Shropshire Union Canal (Chester Canal - Bunbury to Chester)

The maximum dimensions for a boat to be able to travel on the waterway are 72 feet long and 9 feet and 8 inches wide. The maximum headroom is 8 feet. The maximum draught is 3 feet and 9 inches.
Notable features of the waterway include River Gowy Aqueduct
The waterway passes through Chester
The navigational authority for this waterway is Canal & River TrustRelevant publications — Waterway Travels:
Relevant publications — Waterway Maps:
- Waterway Routes 32M - Shropshire Union Canal Map (Downloadable)
- Waterway Routes 01M - England and Wales Map
- Shropshire Union Canal, including the Middlewich Branch
Relevant publications — Waterway Guides:
Winding Hole above Bunbury Locks | |||
Former Bunbury Stables | 1¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
Bunbury Staircase Locks Nos 30 and 31 | 2 furlongs | 0 locks | |
Bunbury Lock No 31 Tail Bridge There is a similar one for Lock 30. |
2 furlongs | 2 locks | |
Bunbury Bridge No 105 Anglo Welsh Bunbury |
2 furlongs | 2 locks | |
Bunbury Railway Bridge No 105A | 3 furlongs | 2 locks | |
Tilstone Visitor Moorings | 7¼ furlongs | 2 locks | |
Tilstone Lock No 32 | 7¾ furlongs | 2 locks | |
Tilstone Mill Bridge No 106 | 1 mile | 3 locks | |
Beeston Stone Lock Visitor Moorings | 1 mile and 5¾ furlongs | 3 locks | |
Beeston Stone Lock No 33 | 1 mile and 5¾ furlongs | 3 locks | |
Beeston Stone Lock Footbridge | 1 mile and 5¾ furlongs | 4 locks | |
Beeston Stone Lock Winding Hole | 1 mile and 6 furlongs | 4 locks | |
Beeston Visitor Moorings | 1 mile and 7 furlongs | 4 locks | |
Beeston Iron Lock No 34 | 1 mile and 7½ furlongs | 4 locks | |
Beeston Iron Lock Footbridge | 1 mile and 7½ furlongs | 5 locks | |
Beeston Brook Bridge No 107 | 2 miles and ¼ furlongs | 5 locks | |
Beeston Castle Wharf Home of Chas. Hardern Boats / 48 hour moorings (towpath side) |
2 miles and ¼ furlongs | 5 locks | |
Hand Green Winding Hole | 2 miles and 3¾ furlongs | 5 locks | |
Wharton Visitor Moorings 48 hour moorings |
2 miles and 7 furlongs | 5 locks | |
Wharton Lock No 35 | 2 miles and 7¾ furlongs | 5 locks | |
Wharton Lock Footbridge | 2 miles and 7¾ furlongs | 6 locks | |
Wharton's Bridge No 108 | 2 miles and 7¾ furlongs | 6 locks | |
Beeston Castle Winding Hole | 3 miles and ¾ furlongs | 6 locks | |
Shady Oak Visitor Moorings 48 hour moorings |
3 miles and 1¾ furlongs | 6 locks | |
The Shady PH Canalside |
3 miles and 2½ furlongs | 6 locks | |
Bate's Mill Bridge No 109 | 3 miles and 2¾ furlongs | 6 locks | |
Dales Bridge No 110 | 3 miles and 6¼ furlongs | 6 locks | |
Williamson's Bridge No 111 | 4 miles and 4 furlongs | 6 locks | |
Mill Farm Aqueduct | 4 miles and 6½ furlongs | 6 locks | |
Duttons Bridge No 112 | 5 miles and 1¾ furlongs | 6 locks | |
Tattenhall Marina | 5 miles and 4½ furlongs | 6 locks | |
Tattenhall Visitor Moorings (Crows Nest) 48 hour moorings |
5 miles and 5 furlongs | 6 locks | |
Crows Nest Bridge Winding Hole | 5 miles and 5¾ furlongs | 6 locks | |
Crows Nest Bridge No 113 | 5 miles and 5¾ furlongs | 6 locks | |
Nixon's Bridge No 114 | 6 miles and 1½ furlongs | 6 locks | |
Golden Nook Farm Moorings | 6 miles and 7¼ furlongs | 6 locks | |
Golden Nook Bridge No 115 | 6 miles and 7½ furlongs | 6 locks | |
Faulkner's Bridge No 116 | 8 miles and ¼ furlongs | 6 locks | |
Salmons Bridge No 117 | 8 miles and 3 furlongs | 6 locks | |
Davies Bridge No 118 | 8 miles and 5¾ furlongs | 6 locks | |
Egg Bridge Winding Hole | 9 miles and 1¾ furlongs | 6 locks | |
Egg Bridge No 119 | 9 miles and 1¾ furlongs | 6 locks | |
Rowton Bridge No 120 | 10 miles and 1½ furlongs | 6 locks | |
Cheshire Cat PH Canalside with 48 hour visitor moorings |
10 miles and 2½ furlongs | 6 locks | |
Quarry Bridge Winding Hole | 10 miles and 5 furlongs | 6 locks | |
Quarry Bridge No 121 | 10 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 6 locks | |
Christleton Visitor Moorings 48 hour moorings |
10 miles and 6 furlongs | 6 locks | |
Costa Coffee (Christleton) Previously The Old Trooper PH |
10 miles and 6½ furlongs | 6 locks | |
Pepper Street Bridge No 122 | 10 miles and 6½ furlongs | 6 locks | |
Water Point (Christleton) | 10 miles and 6¾ furlongs | 6 locks | |
A55 Road Bridge No 122A | 10 miles and 7 furlongs | 6 locks | |
Christleton Lock No 36 | 10 miles and 7¾ furlongs | 6 locks | |
Christleton Lock Footbridge | 11 miles | 7 locks | |
Greenfield Visitor Moorings 48 hour moorings |
11 miles and 1½ furlongs | 7 locks | |
Greenfield Lock No 37 | 11 miles and 1¾ furlongs | 7 locks | |
Greenfield Lock Footbridge | 11 miles and 2 furlongs | 8 locks | |
A41 Road Bridge No 122B | 11 miles and 2 furlongs | 8 locks | |
Tarvin Lock No 38 | 11 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 8 locks | |
Tarvin Lock Footbridge | 11 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 9 locks | |
Tarvin Road Bridge No 123 | 11 miles and 5¾ furlongs | 9 locks | |
Tarvin Pipe Bridge | 11 miles and 6 furlongs | 9 locks | |
Bridge Inn (Chester) Canalside |
11 miles and 6¼ furlongs | 9 locks | |
Chemistry Lock No 39 | 12 miles and ¼ furlongs | 9 locks | |
Chemistry Lock Footbridge | 12 miles and ¼ furlongs | 10 locks | |
C&RT Water Point (Chester) | 12 miles and 1¼ furlongs | 10 locks | |
The Lock Vault PH | 12 miles and 2 furlongs | 10 locks | |
Hoole Lane Lock No 40 | 12 miles and 2 furlongs | 10 locks | |
Hoole Lane Lock No 40 Footbridge | 12 miles and 2 furlongs | 11 locks | |
Hoole Lane Bridge No 123A | 12 miles and 2 furlongs | 11 locks | |
Tesco's First Footbridge Adjacent to Chester Waitrose. Short-stay "Stop and Shop" mooring. |
12 miles and 3½ furlongs | 11 locks | |
The Old Harkers Arms PH Canalside |
12 miles and 4½ furlongs | 11 locks | |
City Road Bridge No 123B | 12 miles and 4½ furlongs | 11 locks | |
City Road Visitor Moorings 48 hour moorings |
12 miles and 4¾ furlongs | 11 locks | |
Sellar Street Bridge No 123C | 12 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 11 locks | |
Mill Hotel Footbridge | 12 miles and 5½ furlongs | 11 locks | |
Chester Ring Road Bridge No 123D | 12 miles and 5½ furlongs | 11 locks | |
Cow Lane Bridge Winding Hole | 12 miles and 6½ furlongs | 11 locks | |
Lock Keeper PH Canalside |
12 miles and 6½ furlongs | 11 locks | |
Cow Lane Bridge No 123E | 12 miles and 6¾ furlongs | 11 locks | |
Northgate Visitor Moorings | 12 miles and 7¼ furlongs | 11 locks | |
Northgate Bridge No 123G Moorings for Chester |
13 miles and ½ furlongs | 11 locks | |
Bridge of Sighs No 123H | 13 miles and ¾ furlongs | 11 locks | |
St Martin's Way Bridge No 123J | 13 miles and 1½ furlongs | 11 locks | |
Northgate Staircase Locks Nos 41 to 43 | 13 miles and 1¾ furlongs | 11 locks | |
Northgate Railway Bridge No 123K | 13 miles and 2 furlongs | 14 locks | |
Former Route to River Dee | 13 miles and 2¼ furlongs | 14 locks | |
Tower Wharf Bridge No 123L | 13 miles and 2½ furlongs | 14 locks | |
Telford's Warehouse PH Canalside |
13 miles and 2½ furlongs | 14 locks | |
Tower Wharf Visitor Moorings 48 hour moorings |
13 miles and 2¾ furlongs | 14 locks | |
Taylor's Boatyard Drydock | 13 miles and 3¼ furlongs | 14 locks | |
Tower Wharf Roving Bridge No 126 | 13 miles and 3¼ furlongs | 14 locks | |
Tower Wharf Warehouse Dock | 13 miles and 3½ furlongs | 14 locks | |
River Dee Branch Junction Junction with the Shropshire Union (Chester Canal) and the River Dee Branch |
13 miles and 3½ furlongs | 14 locks |
- The Old Harkers Arms — associated with The Old Harkers Arms PH
- Public House
- The Cheshire Cat Pub & Restaurant — associated with Cheshire Cat PH
- Public House
- The Old Trooper PH — associated with Costa Coffee (Christleton)
- Public House
- Canal Boat Holidays on England Canals with a Chas Hardern Boathire — associated with Beeston Castle Wharf
- Affordable canal boat holidays on Englands canals with the friendly family firm, based beneath Cheshire's castles, a relaxing enjoyable holiday.Cruise the Llangollen Canal, Four Counties Ring and Cheshire Ring.
- Tattenhall Marina in Cheshire | Mooring and Brokerage — associated with Tattenhall Marina
- Welcome to Tattenhall Marina in Cheshire. With 300 mooring berths, brokerage service, chandlery, café, bar, refuelling, pump out, workshop and more.
- Shady Oak PH — associated with The Shady PH
- Canalside Pub with Food Caravan & Campsite
- Telfords Warehouse PH — associated with Telford's Warehouse PH
- Public House
- The Lock Keeper — associated with Lock Keeper PH
- Public House
Wikipedia has a page about Shropshire Union Canal
The Shropshire Union Canal, nicknamed the "Shroppie", is a navigable canal in England. The Llangollen and Montgomery canals are the modern names of branches of the Shropshire Union (SU) system and lie partially in Wales.
The canal lies in the counties of Staffordshire, Shropshire and Cheshire in the north-west English Midlands. It links the canal system of the West Midlands, at Wolverhampton, with the River Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal at Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, 66 miles (106 km) distant.
The "SU main line" runs southeast from Ellesmere Port on the River Mersey to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal at Autherley Junction in Wolverhampton. Other links are to the Llangollen Canal (at Hurleston Junction), the Middlewich Branch (at Barbridge Junction), which itself connects via the Wardle Canal with the Trent and Mersey Canal, and the River Dee (in Chester). With two connections to the Trent and Mersey (via the Middlewich Branch and the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal) the SU is part of an important circular and rural holiday route called the Four Counties Ring.
The SU main line was the last trunk narrow canal route to be built in England. It was not completed until 1835 and was the last major civil engineering accomplishment of Thomas Telford.
The name "Shropshire Union" comes from the amalgamation of the various component companies (Ellesmere Canal, Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal, Montgomeryshire Canal) that came together to form the Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company. The main line between Nantwich and Autherley Junction was almost built as a railway although eventually it was decided to construct it as a waterway.