Hurleston Junction facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hurleston Junction |
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Hurleston Junction: the Llangollen Canal begins here with a flight of four locks raising the water level more than 34 feet (10.4 metres)
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| Specifications | |
| Status | Open |
| Navigation authority | Canal & River Trust |
| History | |
| Date completed | 1796 |
Hurleston Junction is a special place where two important canals meet in Hurleston, Cheshire, England. It's where the Llangollen Canal ends and joins the main line of the Shropshire Union Canal. Think of it like a crossroads for boats!
Contents
History of the Canals
Building the Chester Canal
The story of Hurleston Junction starts with the Chester Canal. This canal was planned to run from Chester to Middlewich, with a branch to Nantwich. In 1772, a special law called an Act of Parliament allowed it to be built. However, the plans changed, and the main canal was built from Chester to Nantwich instead. There wasn't enough money to build the branch to Middlewich.
The canal opened in 1779, but it didn't make much money. After eight years, the company that owned it went out of business.
A New Beginning
Luckily, the canal reopened three years later in 1790. This was because a much bigger canal, the Ellesmere Canal, was being planned. The Chester Canal would become an important part of this new, larger network. This also meant the branch to Middlewich, which would connect to the Trent and Mersey Canal, might finally be built.
The Grand Ellesmere Canal
The Ellesmere Canal was a huge project! It was designed to connect the River Mersey to the River Dee and then on to Shrewsbury. It also planned branches to important towns like Ruabon, Llangollen, and Llanymynech.
Work began in early 1794 on a section from Hordley to Llanymynech. Llanymynech was important because it had many limestone quarries. These quarries would provide goods to be carried on the canal. This section of the canal opened by autumn 1796. This means that Hurleston Junction, where the Chester Canal met this new branch, first started being used for boats in late 1796.
Joining Forces: The Shropshire Union Canal
At first, Hurleston Junction was where the Chester Canal met the Ellesmere Canal's branch to Llanymynech. Over time, the canal companies joined together:
- In 1813, the Chester Canal and the Ellesmere Canal companies combined to form the Ellesmere and Chester Canal.
- In 1826, another canal, the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal, was approved. This canal would connect Nantwich to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal near Wolverhampton. It opened in 1835.
- In 1845, these two companies also joined together. Soon after, they were renamed the Shropshire Union Canal.
The Llangollen Canal, which starts at Hurleston Junction, was originally just a branch of the Ellesmere Canal. It ran from Frankton Junction to Llangollen. In 1936, part of the canal below Frankton closed because of damage.
Later, in 1944, many parts of the Shropshire Union system were closed. However, the main line and the route to Llangollen were kept open to supply water. Today, the entire length from Hurleston Junction to Llangollen is known as the Llangollen Canal. The canal below Frankton Junction, now called the Montgomeryshire Canal, is being restored.
Location and Features
The Canals at the Junction
From Hurleston Junction, the Chester Canal (which is now part of the Shropshire Union Canal) heads northwest. This section is flat for about 4.1 miles (6.6 km) until you reach the two special "staircase locks" at Bunbury. About 1.3 miles (2.1 km) from the junction is Barbridge Junction, where the Middlewich Branch finally turns off.
If you head in the other direction, towards Wolverhampton, the canal is flat for about 10.7 miles (17.2 km). Then you reach the bottom lock of the 15-lock Audlem flight, which helps boats go up or down a big hill. Just south of Hurleston Junction, there's a "roving bridge" that carries the towpath over the canal. This allows people walking or cycling to cross without leaving the towpath.
The Llangollen Canal and Hurleston Locks
Right after Hurleston Junction, the Llangollen Canal begins its climb through four locks, known as the Hurleston Locks. These locks raise the canal's water level by about 34.25 feet (10.4 metres)! After the locks, the canal goes under the A51 road.
North of the locks, you'll find Hurleston Reservoir. This large reservoir is filled with water that travels along the canal all the way from the Horseshoe Falls at Llantysilio. The reservoir not only supplies water to the canal but also provides drinking water for people. It can hold 85 million gallons (390 million litres) of water. About 12 million gallons (55 million litres) of water flow along the canal each day to keep it supplied.
