Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
framed houses powered by electricity from the miller's millwheel until 1960. Aqueduct Mar-
ina has been created here, with the Galley Cafe
The canal curves on past a noticeable aerial by a wood. A stable block, formerly used to
change flyboat horses, is now converted to residential use beside the canal. There are vari-
ous large farms on the right bank until the canal is above the Top Flash. The view from
here across the River Weaver far below and down its valley to Winsford and the start of the
Weaver Navigation is phenomenal. To get to the river by water, though, involves a detour
around Northwich as far as the Anderton Boat Lift.
For the first time, the canal comes into a built-up area as it passes recent housing in Mid-
dlewich, complete with a private landing stage serving all the gardens. The canal moves un-
der several weeping willows and bridges, the last being close to the line of the Roman road
that approached this important salt mining town from the south.
Wardle Lock was named after the fact that it is at the west end of the Wardle Lock Branch.
The branch, a mere 100m long, was opened in 1829 mainly as a convenient place to intercept
and extract tolls from barges travelling from Chester on Shropshire Union Canal waters be-
fore they could get on to the Trent & Mersey Canal to reach wharves in Middlewich.
