Shropshire Routes to Roots

6. The canal today

John's descendants

The story of the canal in Market Drayton now jumps from the past to the present. It is told by John's descendants, his great-great-great-great-great grandchildren!

I am a descendant of John. My name is Michael Foden, and I am 12 years old. I live in Market Drayton, and my father works at the Müller factory in the town. He loads the lorries which carry the goods the factory makes all over the country.

Today, road is by far the most popular mode of transport, both for freight and people. Hardly any goods are carried on canals, although railways are still used. You can find evidence for this at Office of National Statistics (Opens in a new window).

When dad is not working, he takes us for walks by the canal. We do not travel on the canal, although some people keep pleasure boats there.

Market Drayton canal is now very popular with visitors and residents. Around 200 000 people visit the canal each year. 15 000 boats a year pass through Market Drayton: that's more than when John Foden was around!

Boat on the canal near Tyrley Locks Larger image, in a new window [39kb] [Reproduced with kind permission of Peter Brown]

There are two companies fitting out boats, and one company which hires them to holiday-makers.

Ted's Boat Yard at Market Drayton Larger image, in a new window [39kb] [Reproduced with kind permission of Peter Brown]

We also enjoy going on holiday to visit people all over the country. When we do we sometimes go on the train. There is no railway station near Market Drayton, so we have to catch a taxi to Crewe, which is thirty minute's drive away, or Stafford.

Once on the train, we can go all over the country. Once summer, we even went all the way to France on the railway, by using the Channel Tunnel!

Continue

Having read about the history of Market Drayton's canal, you may like to visit it in person. One canal walk is currently available on the Shropshire Routes to Roots website, from Tyrley Locks to Market Drayton.

Or find out more about the six canals, one of which was the Liverpool and Birmingham Junction Canal, which made up the Shropshire Union Canal.

You have reached the end of this theme: List of other Transport and communication themes

Return to top of page