Shropshire Union Canal - Ellesmere Port Top Locks - Ellesmere Port, UK - Waterway Locks, Planes and Lifts on Waymarking.com

The Shropshire and Union Canal
The first part of the canal between Ellesmere Port and Chester, originally known as the Ellesmere Canal, was started in 1795 to join up with the Chester Canal. It was then later extended and amalgamated with other canals to become the Shropshire Union Canal.

At the time it was built the northern end of the canal at Ellesmere Port connected with the River Mersey allowing transshipment of goods between the inland canal network and the port of Liverpool on the Mersey.

In 1892 a new wharf was built when the Manchester Ship Canal was built to connect Manchester with the River Mersey to give this inland town a direct outlet to the sea and the possibility to bypass Liverpool.

The end of the Ship canal here was built next to the River Mersey and the Ellesmere Canal now connected with the Ship Canal, and then the River Mersey rather than directly with the Mersey.

The Lock
This lock is the top of three locks known as Whitby Locks within the port area.

The lock was originally built as a broad lock, wide enough to take boats knwon as Mersey Flats from the River Mersey. However as trade increased this led to congestion and so a second chamber was added next to the first in 1843. This second chamber was only wide enough for narrow boats, as mainly used on the inland canal network.

This lock is mainly used by leisure boats wishing to travel to and from the visitor moorings rather than for access to the Manchester Ship Canal.

This lock and the middle lock of the three are a combined Historic England Grade II Listed Building.
"ELLESMERE PORT & NESTON DOCKS BASTN SJ 4077 7/18 Two Wide and two Narrow Locks between Upper and 24.2.71 Lower Canal Dock Basins (formerly listed as Locks at junction between Shropshire Union Canal and Manchester Ship Canal) GV II c.1801 wide locks, built to carry 'Mersey Flats' from estuary to upper basin. Two locks, each approximately 72 feet x 14 feet 6 inches, with pairs of mitre gates at each end of chamber. Wide point between locks alongside toll house for gauging boats. Retaining walls. c.1880 narrow locks, built for narrow- boats when completion of Birmingham-Liverpool junction canal had increased traffic. Two locks separated by an intermediate pound with inter-connecting mechanism with pound between wide locks. Retaining walls." link

The Canal and River Trust have an extensive Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port and is well worth a visit.

Waterway Name: Shropshire Union Canal Connected Points: It links the canal system of the West Midlands, at Wolverhampton, with the River Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal at Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, 66 miles (106 km) distant. Other links are to the Llangollen Canal (at Hurleston Junction), the Middlewich Branch (at Barbridge Junction), which itself connects via the Wardle Canal with the Trent and Mersey Canal, and the River Dee (in Chester). With two connections to the Trent and Mersey (via the Middlewich Branch and the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal). Type: Lock Date Opened: 01/01/1795 Elevation Difference (meters): 2.00 Site Status: Operational Web Site: [Web Link] Date Closed (if applicable): Not listed

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