Wednesday 19^th November 2019

Our registration number was taken on Monday which was disappointing. Kenny and Sue moor on private, CRT owned, land opposite the Middlewich Narrowboats site and act as unofficial caretakers for the site in exchange. We were moored there as their guests but should not really have been there at all. Perhaps for a day or so it would be overlooked but not any longer.

So, having been in Middlewich for over 2 weeks, we decided to move and leave the town for a while. All moorings have time restrictions imposed on them. In towns the restriction ranges from 24 hours, 48 hours, 7 days and 14 days. All other sites where no restrictions are indicated, mainly in the countryside, are 14 days. However, during the winter months, from 4^th November until 31^st March, there are no mooring restrictions and a boat is allowed to stay anywhere for 14 days. However, having been spotted moored on private land, and not wanting Kenny and Sue to get into trouble for it, we thought it best to leave, at least until our registration is taken again, an event that happens weekly out with the winter months and fortnightly during the winter.

My cousin, Dave Kelly and his new wife were away on their shared-ownership boat in the Nantwich area and had asked us to meet with them. This came at an opportune moment and so we headed up the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal. We left Kenny and Sue with due fanfare and the sounding of horns.

This branch runs for 10 miles from Middlewich to Barbridge, contains 4 locks, and links the Trent and Mersey Canal to the Shropshire Union Canal. Originally, the branch terminated 154 feet before actually connecting with the Trent and Mersey Canal and cargoes had to be carried from one canal to the other where it would be loaded onto other boats. This was a means by which the Trent and Mersey Canal Company maintained control of the junction. In 1829 this company formed a new company which built the Wardle Canal, the shortest canal in the UK, finally completing the link, with the T&M continuing control. On the junction bridge carrying Booth Lane over the canal, are grand stone plaques inscribed ‘Wardle Canal 1829’.

          

The Wardle Canal is just 154’ long and runs from WardleLock to the Junction with the T&M Canal

A hundred yards or so beyond the junction, after bridge 30, lies our last house in St. Annes Road, that backed onto the canal on the towpath side. It was emotional passing by.

Within a mile, the site of the March 2018 breach was crossed. This breach led to the collapse of about 60 feet of the 30-foot-high embankment and the repair was completed in the remarkable time of 9 months. However, the breach also meant Bridge Street had to travel 100 miles and pass through 93 locks to reach Middlewich for the Folk and Boat Festival after her launching. Had the breach not occurred, the journey would have been just 12 miles long and involved 8 locks.

The Middlewich Branch is an attractive, wonderfully tranquil canal passing through mainly rich, Cheshire farmland with wooded sections. There are some lovely views over the Winsford Flashes and the River Weaver Valley, the river being crossed on a high aqueduct.

The last ½ mile before Baridge Junction with the Shropshire Union Canal are taken up with private moorings on both sides. The wind always gusts straight across the canal here, often making passage difficult. There is yet more new housing being constructed on the junction, at the site of the now demolished Jolly Tar pub.  

Moored with ‘Empire’ opposite Barbridge Inn

We turned left at the junction and met with Dave and Jill opposite the Barbridge Inn and had dinner on board ‘Empire’. When we arrived, Dave and Jill were battened down and so we gently nudged fender to fender but, as always with Dave Kelly, we didn’t get a rise.

It was really good to meet up with Dave after so long, and good to meet Jill properly. Empire was our shared ownership boat, the share of which Dave bought in 2009. She is now 14 years old and still looking good.

Weather: cold but dry.

Day Total: 4 locks; 11 miles; 0 Tunnels; 0 Swing Bridges; 0 Lift Bridges; 0 Boat Lift; Day’s running hours 3.9

Overall Total: 824 locks; 1408 miles; 53 tunnels; 61 Swing Bridges; 17 Lift Bridges; 2 Boat Lifts; total engine running hours 898.9