The Shropshire Union Canal – Main Line is one of the most scenic and historically significant canals in England, stretching over 66 miles from Ellesmere Port on the River Mersey in Cheshire, to Wolverhampton in the West Midlands. Constructed in the early 19th century, it forms part of the Shropshire Union Canal network and is a key route in the country’s inland waterway system.
History
Designed by the renowned canal engineer Thomas Telford, construction began in 1826 and was completed by 1835. Telford’s engineering brilliance is evident in the canal’s relatively straight route, which contrasts with older, more winding canals. The Shropshire Union Main Line was built primarily to transport goods, particularly coal, iron, and pottery, during the industrial boom. It was initially part of a larger plan to link the River Mersey and the industrial areas of Shropshire and Staffordshire.
After the railways overtook canals as the primary means of transportation, the Shropshire Union Canal fell into decline, but it found new life in the 20th century as a route for leisure boating, now offering a peaceful journey through some of England’s most beautiful countryside.
Locks
One of the canal’s most striking features is its minimal number of locks for such a long stretch. There are just 17 locksbetween Ellesmere Port and Wolverhampton. This low number is thanks to Telford’s design, which largely follows the natural contours of the land, avoiding steep elevation changes. The most significant group of locks is at Wolverhampton, where 21 locks (part of the Birmingham Canal Navigations) help boats descend to the level of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal.
Connected Rivers and Canals
The Shropshire Union Canal Main Line connects with several other key waterways, making it an important junction for boaters:
- River Mersey at Ellesmere Port, linking to the Manchester Ship Canal.
- Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal at Autherley Junction, providing access to the Severn and Midlands waterway systems.
- Llangollen Canal (via the Middlewich Branch), which is famed for the spectacular Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Trent and Mersey Canal via the Middlewich Branch at Barbridge Junction, connecting to the River Trent and the Potteries region.
Interesting Features
- Telford’s Engineering: One of the canal’s most notable engineering feats is its long, straight sections, a hallmark of Thomas Telford’s work. These sections offer a sense of space and uninterrupted views across the countryside.
- High Embankments and Deep Cuttings: The canal is elevated on impressive embankments and carved through deep cuttings in some areas, showcasing Telford’s ability to create a flat, direct route through varied terrain. The Grub Street Cutting, with its famous double-arched bridge 39, is a standout example, with a telegraph pole bizarrely growing from the middle of the bridge’s second arch.
- The Shelmore Embankment: Near Norbury Junction, this embankment caused significant delays during construction due to landslips, and today, it provides elevated views of the surrounding countryside.
- Aqueducts and Tunnels: The canal crosses the Chirk Aqueduct and passes through Brewood Cutting and the Cowley Tunnel, enhancing the journey with both open landscapes and dramatic changes in scenery.
- Historic Canal Settlements: Towns like Nantwich, Market Drayton, and Audlem are full of canal-side charm and history, with Audlem in particular featuring a famous flight of locks on the connected Shropshire Union Middlewich Branch.
The Shropshire Union Canal – Main Line today is a haven for narrowboat enthusiasts, offering a peaceful journey through the English countryside, punctuated by fascinating remnants of the industrial age and Telford’s genius. With its ease of navigation due to the low number of locks and its connections to other waterways, it remains one of the most well-loved routes for both leisure and historic interest.