Water Heritage Trail
Route facts
Waterways:
River Weaver »
Duration: 1 hour
Circular route from: Dock Road Edwardian Pumping Station
The Water Heritage Trail concentrates on the industrial archaeology and water heritage of Northwich. The area around the trail offers a variety of attractions, including the Salt Musuem, The Lion Salt Works and The Anderton Boat Lift.
Waypoints
1. Dock Road Edwardian Pumping Station to Dry Dock
The Water Heritage Trail begins at the fascinating Dock Road Edwardian Pumping Station. This unique, circular Grade II Listed brick building, and its machinery, has been restored to full working order and was opened to the public in 1993. Visitors can see the engines and pumps in action. After walking a short distance south along the river, you will see Hunts Lock Sluice. The modernised sluice is close to the site of the original that was built in 1730. It is used for flood control and flood water is held back by the gate until it is safe to release it back into the main channel. After continuing south for another short distance, you will see a British Waterways dry dock beneath one of the viaduct arches. It is used to repair and maintain vessels. Boats are floated into position and then the dock is pumped dry.
2. Dry Dock to The Railway Viaduct
From the Dry Dock, continue south along the River Weaver and you will come to a swing bridge, which you need to cross. The pedestrian footbridge crosses the old watercourse of the river and can be swung open to allow boats to reach the dry dock upstream. You will walk east briefly until you meet the River Weaver again. You will notice Hunts Locks which are on the site of the original eleven locks which were built in the 1730s. The wooden sides of the locks have now been replaced by stone. As you arrive at the railway, if you look to your right you will see the railway viaduct which was built in the early 1860s. It was considered to be one of the most important engineering works on the Chesire Lines Railway, crossing three waterways.
3. The Railway Viaduct to Holy Trinity Church
ct was the engineer to the Weaver Navigation
4. Holy Trinity Church to Moore and Brock's Riverside Warehouse
canal barges to import slate from North Wales.
5. Moore and Brock's Riverside Warehouse to Dock Road Edwardian Pumping Station
Follow the path you took to the warehouse back to the A559 and turn left to cross over Town Bridge. After passing Dane Street on your right, turn off from the A559 and follow the route of the River Dane. As you come to the aqueduct, cross over the River Dane and follow the aqueduct to Dock Road Edwardian Pumping Station.
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