Caldon Canal

IWA Branch

Stoke-on-Trent

Navigation Authority

British Waterways, Navigation Road, Northwich, Cheshire, CW8 1BH. T: 01606 723800, F: 01606 871471
enquiries.hq@britishwaterways.co.uk
www.britishwaterways.co.uk

The Caldon Canal leaves the Trent and Mersey Canal at Etruria Junction and travels through the heart of the once-industrialised Potteries before heading up into the Staffordshire Moorlands.

The main line is 17 miles long with 17 locks, 3 operational lift bridges and one tunnel (Froghall Tunnel - 69 metres/ 76 yards). At Hazelhurst Junction, the Leek Branch leaves the main line - this is 3 miles long with one tunnel (Leek Tunnel - 118 metres/ 130 yards) and no locks.  At Froghall, the first lock of the Uttoxeter Canal has recently been restored, leading to a basin with visitor moorings.

Boaters should note restricted height and length restrictions affecting the last pound of the Caldon Canal and access to the newly restored Froghall Basin (see note below).

Maximum boat dimensions

Etruria to winding hole above Flint Mill Lock

From Flint Mill Lock to Froghall including Froghall Tunnel

* Headroom through Froghall Tunnel is low, but whether a boat will fit through depends on the cabin profile as well as the actual height. British Waterways quotes a height above water level of 5ft with a cabin roof width of 5ft. A gauge has been fitted on the tail bridge below Flint Mill Lock. If you do not think your boat will fit through, there is a winding hole just before the tunnel. However this winding hole is restricted to 65ft/19.81m so if you have a full length boat and your boat does not fit the tunnel profile you may prefer to reverse back up Flint Mill Lock above which there is an unrestricted winding hole. It is worth noting that at the current time local IWA members consider that the gauge is approximately 4 inches/ 100mm on the pessimistic side (discussions ongoing with BW), so if it is a close fit on the gauge your boat will probably fit through the tunnel with no problem. Once through the tunnel there is a full length winding hole above the first lock of the Uttoxeter Canal or there is room to turn in the basin.

Leek Arm

Boaters’ Services

Visitor Attractions

Cheddleton Flint Mill
A520 between Stoke-on-Trent and Leek.
Tel: 01782 502907

Churnet Valley Steam Railway

Cheddleton Station, Station Road, CHEDDLETON, ST13 7EE.
Tel: 01538 360522

www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk

Historical Information

This part of the Trent and Mersey system was built to carry limestone from the quarries around Froghall and the remains of many limestone kilns can still be seen in the area. The canal passes through industrial Potteries and out towards the Staffordshire Moorlands.

When the Caldon Canal was restored to navigation in 1974, the final half-mile of the Leek Branch remained buried beneath an industrial estate. During 2003, Caldon and Uttoxeter Canals Trust (formerly Caldon Canal Society), with support from IWA, put in place funding for a feasibility study to examine ways to improve the current terminus and to extend the Canal back toward the market town of Leek. Completion of the study is now due in 2006. At the terminus of the main line of the Caldon Canal, BW undertook substantial repairs to the canal channel in 2003 to overcome problems of subsidence and, with a new concrete channel lining, has been able to lower the water level in the final pound without any reduction in minimum depth. This has enabled more boats to pass through the low profile of Froghall Tunnel. The Trust is also promoting the restoration of the Foxley and the Norton Green Arms, both toward the Stoke-on-Trent end of the Caldon Canal, although these have not progressed in the last couple of years.

Further Information

For books, maps, guides, videos, DVDs and gitfs on this canal, click
here

Local government links

Staffordshire County Council

Staffordshire Moorlands DC

Stoke-on-Trent City Council