The Shropshire Union Canal – From the Mersey to the Midlands and Mid-Wales

Description

The Shropshire Union was created in the 1840s by the amalgamation of the Ellesmere & Chester, Birmingham & Liverpool Junction, Montgomeryshire and Shrewsbury Canals to form a network some 200 miles in length.

The main line went from the north-western edge of Wolverhampton, through Market Drayton, Nantwich and Chester to the Mersey at Ellesmere Port, together with a branch to Middlewich. The long ‘Welsh Branch’ ran from near Nantwich via Whitchurch, Ellesmere, Llanymynech and Welshpool to Newtown, together with a branch to Pontcysyllte and Llangollen. A further branch served Newport, Wellington and Shrewsbury. The intention when the companies merged was to convert many of their canals into railways and to build further railways. In the event, only one railway was built, from Stafford to Shrewsbury. Not long after the merger, the Shropshire Union was leased to the mighty London & North Western Railway.

This book relates the history of the constituent companies all of which were originally formed in six decades from 1770, comparing their policies and progress. It follows the Shropshire Union under railway control, examines the reasons for the decline and closures, then brings the story up to date with nationalisation, revival and restorations. To keep the length of the book manageable, Ellesmere Port, Liverpool docks and the cross-Mersey trade are considered only to the extent that they relate to the canal network.

The emphasis is on the canals as businesses and as part of local history, the economic and social aspects being stressed. As far as possible, the reasons why decisions were made is explained. The final chapter discusses the changing role of the canals and considers the lessons to be learnt from the various restoration schemes.

“The Association for Industrial Archaeology gave its Publication Award for 2019 to Peter Brown for ‘The Shropshire Union Canal’ … At the presentation, the association’s president, Professor Marilyn Palmer, said: ‘The judges were all impressed by the scope of the book, which is far more than a straight canal history. Peter Brown commented: “I’m delighted to have won this prestigious award. I look upon the canals as businesses and also as part of local history, promoted by local people for local purposes. I’ve tried to assess whether they succeeded in their aims and what their effect has been on the local community.” — Canal Boat Times

“This is a substantial volume, handsomely produced, well-illustrated with historic images and good quality modern photographs. The ordinary canal buff may be surprised by the £35.00 cover price and disappointed that the book tells less than might be expected about boats and boating – but he/she would be mistaken … This is a splendid book, a model of its kind, putting canal history into its broader context. Thoroughly referenced, well-indexed, equipped with a good suite of maps and appropriate illustrations, the quality of its production is outstanding – a snip at the price.” — Industrial Archaeology Review

“This is an impressive publication whose sheer scale entitles it to a place alongside the best of canal company histories … To bring together so much diverse material on one of the most complex of British canal companies is a great achievement. For years to come this will be essential reading for anyone interested in the history of British waterways, and an essential part of any transport history library.” — RCHS Journal

“Peter Brown’s book is written by a canal enthusiast, but both in the quality of writing and the production values it is highly professional … The book is profusely and well illustrated and there are useful maps at the beginning of many chapters … A fine and excellently produced book, not an easy or light read, but all the better for that.” — Shroppie Fly Paper  (the magazine of the Shrewsbury & North Wales Branch of the IWA)

“As someone who was born and bred in Shrewsbury, a book on the Shroppie was always going to be of interest, and this weighty tome doesn’t disappoint … fascinating historical images are mixed with more modern maps and pictures of canal infrastructure … likely to become the go-to reference book for anyone studying the history of this major part of the network.” — Towpath Talk

For a generation Peter Brown has been the ‘go-to’ authority on the Shropshire Union Canal system and this book is ample proof for that reliance. It is indeed the magnum opus that has been long-awaited, written in a very personal style and none the worse for that … Despite my having been involved in some capacity with canals since student research days from 1967, and advising on waterway heritage identification, assessment and protection for national agencies for the next 40 years, I found a wealth of new information in Peter Brown’s book and thoroughly welcome it.— Local Historian