 Church Minshull road and walk to the canal bridge. Cross the canal and turn down the steps on the right onto the towpath, then walk back under the bridge, with the canal on your left.
    [Show full text]
  • The Cefn Cefn Mawr.Pdf
    FORWARD All the recommendations made in this document for inclusion in the WCBC LDP2 are for the betterment of our community of The Cefn and Cefn Mawr at the Central section of the Pontcysyllte World Heritage Site. The picture opposite is an impression of what the Plas Kynaston Canal and Marina would look like with Open Park Land on one side and an appropriate housing development on the other. This would turn the former brown field Monsanto site in Cefn Mawr around for everyone in the county of Wrexham. By the PKC Group LDP2 - THE CEFN & CEFN MAWR LDP2 - THE CEFN & CEFN MAWR Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 5 Public Support ........................................................................................................................................ 5 Communication ...................................................................................................................................... 6 LDP2 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 7 LDP2 Objectives & PKC Group Responses ............................................................................................. 7 The Cefn & Cefn Mawr and Wrexham County .................................................................................... 10 Key Issues and Drivers for the LDP2 & Responses .............................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Heritage Report 2017–19
    Heritage Report 2017–19 September 2019 Dundas Aqueduct 2 Heritage Report 2017–19 Case Studies The following case studies are included in the Report: Managing our heritage Restoring a bridge-keeper’s hut, River Weaver 8 Derwent Mouth Lock repairs, Trent & Mersey Canal 9 Foxton Locks re-gating, Grand Union Leicester Line 10 Traffic lights at Golden Nook Bridge, Shropshire Union Canal 11 Safety railings at Marple Aqueduct, Peak Forest Canal 12 Cookley Forge Basin Bridge, Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal 13 Repairs to Chirk Aqueduct, Llangollen Canal 14 Marple Yard cottages refurbished, Macclesfield Canal 16 Carpenter’s Road Lock restoration, Bow Back Rivers 17 Parapet repairs to Bedford Street Bridge, Caldon Canal 18 Repairs to Saint Thomas Bridge, Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal 19 Curdworth Bridge repairs, Birmingham & Fazeley Canal 20 Towpath widening, Edgbaston Tunnel, Worcester & Birmingham Canal 21 Maintaining high standards Drone survey, Engine Arm Aqueduct, Birmingham New Main Line Canal 25 Repairs to Roundthorn Bridge, Llangollen Canal 26 Parapet alterations to Beeston Iron Lock footbridge, Shropshire Union Canal 27 Fox’s Malthouse revived, Gloucester Docks 28 Soulbury Pump House restored, Grand Union Canal 29 Heritage Apprentices, Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, Wales 30 Surveying the old Line of the Oxford Canal 32 Recording Beeston and Bunbury locks, Shropshire Union Canal 33 Metal detectorists, Grand Union Aylesbury Arm 34 British Transport Commission sign recovered 34 Engagement Cataloguing wooden patterns at Ellesmere
    [Show full text]
  • Waterway Dimensions
    Generated by waterscape.com Dimension Data The data published in this documentis British Waterways’ estimate of the dimensions of our waterways based upon local knowledge and expertise. Whilst British Waterways anticipates that this data is reasonably accurate, we cannot guarantee its precision. Therefore, this data should only be used as a helpful guide and you should always use your own judgement taking into account local circumstances at any particular time. Aire & Calder Navigation Goole to Leeds Lock tail - Bulholme Lock Length Beam Draught Headroom - 6.3m 2.74m - - 20.67ft 8.99ft - Castleford Lock is limiting due to the curvature of the lock chamber. Goole to Leeds Lock tail - Castleford Lock Length Beam Draught Headroom 61m - - - 200.13ft - - - Heck Road Bridge is now lower than Stubbs Bridge (investigations underway), which was previously limiting. A height of 3.6m at Heck should be seen as maximum at the crown during normal water level. Goole to Leeds Lock tail - Heck Road Bridge Length Beam Draught Headroom - - - 3.71m - - - 12.17ft - 1 - Generated by waterscape.com Leeds Lock tail to River Lock tail - Leeds Lock Length Beam Draught Headroom - 5.5m 2.68m - - 18.04ft 8.79ft - Pleasure craft dimensions showing small lock being limiting unless by prior arrangement to access full lock giving an extra 43m. Leeds Lock tail to River Lock tail - Crown Point Bridge Length Beam Draught Headroom - - - 3.62m - - - 11.88ft Crown Point Bridge at summer levels Wakefield Branch - Broadreach Lock Length Beam Draught Headroom - 5.55m 2.7m - - 18.21ft 8.86ft - Pleasure craft dimensions showing small lock being limiting unless by prior arrangement to access full lock giving an extra 43m.
    [Show full text]
  • FORTH, CLYDE and UNION CANALS Notes on Multi-Use Access
    FORTH, CLYDE AND UNION CANALS Notes on multi-use access The Forth and Clyde Canal stretches 35 miles between Bowling, on the Clyde west of Glasgow, and the Forth estuary east of Falkirk, linking directly via the Union Canal to Edinburgh. Walkers and cyclists may now be a more common sight than the horses for whom the towpaths were originally created, and riding a horse alongside the canal may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act, horse-riders enjoy equal access rights to other non-motorised access takers. Most of the former barriers along the towpath have been removed or modified to allow multi-use access, although there are a few places where the passable width is very narrow, or where steps have been installed to divert around obstructions in the line of the towpath may not be passable with a horse. These notes have been produced by British Horse Society Scotland to help identify location and brief details of features which may influence multi-use of the Forth and Clyde and Union Canals. The notes are intended to supplement information already available from other sources, including detailed route guides, http://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/our-canals/forth-- clyde-canal and other relevant websites. The background information for these notes was provided by volunteers who surveyed the route in 2014 as part of a multi-use long distance route audit funded by Scottish Natural Heritage. BHS will endeavour to update notes as and when notification of subsequent changes is received, but cannot guarantee accessibility or the accuracy of information provided.
    [Show full text]
  • Source 12 AW.Indd
    Words Deborah Mulhearn Photographs Ian Lawson, Walter Menzies and courtesy British Waterways Cheshire’s beautiful and fascinating canals are at the forefront of the nation’s canal renaissance. Cheshire’s canals are perhaps the most diverse in the ago – to young and distinctly urban The Peak Forest Canal touches country. From the fascinating industrial heritage of the landlubbers are negotiating the locks. Boating Cheshire only briefl y, but has one of mighty Manchester Ship Canal, which cuts across the holiday companies are doing great business. its most spectacular features: the Northern edge of the county, to the dramatic Pennine The Cheshire Ring, a 97 mile long circular Marple Aqueduct and the fl ight of 16 scenery of the Macclesfi eld Canal in the east, and the route which is made up from parts of the locks that lift the canal 46m above serene beauty of the Llangollen Canal in the south-west Macclesfi eld Canal, the Peak Forest Canal, the Goyt Valley. The Trent & Mersey corner, they not only cover most of the county but also the Bridgewater Canal and the Trent & Mersey Canal, built to link the River Trent span the history of British canal building. Canal, has never been busier. and the River Mersey, was one of the Cheshire’s proximity to Liverpool and Manchester, “There’s a weird and wonderful mix of earliest canals to be completed, in the hub and heart of the industrial revolution, and to the features specifi c to Cheshire’s canals,” 1777. It runs for 92 miles and has River Mersey, meant that it was quickly criss-crossed explains Peter Birch of British Waterways even more locks – one section with by canals in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix 4 Detailed Proposals for Each Ward – Organised by Local Area Partnership (LAP)
    Appendix 4 Detailed proposals for each Ward – organised by Local Area Partnership (LAP) Proposed Wards within the Knutsford Local Area Partnership Knutsford Local Area Partnership (LAP) is situated towards the north-west of Cheshire East, and borders Wilmslow to the north-east, Macclesfield to the south-east and Congleton to the south. The M6 and M56 motorways pass through this LAP. Hourly train services link Knutsford, Plumley and Mobberley to Chester and Manchester, while in the east of this LAP hourly trains link Chelford with Crewe and Manchester. The town of Knutsford was the model for Elizabeth Gaskell's novel Cranford and scenes from the George C. Scott film Patton were filmed in the centre of Knutsford, in front of the old Town Hall. Barclays Bank employs thousands of people in IT and staff support functions at Radbroke Hall, just outside the town of Knutsford. Knutsford is home to numerous sporting teams such as Knutsford Hockey Club, Knutsford Cricket Club, Knutsford Rugby Club and Knutsford Football Club. Attractions include Tatton Park, home of the RHS Flower show, the stately homes Arley Hall, Tabley House and Peover Hall, and the Cuckooland Museum of cuckoo clocks. In detail, the proposals are: Knutsford is a historic, self-contained urban community with established extents and comprises the former County Ward of Knutsford, containing 7 polling districts. The Parish of Knutsford also mirrors the boundary of this proposal. Knutsford Town is surrounded by Green Belt which covers 58% of this proposed division. The proposed ward has excellent communications by road, motorway and rail and is bounded to the north by Tatton Park and to the east by Birkin Brook.
    [Show full text]
  • Local Canal Walks
    The 1 2 NORBURY Shrewsbury and JUNCTION Newport Canals 3 4 5 6 7 This is the junction of the Newport Canal with the Shropshire 1. Looking down the Newport arm in late1961 Union Canal. Heading west from here, the canal went first to The Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust is working Photograph: Harry Arnold, Waterway Images to restore these canals and create a 24¾ mile rural Newport then on to Wappenshall Junction, where it joined the 2. The start of the Newport Canal is now used green corridor from Norbury Junction to Shrewsbury older Shrewsbury Canal. The route of the Shrewsbury & Newport for everyone to enjoy including for moorings Canals passes through 24¾ miles from Norbury Junction to - Anglers 3. An angler on the Newport Canal Shrewsbury, descending through a series of 25 locks and dropping - Cyclists nearly 40 metres on the journey. In 1944, along with many other - Walkers 4. A stretch of canal in water at Newport Shropshire Union canals, these canals were abandoned and - Boaters Photograph: Andrew Tidy eventually sold off by British Waterways in the 1960s. and all who want to enjoy the peace and tranquillity. 5. Warehouses at Wappenshall, soon to be restored If you would like to help go to www.sncanal.org.uk Photograph: R. Knisley-Marpole Today the line of the canals still remains although some lengths for more information have been filled in. Nevertheless surveys have shown that it is 6. The Grade 1 listed Longdon on Tern Aqueduct, feasible to restore and reopen the route. the oldest surviving iron aqueduct in the world The Shrewsbury and Newport Canals Trust was formed in 2000 7.
    [Show full text]
  • Message from the Chair
    MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR At our recent end of season review, we acknowledged 2018 as a year of huge progress for Lyneal Trust with, including the expected Santa Cruise activity, a record of around 1800 people using the Trust’s facilities. This has been achieved by the success of Shropshire Lady’s first full year, Shropshire Maid’s introduction, Shropshire Lass’s refurbishment and improve- ments at Wharf Cottage and The Lyneal Trust’s boats were in use again this grounds. On behalf of all year for the annual Whitchurch Rotary Boat trips. involved with Lyneal Trust, I 24 two-hour trips carried a record 215 passengers including would like to thank the many primary school children, children with a wide range of volunteers, trustees, supporters, neurological and physical disorders and behavioural customers and local community difficulties and residents from care homes. There was much groups who have made a huge positive feedback on the boats, especially The Shropshire contribution this year. Lady. The bright, airy feel and the superb view from a seated position were widely commented on. One child Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. commented "It was the best school trip we've ever had". Costs were covered by 28 local businesses who each Chris Symes (Chair of the sponsored a boat. Rotary are very grateful to them, to the Trust) Whitchurch Waterway's Trust and to Chemistry Farm and of Editor: Gabrielle Pearson course to Lyneal Trust. Sub Editor: Chris Smith Lyneal Trust, Lyneal Wharf, Lyneal, Ellesmere, Shropshire SY12 0LQ. Registered Charity Number 516224 VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION The Lyneal Story (continued) ANGELA BUNCE By 2012, Shropshire Lad was showing its age and a replacement day boat became a priority.
    [Show full text]