Middlewich Branch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Middlewich Branch
The lock and cottage at Minshull
Specifications
Maximum boat length	72 ft 0 in (21.95 m)
Maximum boat beam	7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Locks	4
Status	navigable
Navigation authority	Canal and River Trust
History
Original owner	Ellesmere and Chester Canal Company
Date of act	1827
Date completed	1833
Geography
Start point	Middlewich
End point	Barbridge
Branch of	Shropshire Union Canal
Connects to	Trent and Mersey Canal

The Middlewich Branch is a canal in Cheshire, England. It connects the town of Middlewich to the main part of the Shropshire Union Canal at Barbridge Junction. This canal is about 10 miles (16 km) long.

It was first planned in 1772 as part of the Chester Canal. However, the company building it ran out of money. Construction finally began much later, in 1827. The Trent and Mersey Canal company did not want a direct link at Middlewich. So, they built a short canal called the Wardle Canal to connect the two. They also charged extra fees for boats using it.

The Middlewich Branch became part of the Shropshire Union system in 1846. Soon after, in 1847, the London and North Western Railway took over. The extra fees on the Wardle Canal limited boat traffic for many years. These fees were finally removed in 1888.

In 1888, there were trials to pull boats with a small train engine. This happened on the canal near Worleston. But the idea was not used further. The canal later became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in 1923. In 1944, this railway company closed many canals. But the Middlewich Branch stayed open. It then came under the British Waterways Board in 1948.

Today, the canal goes through pretty farmland in Cheshire. It has a short section in Middlewich town. Many of its old structures are still original. They are protected as grade II listed buildings. No commercial boats use the canal now. Instead, it is popular for leisure boating. Two marinas have been built for pleasure boats.

History of the Middlewich Canal

The idea for a canal to Middlewich started in 1766. The River Dee Company worried about losing business. This was because the Trent and Mersey Canal was being built. They wanted a canal from Chester to Middlewich. This canal would link to the Trent and Mersey. It would also have a branch to Nantwich.

The Duke of Bridgewater said he would not stop the canal. But he insisted there should be no direct link to the Trent and Mersey. The canal was approved by Parliament in 1772. The company began building towards Nantwich. But the costs were much higher than expected.

The canal reached Nantwich in 1779. They had to get another law passed to raise more money. There was no money left to build the Middlewich Canal. A plan to use smaller locks to save money was not popular. So, no work was done on the Middlewich section.

Building the Canal Link

Later, there were plans to link Nantwich to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. This would create the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal. Talks started again with the Trent and Mersey Canal. They discussed a canal from Barbridge to Middlewich.

The Trent and Mersey Canal refused at first. They waited until the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal was approved. Then, they agreed. But they insisted the new canal should join a short branch they would build. This branch became the Wardle Canal. Boats using it had to pay high fees.

The Middlewich Branch was approved in 1827. This was one year after the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal. The Middlewich Branch opened on 1 September 1833. It cost £129,000, which included wharves and warehouses. But trade was slow until the new link to Autherley opened three years later.

The Ellesmere Canal opened in 1797. It connected Chester to the River Mersey at Ellesmere Port. Because of this, Chester became less important. Ellesmere Port became more important. At first, fees on the Middlewich Branch were kept high. This was to avoid taking business from the Ellesmere Port route.

In 1838, the canal carried a lot of iron to Ellesmere Port. It also carried iron along the Middlewich Branch. Most of this iron came from North Wales to Manchester. Once the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal opened, the route to Manchester was better. It was 5.25 miles (8.4 km) shorter than using the Trent and Mersey Canal. It also had 30 fewer locks.

The Shropshire Union Era

The Ellesmere and Chester Canal companies joined together in 1813. On 8 May 1845, they joined with the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal. The name Ellesmere and Chester Canal was kept. But plans were already being made for the Shropshire Union Canal.

By July, these plans were clear. The Montgomery Canal, Shrewsbury Canal, and Shropshire Canal would join the new company. New railways were also planned. Some parts of the canal network would even be turned into railways. But the canal link from Ellesmere Port to Middlewich would stay as a waterway.

The company became the Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company. Laws for three new railways were passed in 1846. The new company was independent for less than a year. The London and North Western Railway (LNWR) leased it in 1846. This was made official in 1847.

The Shropshire Union tried to fix the high fees on the Wardle Canal. In 1852, they suggested building a 327 yards (299 m) bypass. They said the Middlewich Branch was "almost useless" without it. But the LNWR asked them to stop the plan. A similar idea came up in 1868. This time, it was for a longer bypass. But it was rejected by the House of Lords.

An interesting experiment happened in 1888. It was on the branch near Worleston. About 1 mile (1.6 km) of narrow railway track was laid next to the canal. A small train engine from Crewe railway works pulled barges. The LNWR's engineer, Francis Webb, suggested these trials. A report was made in 1889. The engine successfully pulled two, four, and then eight boats. It reached speeds up to 7 mph (11 km/h; 6.1 kn). But no more action was taken after the trials.

Some canal traffic was lost when the Anderton Boat Lift opened in 1875. This lift connected the Trent and Mersey to the River Weaver. It also linked to the Manchester Ship Canal. The Shropshire Union kept complaining about the Wardle Canal fees. Finally, in 1888, a new law was passed. These fees had to be removed.

The Shropshire Union company was taken over by the LNWR in 1922. The LNWR then became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMSR) very quickly. In 1944, the LMSR got a law passed to close 175 miles (282 km) of canals. This included much of the Shropshire Union system. But the main line from Ellesmere Port to Autherley and the Middlewich Branch were kept open.

The Canal's Route

The Middlewich Branch is 10 miles (16 km) long. It rises from Middlewich to Barbridge through four locks. The first mile near Middlewich has houses along the canal. After that, the route is completely rural. It passes through farmland and woods. There are great views over the valley of the upper River Weaver.

Many of the canal's structures are original. They date back to when the canal was built. Most are grade II listed. This includes the bridge at the start of the branch. It carries the Trent and Mersey towpath and Booth Lane. This bridge is made of brown brick. It has "Wardle Canal 1829" written on it.

Wardle Lock raises the canal by 9.75 feet (2.97 m). Both the lock and its nearby cottage are listed buildings. Bridges 31, 30, and 28 are made of blue-brown and blue bricks. They have a special arched shape. An aqueduct then carries the canal over the A530 Nantwich road. Another aqueduct crosses the River Wheelock right after.

The path to Stanthorne Lock goes through a cattle bridge. It is built of red bricks with stone tops. This lock raises the canal by 11.1 feet (3.4 m). The peaceful canal is interrupted at bridge 22A. This bridge carries the West Coast Main Line railway over the canal. Beyond it, you can see great views over the Weaver Valley. You can also see Winsford Top Flash.

After several more listed bridges, the canal passes Church Minshull village. Then, it crosses the River Weaver on an aqueduct. This aqueduct has three arches. A large round arch is in the middle. Smaller arches on the sides help with flood relief.

Nanneys Bridge carries the B5074 road over the canal. It is just before Minshull Lock. The bridge is made of brick with a single arch. But its side walls have been rebuilt. Minshull Lock raises the canal by 11 feet (3.4 m). It is a grade II listed building. This is because it looks much like it did when first built.

Bridge 5A carries the railway line from Crewe to Chester over the canal. A large marina is shortly after this bridge. Then comes Cholmondeston Lock. This lock raises the canal by 11.25 feet (3.43 m). Benyon's Bridge, Sandholes Bridge, and Rutters Bridge are the last three bridges. Finally, the canal reaches Barbridge Junction. Here, a graceful bridge carries the main line's towpath over the branch.

2018 Bank Failure

On 16 March 2018, a part of the canal bank broke. This happened next to the aqueduct over the River Wheelock. The canal was emptied between Stanthorne Lock and Wardle Lock. This left 20 boats stuck.

The Canal and River Trust repaired the break. Hundreds of volunteers helped. Two big engineering companies also assisted. The repair cost £3 million. The repaired canal branch officially reopened on Friday, 21 December 2018.

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