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Our guide to the waterways of the UK in detail.

The history of the Chester Canal.

By the early 1770's Chester was feeling at risk of being bypassed. In 1766 the Trent & Mersey canal had been authorised. So in 1772 a canal from Chester was authorised. Intended to connect to the Trent & Mersey at Middlewich it was prohibited from coming with a hundred yards! However the canal was built, but without a line to Middlewich by 1779. It cost £71,000.

For 8 years the route saw a moderate amount of self-contained freight traffic as well as a fairly successful fast passenger service. However, this wasn't enough to keep the waterway in profit and when in 1787 a lock at Beeston collapsed the company effectively abandoned the Chester Canal and it soon started to become derelict.

Then in 1795 the Ellesmere canal, opened the first section of their canal from the River Mersey through The Wirral to join the Chester canal at Chester. The village of Netherpool grew into a major terminus for the Ellesmere Canal and because of this it soon became known as Ellesmere Port. The old Chester Canal Company sprang into action in an effort to get their decaying canal back into shape. They thought the new traffic from the Mersey would use their waterway as well, if enough money came in they could then complete their original line to Middlewich.

The Elesemere canal was authorised to go on to Shrewsbury via Wrexham and Ruabon. However the new Ellesmere Canal Company also ran into money troubles leaving them unable to complete their line through Wrexham and Ruabon. They were left with a 17 mile gap from Chester to the mighty Pontcysyllte Aqueduct near Llangollen.

However, the Ellesmere Company's shortcoming gave the Chester company a chance to cash in. The Ellesmere Company had already built a branch from its main line, near Ellesmere, to Whitchurch. The suggestion was put forward that a link should be made from Whitchurch to Nantwich and, when completed, this would turn the Chester Canal into an important part of a main line from the River Mersey to Shrewsbury. So in 1806 a new canal was opened joining the Chester Canal to the Ellesmere Canal at Hurleston just north of Nantwich. The new canal was a success though the southern link to Shrewsbury was never completed. Instead, the Ellesmere Canal ran into numerous towns via short arms and branches. These included Whitchurch and Ellesmere in Shropshire, and Llangollen and Llanymynech in Wales.

In 1808 the Chester and Ellesmere after working together for a couple of years the companies merged. The whole line from the River Mersey at Ellesmere Port through Chester to Hurleston and then on into Wales was now controlled by the Ellesmere & Chester Canal Company.

Despite all this, the Chester Canal company's much dreamed of line to Middlewich was still not constructed and the new system was still cut off from the main network of canals which had covered Britain.

Further history is to be found in the Ellesemere Canal notes and the Shropshire Union canal notes.

Sources.

Nicholson Guides to the Waterways.

Roots & Routes, Peter Hardcastle's Website
http://www.canals.btinternet.co.uk/index.htm

The Shroppie, by Thomas Pellow and Paul Bowen, published 1985 ISBN 0-947849-00-9

Canal Companion, Welsh Waters, J.M. Pearson. Published by Central Waterways Supplies of Rugby in 2006. ISBN 0-9549116-3-6

Some pictures of this canal?

Autherly to Norbury / Norbury to Nantwich / Barbridge to Chester / Chester to Ellesmere Port / Middlewich branch.

General information on the canal.

More History of the canal

The Liverpool & Birmingham Junction. / The Shropshire Union.

Find our information about other canals and rivers on the canal index page.

If you have any questions then do ring us on 07977 229103
or email us at martinreed@reedboats.co.uk