Photos

This part of the canal, in Ellesmere Shropshire is know as the Ellesmere canal by many people, but it is a bit of a misnomer. The canal was originally intended to be built north-south, connecting Shrewsbury and Chester. Competition from the railways forced the investors to accept that the eventual route, not including Shrewsbury, was more viable. The name Ellesmere Canal was eventually dropped to be replaced by the Shropshire Union Canal, Llangollen branch. The point where the canal reaches the sea, Netherpool became know as Ellesmere Port (the port for Ellesmere), its present name. Thomas Telford was second in command for the canal's construction and he is said to have lived in Ellesmere during that time.

Round the corner from where this photo is taken, the canal ends at Ellesmere Wharf, an up and coming area, which is, at present, being redeveloped