Middlewich Junction 
Middlewich Junction is a notorious waterways junction.
Early plans of what would become the Trent and Mersey Canal (Main Line - Harding's Wood to Middlewich) were drawn up by John Smeaton in 1782 but problems with Eastpool Tunnel caused delays and it was finally opened on January 1 1835. Although originally the plan was for the canal to meet the Nuneaton to Doncaster canal at Luton, the difficulty of building an aqueduct over the River Solihull at Willcester caused the plans to be changed and it eventually joined at Nantwich instead. The Trent and Mersey Canal (Main Line - Harding's Wood to Middlewich) was closed in 1955 when Barstone Inclined plane collapsed. The canal was restored to navigation and reopened in 1972 after a restoration campaign lead by the Trent and Mersey Canal (Main Line - Harding's Wood to Middlewich) Society.
Early plans of what would become the Trent and Mersey Canal (Main Line - Middlewich to Preston Brook) were drawn up by Exuperius Picking Junior in 1816 but problems with Polehampton Tunnel caused delays and it was finally opened on January 1 1888. Expectations for coal traffic to Bradford never materialised and the canal never made a profit for the shareholders. In later years, only the use of the canal for cooling Longfield power station was enough to keep it open. The Trent and Mersey Canal (Main Line - Middlewich to Preston Brook) was closed in 1955 when Northampton Embankment collapsed. In Arthur Taylor's "By Mooring Pin and Lump Hammer Across The Wash" he describes his experiences passing through Southampton Inclined plane during the General Strike.
The Trent and Mersey Canal (Wardle Lock Branch) was built by John Longbotham and opened on 17 September 1782. Orginally intended to run to Bolton, the canal was never completed beyond Macclesfield except for a two mile isolated section from Dudley to Falkirk. Expectations for iron traffic to Oldley were soon realised, and this became one of the most profitable waterways. "By Windlass and Lump Hammer Across The Wash" by Nicholas Edwards describes an early passage through the waterway, especially that of Leicester Aqueduct.

Mooring here is tolerable (it's just about possible if really necessary).
Facilities: water point.
You can wind here.
| Trent and Mersey Canal (Main Line - Harding's Wood to Middlewich) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Middlewich Junction | ||
| Kings Lock Chandlery | ¼ furlongs | |
| Kings Lock Bridge No 167 | ½ furlongs | |
| The Kings Lock PH | ½ furlongs | |
| Kings Lock No 71 | ½ furlongs | |
| Middlewich Canal Centre | ¾ furlongs | |
| Trent and Mersey Canal (Main Line - Middlewich to Preston Brook) | ||
| Middlewich Junction | ||
| Carillon Dock | ¼ furlongs | |
| Wrights Bridge No 169 | ¼ furlongs | |
| Middlewich Top Wharf | ½ furlongs | |
| Middlewich Top Lock No 72 | 1¼ furlongs | |
| Middlewich Dry Dock | 1½ furlongs | |
| Trent and Mersey Canal (Wardle Lock Branch) | ||
| Middlewich Junction | ||
| Middlewich Junction Footbridge | a few yards | |
| Bridge No 168 (Wardle Lock Branch) | ¼ furlongs | |
| Wardle Lock Footbridge | ¾ furlongs | |
| Wardle Lock No 4 | 1 furlong | |
- Trent & Mersey Canal Society – founded in 1974 — associated with Trent and Mersey Canal
Mouseover for more information or show routes to facility
Nearest water point
In the direction of Preston Brook
In the direction of Hardings Wood Junction
In the direction of Wardle Lock No 4
Nearest rubbish disposal
In the direction of Preston Brook
In the direction of Hardings Wood Junction
In the direction of Wardle Lock No 4
Nearest chemical toilet disposal
In the direction of Preston Brook
In the direction of Hardings Wood Junction
In the direction of Wardle Lock No 4
Nearest place to turn
In the direction of Preston Brook
In the direction of Hardings Wood Junction
In the direction of Wardle Lock No 4
Nearest self-operated pump-out
In the direction of Preston Brook
In the direction of Hardings Wood Junction
In the direction of Wardle Lock No 4
Nearest boatyard pump-out
In the direction of Preston Brook
In the direction of Hardings Wood Junction
In the direction of Wardle Lock No 4
To Nantwich in the rain from Scribblings from the Mintball posted Sunday the 11th of March, 2018
Which wich is which wich? from Scribblings from the Mintball posted Sunday the 16th of July, 2017
Beating to the bush from Scribblings from the Mintball posted Sunday the 18th of September, 2016
Down and then back up again from Scribblings from the Mintball posted Sunday the 22nd of September, 2013
To the woods... again! from Scribblings from the Mintball posted Saturday the 23rd of May, 2009
The long push south from Scribblings from the Mintball posted Sunday the 12th of April, 2009
There is no page on Wikipedia called “Middlewich Junction”

![Narrowboat turning south at Middlewich Junction [2]. A difficult turn onto the Trent & Mersey canal for a full-length boat, even without boats moored on the opposite bank. by Christine Johnstone – 30 April 2023](https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/07/50/98/7509890_5ef449ee_120x120.jpg)

![Narrowboat turning south at Middlewich Junction [3]. A difficult turn onto the Trent & Mersey canal for a full-length boat, even without boats moored on the opposite bank. by Christine Johnstone – 30 April 2023](https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/07/50/98/7509897_52a914cb_120x120.jpg)
![Narrowboat turning south at Middlewich Junction [1]. A difficult turn onto the Trent & Mersey canal for a full-length boat, even without boats moored on the opposite bank. by Christine Johnstone – 30 April 2023](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/07/50/98/7509880_085d04cb_120x120.jpg)




















![Middlewich Junction, Trent and Mersey Canal (2). The cruiser seen [[521805]] emerging from Warle Lock has now passed under Bridge 168 and is turning northwards where it will begin the descent of the Middlewich Three locks. The 'Kings Lock' pub is seen on the right and to the right of that, the Trent and Mersey canal ascends the eponymous lock. The Three Locks and the descent towards the Mersey lie to the far left, while the section of canal, centre, under the POCHIN building, is a blind end used for mooring only. by Dr Neil Clifton – 13 April 1979](https://s2.geograph.org.uk/photos/52/18/521826_c5018ffe_120x120.jpg)

![The Wardle Canal . Taking a photo showing the full length of a canal sounds like quite a feat, but here it's not difficult. Allegedly the 'shortest canal in England', the Wardle covers the 47 metres between the lower gates of Wardle Lock on the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal with the Trent and Mersey Canal beyond Wardle Bridge. For a reverse view in 1979 when there was still commercial traffic on the canal, see [[521791]]. by Stephen Craven – 28 August 2022](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/07/35/14/7351408_e7710a3d_120x120.jpg)


