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Shropshire Union Canal

The Shropshire Union Canal runs from Autherley Junction, near Wolverhampton, on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, to the Manchester Ship Canal at Ellesmere Port.  

Things to do nearby

Hurleston lock flight
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Walk

Hurleston Locks & Shropshire Union Canal Walk

Barbridge

Silver Propeller Challenge

River Dee Branch

Chester

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Campaign

HS2: Erewash Canal

view of a canal through a bridge
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Campaign

HS2: Middlewich Branch of Shropshire Union Canal

13 Apr 2021

Talk

Liverpool’s maritime heritage

Ellesmere Port

09 Mar 2021
Paul Rodgers standing on a bridge over the Oxford Canal

Meeting

IWA Chester & Merseyside Branch AGM

Ellesmere Port

09 Feb 2021
narrowboat going over an aqueduct

Talk

History & heritage of the Shropshire Union Canal

Ellesmere Port

12 Jan 2021

Talk

Depictions of the waterways in art

Ellesmere Port

Cancelled
08 Dec 2020

Social

Christmas Party & a tale about a local ‘Gold Rush’

Ellesmere Port

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Walk

Three short walks in the Telford area

Longdon-on-Tern

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Walk

Tyrley to Market Drayton & the Shropshire Union Canal Walk

Tyrley

Facts & Stats

66.5 miles

(107km)

The length of the main line of the Shropshire Union Canal that is navigable. The Middlewich Branch is 10 miles (16.1km) and the River Dee branch is 0.25 miles (0.4km).

47 locks

Main line

The Middlewich Branch has 4 locks and the River Dee Branch has 3 locks.

1846

Formation

Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company was formed.

From Autherley Junction to the Manchester Ship Canal

There are two branches, the Middlewich Branch (which runs from Barbridge Junction to the Trent & Mersey Canal at Middlewich) and the River Dee Branch (which runs from the main line at Chester to the tidal river Dee).  

There is also a Newport Branch that is derelict, but under restoration as part of the Shewsbury and Newport Canal that joins at Norbury Junction.

The Shropshire Union Canal was formed from a group of canal companies, which became the Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company in 1846. 

IWA has proposed improved links between the Shropshire Union Canal and the river Dee.

Waterway notes

Maximum boat sizes (main line)

  • Length: 70′ 11″ (21.62 metres) – Autherley Stop Lock
  • Beam: 7′ 7″” (2.21 metres) – Autherley Stop Lock
  • Height: 7′ 11″ (2.41 metres) – Bridge Lock
  • Draught: 4′ 1″ (1.24 metres) – cill of Autherley Junction Stop Lock

Maximum boat sizes (Old Chester Canal and Middlewich Branch)

Old Chester Canal

  • Length: 75′ 2″ (22.91 metres) – Ellesmere Port Locks
  • Beam: 11′ 1″ (3.37 metres) – M53 Bridge
  • Height: 7′ 11″ (2.41 metres) – Sellar Street Bridge (Bridge 123C), Chester
  • Draught: 4′ 1″ (1.24 metres) – Sellar Street Bridge

Middlewich Branch

  • Length: 75′ 4″ (22.95 metres) – Church Minsull Lock
  • Beam: 7′ 1″ (2.16 metres) – Church Minsull Lock
  • Height: 8′ 0″ (2.44 metres) – rail bridge at Cholmondeston
  • Draught: 4′ 10″ (1.47 metres) – Church Minsull Lock

Navigation authority

Canal & River Trust

Branch

Love your waterways

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