Jim Shead Waterways Photographer & Writer

Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.

Trent and Mersey Canal

Description: Runs 93 miles from Derwent Mouth, where it joins the River Trent, to Preston Brook, where it joins a branch of the Bridgewater Canal

History: Originally known as the Grand Trunk Canal. Promoted by Acts of 1766, 1770, 1775, 1776, 1783, 1797 (two Acts), 1802, 1809 and 1827
For more details see the History page.

Subordinate Waterways:

Navigation Authority: MD's Office: Southern Waterways, General Manager: Central Shires Waterways, Peel's Wharf, Lichfield Street, Fazeley, Tamworth, Staffordshire B78 3QZ : Telephone 01827 252000 : Fax 01827 288071 : (Covers the waterway between Derwent Mouth Lock and Colwich Lock.).

Navigation Authority: MD's Office: Northern Waterways, General Manager: Wales & Border Counties Waterways, Navigation Road, Northwich, Cheshire, CW8 1BH: Telephone 01606 723800 : Fax 01606 871471 : (Covers the waterway north of Bridge 104 (Trentham).).

Navigation Authority: MD's Office: Southern Waterways, General Manager: West Midland Waterways, Albert House, Quay Place, 92-93 Edward Street, Birmingham B1 2RA : Telephone 0121 200 7400 : Fax 0121 200 7401 : (Covers the waterway between bridge 104 (Trentham) and Colwich Lock.).

Harecastle Tunnel on the Trent and Mersey Canal

Related Books

The Trent and Mersey Canal by Jean Lindsay, Edition: 1st edition, ISBN: 0 7153 7781 7, 182 pages, Published by David & Charles, in 1979, Inland Waterways History series. 16 plates and 10 maps.. Order now from .
A Home Tour Through the Manufacturing Districts of England, in the Summer of 1835 by G Head, Edition: 1st edition, 445 pages, Published by John Murray, in 1836, Many journeys by canal and river are described, including the Bridgewater, Carlise and Annan, Halifax, Knottingley, Lancaster, Leeds & Liverpool and Trent & Mersey. Several new railways are also described as part of this industrial tour..
Historic Waterways Scenes: The Trent & Mersey Canal by Peter Lead, Edition: 1st edition, ISBN: 0 86190 509 1, 96 pages, Published by Moorland Publishing Co Ltd., in 1980, Pictures (mostly photographs) of the Trent & Mersey and associated canals.. Order now from .
Knobsticks by Robert J Wilson, 32 pages, Published by Robert Wilson, in 1974, Canal carrying on the Trent & Mersey.
Shardlow - 18th Century Port by D Cullimore, Published by Published by the author, in 1977,
The Rise of the Staffordshire Potteries by J Thomas, Published by Adams & Dent, in 1971,
Canal Settlement by D Iredale, Published by Leicester University, PhD Thesis on history of community at Barnton, Cheshire, on the Trent & Mersey Canal, in the period 1775-1845..
The Trent & Mersey Canal by Peter Lead, Edition: Hardback, 96 pages, Published by Publisher not known, in 1980, Selection of 131 old photographs from the Trent & Mersey, including the Caldon Branch..
The Anderton Boat Lift by David Carden, ISBN: 0 9533028 6 5, 180 pages, Published by Black Dwarf, in 2000, An excellent book on this unique waterways structure.. Order now from .
Nicholson/Ordnance Survey Guide to the waterways - 4 by Not known, ISBN: 978-0-00-728164-0, 170 pages, Published by Nicholson, in 2009, Four Counties & the Welsh Canals. Includes Caldon, Leek, Llangollen, Monmouthshire & Brecon, Montgomery, Shropshire Union, Staffordshire & Worcestershire (north part), Trent & Mersey canals and the River Weaver.. Order now from .
Pearson's Canal Companion: Cheshire Ring by Michael Pearson, Edition: Eighth, ISBN: 978 0 9 5491160 7, 80 pages, Published by J M Pearson & Son, Includes the River Weaver, Rochdale Canal and the route to Preston via the Leeds & Liverpool - Rufford Branch,. Order now from .
Pearson's Canal Companion: Four Counties Ring by Michael Pearson, Edition: Seventh, ISBN: 978 09 5491168 3, 80 pages, Published by J M Pearson & Son, Includes the Erewash and Trent and Mersey canals.. Order now from .
Knobsticks by Robert J Wilson, Edition: Reset edition., ISBN: 0 907381 33 2, 32 pages, Published by Robert Wilson, in 2002, Written in 1974, Canal carrying on the Trent & Mersey.. Order now from .
A Guide to the Anderton Boat Lift by David Carden and Neil Parkhouse, ISBN: 1 903 59905 9, 48 pages, Published by Black Dwarf, in 2002, An historical guide to the Anderton Boat Lift.. Order now from .
The Seven Canals of Derbyshire by Edward Garner, ISBN: 1 84306 072 8, 160 pages, Published by Landmark Publishing, in 2004, Covers the Cromford, Derby, Erewash and Nutbrook canals and the sections of the Chesterfield, Peak Forest and Trent & Mersey Canals that come within the county.. Order now from .
The Canals of the West Midlands (2nd Ed) by Charles Hadfield, 352 pages, Published by Augustus M Kelley, in 1969,

Related videos

Fred on Water , Released in 2003, 1 hour 13 minutes Produced by Visionimpact, The 2002 canal journey of Fred Talbot, the TV weather presenter, including the Ribble Link, Lancaster Canal, Anderton Boat Lift and the Falkirk Wheel. Available on tape. Order on video tape from
The Cheshire Ring , Released in 1992, 0 minutes Produced by VideoActive, tape DVD. Order on video tape from . Order on DVD from
The Trent and Mersey Canal , Released in 1997, 0 minutes Produced by VideoActive, tape DVD. Order on video tape from . Order on DVD from
The Four Counties Ring , 0 minutes Produced by VideoActive, tape DVD. Order on video tape from . Order on DVD from
Cathedral of the Canals , Released in 2002, 30 minutes Produced by Stephinson Television, The Anderton Boat Lift - The story of its renaissance. Produced for British Waterways and the Waterway Trust Available on tape. Order on video tape from
Boat Lifts of Europe , Released in 2002, 1 hour 8 minutes Produced by VideoActive, Covers several boat lifts in France and germany as well as the Anderton Lift and the Falkirk Wheel in the UK. Available on tape DVD. Order on video tape from . Order on DVD from

Related photographs

Trent and Mersey Canal: Stone Lock No 28 Nb Bargus in lock
Trent and Mersey Canal: Shardlow Lock No 2 nb Sweden
Trent and Mersey Canal: Shardlow Lock No 2 nb Sweden
Trent and Mersey Canal: Harding's Wood Junction
Trent and Mersey Canal: Harding's Wood Junction
Trent and Mersey Canal: Harding's Wood Junction
Trent and Mersey Canal: Red Bull Lock No 42
Trent and Mersey Canal: Anderton Lift Branch Junction
Trent and Mersey Canal: Anderton Lift Branch Junction
Trent and Mersey Canal: Anderton Lift Branch Junction
Trent and Mersey Canal: Anderton Lift Branch Junction
Trent and Mersey Canal: Stenson Lock No 6 Stenson Marina
Trent and Mersey Canal: Stenson Lock No 6 Stenson Marina
Trent and Mersey Canal: Rugeley Bridge No 66
Trent and Mersey Canal: Shobnall Road Bridge
Trent and Mersey Canal: Stoke Top Lock No 40
Trent and Mersey Canal: Barton Turn Lock No 10
Trent and Mersey Canal: Barton Turn Lock No 10
Trent and Mersey Canal: Middlewich Top Lock No 72 Lorna-Ann on lorry
Trent and Mersey Canal: Middlewich Top Lock No 72 Lorna-Ann on crane (vert format)
Trent and Mersey Canal: King's Lock No 71 Lorna-Ann being fitted out
Trent and Mersey Canal: Preston Brook Tunnel (north end) Boats waiting to go through tunnel
Trent and Mersey Canal: Anderton Lift Branch Junction Anderton Lift
Trent and Mersey Canal: Red Bull Lock No 44 Mile post
Trent and Mersey Canal: Harecastle Tunnel (north end) Boats waiting to go through tunnel
Trent and Mersey Canal: Harecastle Tunnel (north end) Brindley's original tunnel entrance
Trent and Mersey Canal: Harecastle Tunnel (south end) Boat leaving tunnel
Trent and Mersey Canal - Great Haywood Packhorse bridge across the River Trent
Trent and Mersey Canal: Preston Brook Tunnel (north end) Boat coming out of tunnel
Trent and Mersey Canal: Preston Brook Tunnel (north end) Boat going into tunnel
Trent and Mersey Canal: Anderton Lift Branch Junction Anderton Boat Lift
Trent and Mersey Canal: Anderton Lift Branch Junction Anderton Boat Lift
Trent and Mersey Canal: Lawton Treble Locks Nos 50 to 52 Roller on Lock wall
Trent and Mersey Canal: Stoke Top Lock No 40 Narrowboat in Stoke Flight

Related External Web Sites

Alvechurch Boat Centres Holiday narrowboat hire from 7 bases. Also boat building and brokerage.
Holiday Narrowboats at Barton Turns This site has been set up to offer unused Narrowboat holidays at Barton Turns Marina for rent, by owners not wishing to use their weeks.
Black Prince Holidays Five bases, covering the canal system of England and Wales, with 80 narrowboats for hire.
Claymoore Navigation Hire boats based at Preston Brook in Cheshire, where the Bridewater Canal meets the Trent & Mersey.
Middlewich Narrowboats Hire boats based on the Trent & Mersey Canal.
Narrow Boat to the Cheshire Ring A book about canal cruising and campaiganing in the 1960s.
Harral Brokerage Services Ltd Boat brokerage based at Wincham Wharf on the Trent & Mersey Canal.
MCC Stenson Boatbuilders Midland Canal Centre well known narrowboat builders.
Canal Cruising Canal Cruising is one of the oldest hire companies on the canals and after 50 years is still operated by the Wyatt family.
Andersen Boats Boat hire based at Middlewich on the Trent & Mersey Canal.
Jannel Cruisers Marina services and boat hire based at Burton upon Trent.
Longport Brokerage Boat sales based at Stoke-on-Trent.
Stoke-on-Trent Boat Building Co. Ltd Narrowboat builder.
Canaltime Timeshare narrowboats.
Anderton Boat Lift The official BW site with restoration progress information and a webcam.
Ashtree Boat Club Based near Rugley on the Trent & Mersey Canal
Stenson Lock Gates Photographs of the replacement of locks gates on the Trent & Mersey Canal.
Shakespeare Classic Line Limited Offering a fleet of timeshare narrowboats based at Barton Turns Marina (Staffordshire).
Mileposts on the Trent & Mersey Canal Pictures and information on the canal centred around its mileposts.
Shardlow Heritage Centre A museum at this important Canal Port situated between the River Trent and the Trent & Mersey Canal.
Millar Marine Chandlery Millar Marine has re-located to Dobson's Boatyard, The Wharf in Shardlow to continue selling quality products at competitive prices.
Staffordshire Past Track Contains over a hundred historic canal photographs of places in Staffordshire amongst a much larger general collection. Follow the route - Theme Explorer - Transport & Communications - Canals.
The Stone Boat Building Company Ltd Chandlery and boat yard services.
Ricochet Narrow Boats From initial-concept through to launching, Ricochet will produce your custom narrow-boat or wide-beam.
Aqua Narrowboat Hire Based on the Trent & Mersey Canal near Burton upon Trent.
Boating Days Canal boating holidays, full weeks, short breaks & day hire based at Acton Bridge on the Trent & Mersey Canal.
Barton Turns Marina Situated at Barton Under Needwood near Burton on Trent on the Trent & Mersey Canal.
Kings Bromley Marina Built in 2002 and extended in 2004 theMarina offers 275 secure berths in a rural setting within 20 minutes of the M6 toll.
Mercia Marina Opened on the Trent & Mersey Canal in 2008, with 600 berths, the marina was based on Willington Lake with five added islands and four promontories.
Marine Cruises Operate from three canal holiday bases, on the Llangollen Canal at Swanley Marina, on the Trent & Mersey Canal Kings Bromley Marina near Lichfield and at their Scotish Base at the foot of the Falkirk Wheel.
Crest Narrowboats Narrowboat hire from bases on the Trent & Mersey and Llangollen canals.
Canal Boat Holidays Canal boats to sleep 4 or to sleep 6, depending on the size of boat from seven bases.
Simtech Marine A narrow boat workshop located at Barton Marina on the Trent & Mersey Canal.

Related Cruising Logs

Other Related Pages

Lock Sizes and maximum craft dimensions: Derwent Mouth to Burton-on-Trent: Length 72 foot, beam 14 foot but maximum beam for craft on this section is 10 foot. Burton to Middlewich Lock 74: Length 72 foot, beam 7 foot. Middlewich Big Lock: Length 72 foot, beam 14 foot. From Middlewich to Preston Brook the maximum beam for craft is 9 foot. NOTE: For more details of maximum lock and craft sizes and the basis of these figures see Craft and Lock Sizes Page

Trent and Mersey Canal: Table of distances		Miles	Locks	Navigable (N)	Grid ref	OS Map No
Derwent Mouth	Junction with River Trent River Trent Junction	0	0	N	SK458307	129
Derwent Mouth Lock No 1		0.3	1	N	SK455306	129
Shardlow Lock No 2		1.3	2	N	SK440301	129
Hickens Bridge No 4		2	2	N	SK429298	129
Acrelane Bridge No 5		2.5	2	N	SK425295	129
Aston Lock No 3		2.8	3	N	SK424291	129
Weston Lock No 4		4.3	4	N	SK407277	129
Weston Cliffe Bridge No 10	Cliffe Wood	5	4	N	SK394273	128
Cuttle Bridge No 13	A514 road bridge	6.6	4	N	SK375289	128
Swarkeston Lock No 5	Derby Canal Junction	7	5	N	SK370291	128
Lowes Bridge No 15		7.4	5	N	SK365290	128
Barrow Bridge No 16	Barrow upon Trent village a quarter of a mile south	8.1	5	N	SK355289	128
Stenson Lock No 6		10	6	N	SK324299	128
Findern, Bridge No 21	The Greyhound pub.	10.9	6	N	SK310296	128
Willington Bridge No 23		12.3	6	N	SK293286	128
Clay Mills Bridge No 28		14.8	6	N	SK261266	128
Horninglow Wharf Bridge No 32	Burton upon Trent half a mile south-east	16.5	6	N	SK243246	128
Dallow Lane Lock No 7		16.9	7	N	SK239241	128
Shobnall Road Bridge	B5017 road bridge and Shobnall Basin	17.5	7	N	SK233233	128
Branstone Lock No 8		18.5	8	N	SK220219	128
Tatenhill Lock No 9		19.5	9	N	SK212204	128
Barton Turn Lock No 10	Bridges Nos 37a, 37b and 38	21.4	10	N	SK201182	128
Wychnor Lock No 11		23	11	N	SK184161	128
Arlewas Lock No 12	Arlewas village	24.4	12	N	SK171154	128
Bagnall Lock No 13	Arlewas village	25	13	N	SK164148	128
Common Lock No 14		25.8	14	N	SK152146	128
Hunts Lock No 15		26.4	15	N	SK145143	128
Keepers Lock No 16	Bridge No 50	26.5	16	N	SK144141	128
Fradley Junction Lock No 17	Junction with Coventry Canal (Detached Portion) Coventry Canal Junction	26.8	17	N	SK140139	128
Fradley Middle Lock No 18		26.9	18	N	SK138138	128
Shade House Lock No 19		27	19	N	SK136137	128
Wood End Lock No 20		27.5	20	N	SK127135	128
King's Bromley Bridge No 54	A515 road	28.5	20	N	SK116147	128
Handsacre Bridge No 58		30.5	20	N	SK091162	128
Armitage A513 Road Bridge	Un-numbered road bridge that replaces the former Armitage Tunnel	31.8	20	N	SK070163	128
Glover's Hill Bridge No 64		32.8	20	N	SK049166	128
Rugeley Bridge No 66		34	20	N	SK047181	128
River Trent Aqueduct	Brindley Bank	35	20	N	SK038195	128
Taft Bridge No 69		36.3	20	N	SK028204	128
Wolseley Bridge No 70	A51 road bridge	36.9	20	N	SK020204	128
Colwich Lock No 21	Bridge No 71	37.6	21	N	SK009210	128
Haywood Lock No 22	Great Haywood village and Shugborough Hall	38.9	22	N	SJ995226	127
Great Haywood Junction	Junction with Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal junction	39	22	N	SJ995229	127
Hoo Mill Lock No 23		39.8	23	N	SJ997241	127
Ingestre Bridge No 78		41.3	23	N	SJ985255	127
Weston Lock No 24		41.9	24	N	SJ978261	127
Weston upon Trent Bridge No 80		42.5	24	N	SJ972270	127
Sandon Lock No 25		44.5	25	N	SJ945291	127
Aston Lock No 26		47.4	26	N	SJ916318	127
Stone Bottom Lock No 27		48.9	27	N	SJ901336	127
Stone Lock No 28		49	28	N	SJ900337	127
Stone Lock No 29		49.3	29	N	SJ897342	127
Stone Lock No 30		49.4	30	N	SJ896343	127
Meaford Bottom Lock No 31		50	31	N	SJ890351	127
Meaford Lock No 32		50.1	32	N	SJ890352	127
Meaford Lock No 33		50.4	33	N	SJ891355	127
Meaford Top Lock No 34		50.5	34	N	SJ891357	127
Meaford Power Station Bridge 101		51.4	34	N	SJ889370	127
Barlaston Bridge No 103	Plume of Feathers Pub	52.3	34	N	SJ887383	127
Trentham Lock No 35		53.3	35	N	SJ884398	127
Hemheath Bridge No 106	A5035 road bridge	53.8	35	N	SJ880410	118
Sideway Bridge No 108		55.3	35	N	SJ880431	118
Stoke-on-Trent, Bridge No 112		56.5	35	N	SJ881450	118
Stoke Bottom Lock No 36		57	36	N	SJ876458	118
Stoke Lock No 37	Cockshute Lock	57.3	37	N	SJ874461	118
Stoke Lock No 38	Etruria Bottom Lock	57.6	38	N	SJ872465	118
Stoke Top Lock No 40	Etruria Summit Lock	57.9	40	N	SJ871468	118
Etruria Junction	Junction with Caldon Branch - Trent and Mersey Canal Calden Branch junction	58	40	N	SJ871469	118
Longport Wharf		60	40	N	SJ858495	118
Tunstall Bridge		61	40	N	SJ854506	118
Harecastle Tunnel (south end)	Chatterley	61.8	40	N	SJ849517	118
Harecastle Tunnel (north end)	Kidsgrove	63.4	40	N	SJ837541	118
Harding's Wood Junction	Junction with Hall Green Branch - Trent and Mersey Canal Hall Green Branch junction (leading to the Macclesfield Canal	63.6	40	N	SJ835545	118
Red Bull Top Lock No 41		63.8	41	N	SJ835546	118
Red Bull Lock No 42		64.1	42	N	SJ830548	118
Red Bull Lock No 43		64.3	43	N	SJ828550	118
Red Bull Lock No 44		64.4	44	N	SJ824551	118
Red Bull Lock No 45		64.5	45	N	SJ822551	118
Red Bull Bottom Lock No 46		64.6	46	N	SJ820552	118
Church Lawton Top Lock No 47		65.4	47	N	SJ819559	118
Church Lawton Bottom Lock No 48		65.5	48	N	SJ819560	118
Halls Lock No 49		65.6	49	N	SJ816561	118
Lawton Treble Locks Nos 50 to 52		65.9	52	N	SJ814562	118
Snapes Aqueduct		66.1	52	N	SJ810564	118
Thurlwood Lock No 53	Rode Heath village. From 1957 to 1988 the site of Thurlwood Steel Lock, built to overcome subsidence caused by salt workings.	66.8	53	N	SJ804573	118
Lower Thurlwood Lock No 54		67	54	N	SJ800576	118
Chellshill Aqueduct	Over the B5078 road	67.4	54	N	SJ795579	118
Pierpoint Lock No 55		68	55	N	SJ786582	118
Pierpoint Lock No 56		68.1	56	N	SJ785583	118
Hassall Green Locks No 57 and 58		68.5	58	N	SJ779583	118
Wheelock Flight Top Lock No 59	Malkin's Bank Flight Nos 59 to 64	69.3	59	N	SJ770586	118
Wheelock Flight Lock No 64	Malkin's Bank Flight Nos 59 to 64	70	64	N	SJ761591	118
Wheelock Bottom Lock No 66		70.4	66	N	SJ755592	118
Rookery Bridge No 159		72	66	N	SJ731602	118
Elton Moss Bridge No 160		72.6	66	N	SJ732611	118
Crows Nest Lock No 67	Crows Nest Bridge No 161	73.4	67	N	SJ730621	118
Booth Lane Bottom Lock No 69	Booth Lane Flight Locks Nos 67 to 69	73.8	69	N	SJ729630	118
Rumps Lock No 70		75.5	70	N	SJ714644	118
King's Lock No 71		76.3	71	N	SJ706655	118
Middlewich Junction	Junction with Shropshire Union - Middlewich Branch Shropshire Union, Middlewich Branch junction	76.4	71	N	SJ706657	118
Middlewich Top Lock No 72		76.5	72	N	SJ707659	118
Middlewich Bottom Lock No 74		76.8	74	N	SJ706661	118
Middlewich Bridge No 172	Middlewich Town Centre	76.8	74	N	SJ704663	118
Middlewich Big Lock		77.1	75	N	SJ701668	118
Croxton Aqueduct	River Dane Crossing	77.6	75	N	SJ693671	118
Whatcroft Hall Bridge No 179		80	75	N	SJ678701	118
Bridge No 181		81.4	75	N	SJ682714	118
Broken Cross Bridge No 184	Old Broken Cross Pub	82.4	75	N	SJ683731	118
Lostock Gralam Bridge No 189		83.3	75	N	SJ685747	118
Marston Bridge No 193	B5075 road bridge	84.4	75	N	SJ670755	118
Marbury Park Road Bridge No 196		85.5	75	N	SJ658757	118
Anderton Lift Branch Junction	Junction with River Weaver	86.6	75	N	SJ647753	118
Soot Hill Bridge No 200		86.9	75	N	SJ643752	118
Barnton Tunnel (east end)		87.4	75	N	SJ635747	118
Barnton Tunnel (west end)		87.9	75	N	SJ630748	118
Saltersford Tunnel (east end)		88.1	75	N	SJ628752	118
Saltersford Tunnel (west end)		88.4	75	N	SJ620755	118
Bradley Meadow Bridge No 206		89.1	75	N	SJ609754	118
Acton Bridge No 209	A49 road bridge	90	75	N	SJ602765	118
Dutton Wharf Bridge No 212		91.4	75	N	SJ587778	117
Dutton Stop Lock No 76	Preston Brook Tunnel (south end)	92.5	76	N	SJ574787	117
Preston Brook Tunnel (north end)	Junction with Preston Brook Branch (Bridgewater Canal) Bridgewater Canal Junction	93.3	76	N	SJ570799	117

NOTE: N and U in the Navigable column above indicates that the node is navigable or unnavigable. If a D appears here it means that navigation is difficult or restricted to smaller craft.

Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.