Chester Canal

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chester Canal basin, on the Wirral Line of the Ellesmere Canal, at Raymond Street, near the junction with the Chester Canal and the River Dee

The Chester Canal is a canal linking the south Cheshire town of Nantwich with the River Dee at Chester, providing a route for produce (including salt) from Nantwich to reach Chester and, beyond it, the sea via the Dee estuary.

Today, it is part of the Shropshire Union Canal, and - being instigated by an Act of Parliament in 1772 - it is also the oldest section. Until the building of the later Ellesmere Canal (1805) and the Trent and Mersey Canal it was under-used.

A brief history and some pictures of the Chester Canal, from Steve Howe's 'Chester: a Virtual stroll Around the Walls' may be found here: http://www.bwpics.co.uk/gallery/oldcanal.html

The Chester Canal Heritage Trust was started in 1997. To find out more: http://www.chestercanalheritagetrust.co.uk