Your floating hotel on the Canals and Rivers of the UK

Our guide to the waterways of the UK in detail.

Pictures of the Trent & Mersey Canal.

Midlewich to Hardings Wood Junction.

This was the first true canal to be built in the UK. Previously rivers had been made navigable, then the Bridgewater canal was built as the first water route which did not follow the course of a river. The Trent & Mersey had locks, a summit and a tunnel to enable it to travel from the watershed of the Mersey over to the watershed of the Trent this was an important innovation.

It is ninety-five miles long from Derwent mouth to the Bridgewater canal at the north end of Preston Brook tunnel. In has seventy-six locks four great tunnels. Eight other navigations join it so sections of it are included in many of our cruises. .

Immediately after Hardings Wood Junction the canal starts down the great flight of locks known as the Cheshire locks, or heartbreak hill. In seven miles there are twenty-seven locks to lower the canal back down to Wheellock on the edge of the Cheshire plain. It is a very pleasant run through country or on the outskirts of villages and small towns. They were all original paired to help speed up the huge numbers of working boats which used this canal at its peak in the early 19th century. Today just over half are still paired which, if other traffic permits, the chance to show how the working motor and butty pairs used both locks at once.

The last six mils to Middlewich sees a further four locks continue the descent. Industry intrudes again. Have you ever seen a Salt hill!! Middlewich, as the "wich" element in the name is in the area of Cheshire famous for mining salt. The industry is based on it and hence if you keep a look out you will see a salt hill.

At Middlewich the canal drops down Kings Lock, the link to the Shropshire Union Main line goes off to the left, but the canal continues to descend through Middlewich.

Cheshire paired locks.
Cheshire paired locks.	Church Lawton	Red Bull Yard

More pictures of this canal?

Preston Brook to Middlewich / Hardings Wood Junction to Eturia

Eturia to Great Haywood / Fradley to Shardlow

A history of this canal. / General information on the canal.

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