Wednesday 11^th March 2020

The port hull side was blackened while Brenda again returned into the city for shopping, taking rubbish to the disposal site at the same time.

We then attempted to move onto the water point just a boats length away, being blown across the basin by the wind in the process. Typically, the wind started to gust just as the ropes were let go.

Once watered up, we passed beneath the roving bridge and, after some delicate manoeuvring, moored alongside Taylor’s Boatyard. Having to manoeuvre very close to the Graving Lock, we were getting concerned looks from the CRT contractors working on the gates.

We bought coal here from Yvette, the owner, who told us the fascinating history of the place and explained the restoration that has taken place since they started the lease 10 years ago.

The yard is said to be the only traditional boat building yard of its kind left in the country. The complex of boat building and maintenance facilities were originally built for the Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company, which not only owned the canal but also operated a large fleet of boats. The roof covering the slipways is made of substantially sized timbers supported on cast iron columns and magnificent iron trellis work. There were a number of old, timber built cabin cruisers within the slipways.

The remainder of the site contains a Carpenters and Blacksmiths Shops, which have undergone restoration, and a wooden Saw Mill that originally contained a steam driven circular saw and other machines.  

Covered Slipways at Taylors Boatyard

We then set off towards Ellesmere Port down what is now all part of the Shropshire Union Canal, but which was built as the Wirral Line of the Ellesmere Canal before the formation of the Shropshire Union.

Chester was left behind us once we crossed the Deva Aqueduct over the city ring road and countryside was reached beyond Mollington Bridge. It seemed a while since we had been in countryside and spring is definitely in evidence, with the first budding leaves of the year. Considering the industrial areas of Ellesmere Port and Stanlow Oil Refinery ahead, the canal is surprisingly rural, at one point passing close by Chester Zoo, but very open with the gusting winds making steering challenging.

       

                        

                                                                              Chester-Birkenhead Rail Bridge                                    

                                                                View across to Helsby Hill and the Sandstone Ridge

The canal passes beneath the high arches of the main Chester to Birkenhead railway line and below the A41, the main road between the two. There are some lovely views across the flat landscape towards Helsby Hill and the start of the Sandstone Ridge leading towards Beeston. Then, just before the tiny village of Stoak, the M53 and M56 motorways are reached. Both motorway bridges can be seen at the same time. There cannot be many places on our canal system where two motorways can be seen at once.     

M53 Motorway with M56 Bridge Beyond

After passing under the motorways, Stanlow Oil Refinery starts to reveal its self. This is a huge site covering almost 3 square miles with a refining capacity of 12 million tonnes. Opened in 1924, it is the second biggest refinery in the country next to Fawley outside Southampton and produces 1/6^th of the Uk’s petrol requirements.

We moored, in very windy conditions, next to the Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet Retail Park. The Cheshire Oaks is the largest outlet centre in the United Kingdom and was the first designer outlet village in Europe, with its own JobCentre Plus and retail training academy.

Weather: a typical spring day, but quite breezy.

Day Total: 0 locks; 6 miles; 0 Tunnels; 0 Swing Bridges; 0 Lift Bridges; 0 Boat Lift; Day’s running hours 5.2    (including running for hot water etc)

Overall Total: 887 locks; 1551 miles; 53 tunnels; 61 Swing Bridges; 17 Lift Bridges; 2 Boat Lifts; total engine running hours 1049.3