Shropshire Routes to Roots

2. The Chester Canal

Building the canal

The oldest of the constituents was the Chester Canal, a broad canal going from the River Dee at Chester down to Nantwich. Having employed a succession of engineers of varying incompetence, it finally opened in 1779. Until it was connected to the main canal network, the Chester Canal was an economic failure. Cash was so short that when in 1787 Beeston Lock collapsed because it had been built on running sand, it was closed for three years.

Company rivalry

The original plan had been for the main line to go to Middlewich, but this idea met with opposition from the Duke of Bridgewater and the Trent and Mersey Canal. The Trent and Mersey Canal was concerned that manufacturers in the Potteries might prefer to import goods from abroad through Ellesmere Port rather than through Runcorn.

With these problems exacerbated by a lack of money, this section was not built until 1833. Even then, it generated little traffic. The Trent and Mersey Canal persuaded Parliament that it should be allowed to construct the last few yards to connect their canal with the Chester Canal. It was permitted to make exorbitant charges for anyone wanting to use this section.

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