Middlewich link

[Arthur Marshall]

"Please be advised there is a windblown tree at Bridge 12 on the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal, which is blocking navigation. Contractors have been informed and we anticipate they will be on site to remove the obstruction tomorrow.

 

Navigation will remain open, however, wide beams will not be able to pass until the tree has been removed."

 

I'm a bit intrigued as to how a widebeam could get on to the Middlewich Branch, seeing as how all the locks are narrow, and there's one at each end. Still, it's nice that CRT lets them know.

 

 

[hider]

Well there is a wide beam moored up at Hawkesbury junction on the N Oxford side of the stop lock! 

[Francis Herne]

There are isolated widebeams in various other strange places -- Hanbury Wharf, Icknield Port loop, Droitwich marina and so on. Pretty sure there are none on the Middlewich Branch though...

[ditchcrawler]

2 hours ago, Francis Herne said:

There are isolated widebeams in various other strange places -- Hanbury Wharf, Icknield Port loop, Droitwich marina and so on. Pretty sure there are none on the Middlewich Branch though...

They could be tucked up in one of the marinas up there, didn't spot any when we passed 

[TheBiscuits]

3 hours ago, Arthur Marshall said:

Bridge 12 on the Middlewich Branch

 

Which is between locks 2 and 3 , on the long pound that contains Aqueduct Marina.

 

I'd not take a fatty there, but it is technically possible.

 

I've no idea if there are any there though, I've not been that way for a few years.

 

 

Edited July 18 by TheBiscuits
Recombine a split post

[Ken X]

The wide beam at Hanbury Wharf caught our eye a couple of weeks ago. Did wonder how it got there and why. Not the biggest cruising area.

[TheBiscuits]

Deleted, edited into the post it was aimed for!

Edited July 18 by TheBiscuits
Timing.

[Paul C]

3 hours ago, Arthur Marshall said:

"Please be advised there is a windblown tree at Bridge 12 on the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal, which is blocking navigation. Contractors have been informed and we anticipate they will be on site to remove the obstruction tomorrow.

 

Navigation will remain open, however, wide beams will not be able to pass until the tree has been removed."

 

I'm a bit intrigued as to how a widebeam could get on to the Middlewich Branch, seeing as how all the locks are narrow, and there's one at each end. Still, it's nice that CRT lets them know.

 

 

 

Bridge 1 isn't narrow, but bridge 2 is. And the main line of the SU is a broad beam canal from Nantwich to (just before) Ellesmere Port.

[hider]

9 hours ago, Paul C said:

 

Bridge 1 isn't narrow, but bridge 2 is. And the main line of the SU is a broad beam canal from Nantwich to (just before) Ellesmere Port.

I thought it was narrowed at Barbridge?

[Hastings]

9 hours ago, Paul C said:

 

Bridge 1 isn't narrow, but bridge 2 is. And the main line of the SU is a broad beam canal from Nantwich to (just before) Ellesmere Port.

But Nantwich to Ellesmere Port won't take a 14 foot widebeam - a bridge north of Nantwich reduced the available beam width when rebuilt a long time ago.

[Tonka]

33 minutes ago, Hastings said:

But Nantwich to Ellesmere Port won't take a 14 foot widebeam - a bridge north of Nantwich reduced the available beam width when rebuilt a long time ago.

And the bridge just south of Ellesmere port was built too narrow 

[dmr]

I suspect there is a new form of boating where you live on a huge widebeam craned into a marina and very occasionally venture out a few hundred yards onto the canal, the only limit is the width of the marina entrance.

The narrow canals can be very attractive and there are a lot of them so if your desire is to be marina based this is almost a sensible option.

[Jon57]

1 hour ago, dmr said:

I suspect there is a new form of boating where you live on a huge widebeam craned into a marina and very occasionally venture out a few hundred yards onto the canal, the only limit is the width of the marina entrance.

The narrow canals can be very attractive and there are a lot of them so if your desire is to be marina based this is almost a sensible option.

Few hundred yards is not boating in my book but a incovience for people who do boating. 🤔

[Francis Herne]

2 hours ago, Hastings said:

But Nantwich to Ellesmere Port won't take a 14 foot widebeam - a bridge north of Nantwich reduced the available beam width when rebuilt a long time ago.

I passed one pretty wide boat -- 12ft or so -- on the move near Chas Harden's yard. Too wide for the Ellesmere Port bypass bridge so it must be permanently based on that section.

Other than that I can't think of another narrow bridge? The overgrown offside trees north of Nantwich would be a pain though, and the hire boats at Bunbury.

Edited July 19 by Francis Herne

[PeterF]

Plenty of wide beams moored in Tattenhal Marina that ha ve a limited range. One went passed us between Wharton's lock and the iron lock last month, both ways, several years old, I think they said it w a the maiden cruise. At the moment I think a 12 ft would have trouble at the iron lock, the offside gate sticks quite a way open.

Just now, PeterF said:

Plenty of wide beams moored in Tattenhal Marina that have a limited range. One went passed us between Wharton's lock and the iron lock last month, both ways, several years old, I think they said it was the maiden cruise. At the moment I think a 12 ft would have trouble at the iron lock, the offside gate sticks quite a way open.

 

[Just Heaven]

On 18/07/2024 at 22:24, Ken X said:

The wide beam at Hanbury Wharf caught our eye a couple of weeks ago. Did wonder how it got there and why. Not the biggest cruising area.

They are just craned in for sale there.

 

[Wizzer]

We moored in Tattenhall.until 2 years ago.

 

They started arriving after widebeam.moorings were advertised by the marina. Whether people realise they can hardly go anywhere is questionable.

 

Some are lived on some are not. All a bit strange.

[Mike Tee]

So I assume C&RT are willing to grant licenses to wide beams on narrow canals? Yet wide beams from Dunchurch go in their stoppages etc warnings when moving to Braunston, and have to do the move in one go (no mooring). All sounds a bit contrary -  not at all like C&RT.

[Lady M]

It is a fair way from Dunchurch to Braunston with bridges on bends and, these days, encroaching vegetation in places.  This is a very busy popular stretch of canal.  There were widebeams CC-ing as well as those based in Dunchurch.  Widebeam presence and behaviour resulted in regular complaints to CRT.  Hence the restrictions.

[MIKE P]

On 18/07/2024 at 22:24, Ken X said:

The wide beam at Hanbury Wharf caught our eye a couple of weeks ago. Did wonder how it got there and why. Not the biggest cruising area.

I would imagine it's a show boat for The New and Used Boat Co.

[gatekrash]

4 hours ago, MIKE P said:

I would imagine it's a show boat for The New and Used Boat Co.

It was one of theirs I think, but all the rest have gone and so has their office. They still advertise boats from Droitwich, but they come down by car to do the showing around from the marina instead.

 

I think the one that's left there is being fitted out but the boat fitter from Hanbury. I assume it'll go at some point.

[ditchcrawler]

7 hours ago, Wizzer said:

We moored in Tattenhall.until 2 years ago.

 

They started arriving after widebeam.moorings were advertised by the marina. Whether people realise they can hardly go anywhere is questionable.

 

Some are lived on some are not. All a bit strange.

There are at least three at Alvecote and they can't go anywhere

[Mike Todd]

On 19/07/2024 at 14:15, PeterF said:

Plenty of wide beams moored in Tattenhal Marina that ha ve a limited range. One went passed us between Wharton's lock and the iron lock last month, both ways, several years old, I think they said it w a the maiden cruise. At the moment I think a 12 ft would have trouble at the iron lock, the offside gate sticks quite a way open.

 

I think there is one moored at Golden Nook!