Shropshire Union Canal From Cow Lane Bridge

Very often when I walk into town via Brook Street, I stop on Cow Lane Bridge and have a quiet moment. More so on a sunny day. While standing on Cow Lane Bridge you can look down on the Shropshire Union Canal. A sedate looking stretch of navigable water quite often home to a variety of moored up barges. And fair do’s, you do often see some interesting barges serenely bobbing up and down. I find this location a fascinating location to take some photos when the time and the occasion seems fitting.

A case in point, like this image HERE I took a short while ago and converted into digital prints. But more about the digital artwork shortly. What about the Shropshire Union Canal – aka the “Shroppie.”

Shropshire Union Canal – aka “Shroppie”

The Shropshire union Canal (“Shroppie”) is, as mentioned above, a navigable canal in England that runs through Chester city centre. As the name suggests, it doesn’t only run through Chester of course.

The canal runs through the counties of Staffordshire, Shropshire and Cheshire. It links the canal system of the West Midlands, at Wolverhampton, with the River Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal at Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. Some 66 miles (106 km) in distance. Fair do’s that is some H2O.

The “Shropshire Union Main Line” (SU Main line) runs southeast from Ellesmere Port via the River Mersey to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal at Autherley Junction in Wolverhampton. However there are quite a few more links as well though. For instance, other links are to be found with 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.

Also there are 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.

It was the last trunk narrow canal route to be built in England. As it happens it wasn’t completed until 1835 and, quite significantly, it was the last major civil engineering achievement of Thomas Telford.

It was named the “Shropshire Union” as a result of an amalgamation of the following companies (Ellesmere Canal, Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal, Montgomeryshire Canal). Theses companies came together to form the Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company.

I think that provides a brief enough and yet informative enough bit of background.

Shropshire Union Canal As Seen From Cow Lane Bridge

As I began this post, I do often pause my walk into town and take in the sights while standing on Cow Lane Bridge. You will not only see the barges floating by, but you can also do a bit of people watching. Those that are ambling along the canal, or those enjoying a quick snifter in The Lockkeeper.

On occasions I do take a photo or two. Mostly when the weather is good and when there seems to be a bit of activity. One such occasion was as per the digital download image in this link HERE.

The image above is a mock up of my digital prints as it may look framed. As the link above touches on, this image is ideal for a variety of rooms. It could be displayed as living room wall art, kitchen wall art, bedroom wall art, bathroom wall art, or any room that takes your fancy really.

I hope you like this piece of printable wall art and I hope you enjoy taking in the sights from Cow Lane Bridge if ever you pass in or out of town that way. Oh by the way, I’ve not forgotten to say a bit more about Cow Lane Bridge. So, watch this space. Coming soon, another post (and another piece of digital art) giving good mention of Cow Lane Bridge.

Chester Lifestyle Blog Posts

Thanks for reading my latest blog post – “Shropshire Union Canal From Cow Lane Bridge” – and thanks for visiting my Chester Lifestyle website. It is much appreciated. To see all of my other blog posts on a vareity of topics, then head on over to HERE.

Here’s another mock up of my Shropshire Union Canal creation as it may look framed. I hope you like it. And if you have popped along and had a quick look at my Etsy Store then also, a big thank you.

To see even more Chester related digital artwork creations, have a look HERE.

Thanks again for visiting – it’s much appreciated.