The Canal and Middlewich
It comes as no surprise that when visitors to the Narrowboat ask questions about the canal, after all if the Trent and Mersey canal had not cut its way through Middlewich this public house would not have the name it has.
Most of us take the canals for granted. They are there, they are a great way to spend a cruising holiday, a convenient place to go fishing, take the dog for a walk or just walk and marvel at the wildlife that live along its banks. But the next time you do, spare a thought for the people who built the canals. There were no mechanical diggers, just picks, shovels, muscle and sweat. What a great testament to the skill of the architects and workforce that they are still in use today. Many of course owe their current existence to the hard work of volunteers as well as the canal companies.
Can you imagine what a difference the canals must have made to the industries of Britain? Instead of trying to move small loads across roads that were not very good large volumes of salt, coal and finished goods could be moved around the country. Middlewich and the canal must have been really busy as barges piled high with salt cruised through.
It really brings it home to you if you take a canal cruising holiday starting from Middlewich basin and head south through Sandbach and on to Stoke-on-Trent. Carrying on south for a short stretch the M6 reminds us that the new motorways are much faster than the old waterway motorways but not so relaxing! The canal may be slower and the locks hard work but you get there in the end.
Cross over from the Trent and Mersey to the Shropshire Union and there are yet more reminders of the great industries that we used to have. There is more of a countryside feel as you cruise up "the Shroppie" to Barbridge and turn right and then along the piece of canal that takes you back to Middlewich. Hard work but possible in a week.
If looking at our industrial heritage is not your preference then take the trip from Middlewich through the link canal to the Shropshire Union before quickly joining the Llangollen Canal. That is a beautiful journey but you need a head for heights as you go over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. This is not a "ring trip" as Llangollen is a dead end and you have to retrace your steps, not a problem really as the countryside looks so different when cruising in the other direction.
Rodger Cresswell
