2023 Chester Heritage Festival

Waterways are focus of Chester Heritage

In 2023, having launched at Chester Racecourse, the annual Chester Heritage Festival took place from Saturday 17 to Wednesday 28 June. Events for all ages included walks to explore the city, opportunities to learn more about the people and history of Chester through talks, films and online events, activities at Chester Cathedral, The Castle, and New Chester Market, along the Rows and City Walls, and on the streets. The festival had a special focus on Chester’s waterways and the Rows.

The Inland Waterways Association, Chester & Merseyside Branch took an active part in the festival with committee member, John Herson taking people on a fascinating walk around Chester's historic waterways. John talked the waterways from their inception - and why Chester became an important Roman port - through the industrial ages until the present day.

The canal walk, took them along the Shropshire Union Canal, formerly the Chester Canal. They went past the Northgate Locks, and arrived at the canal basin, Tower Wharf and Taylor's Boatyard. From there the short Dee Branch Canal links the canal system to the tidal River Dee and the old Port of Chester. It is this part of Chester's waterways that formed the core of an application in April 2021 to have the city's waterways designated a 'heritage port' as shown on the map below.

The proposal has been accepted as the first Canal and River System

Heritage Port and is recognised by the Maritime Heritage Trust, National Historic Ships and European Maritime Heritage. The ultimate designation by Historic England is now awaited.

Details of the proposal can be found at: - www.chesterheritagefestival.co.uk/chester-heritage-port

CHESTER: A HERITAGE HARBOUR

Since Roman times Chester holds a unique position in waterway history as an ancient port which has been sadly ignored and very much under utilised in a city that prides itself on being a major tourist hotspot.

Sitting on the junction of the Shropshire Union Canal and the navigable tidal waters of the River Dee the locks linking the two systems are inoperable. There aren’t any facilities for boats on the river and consequently there is no boating traffic. The extensive cruising water along the upper Dee above the weir remains unavailable despite the opportunity to build a modern lock to solve the access problem.

The Inland Heritage Harbours and Inland Port status now gives the opportunity to protect what remains of the Port facility, and focus attention on what Chester, which prides itself on being a tourist attraction, can do to further develop its potential in a market where the waterways has little penetration.

National Launch Of Heritage Harbours

Recently a new status of Heritage Harbours has been launched to help safeguard the harbourside, buildings, facilities and businesses that are vital to support our working maritime heritage vessels; and Chester became England’s first.

The Heritage Harbour concept started in northern Europe as a way of providing free or low-cost mooring to historic vessels in exchange for public display. In the UK the idea has evolved to include a wider range of local community links such as encouraging heritage skills e.g., wooden boatbuilding and cultural heritage activities as well as maritime festivals and events which benefit traders and visitors.

However, there is an increasing threat across the UK maritime heritage sector through the loss of waterside buildings, businesses and facility, to unsympathetic new development which removes the water access and can destroy the historic character of a small port. Existing businesses often operate on low margins and are increasingly vulnerable to redevelopment. The aim of Heritage Harbours is to achieve a balance, retaining the key features, improving public access, creating wider cultural and arts opportunities linked to maritime heritage and benefitting the local community.

Whilst Heritage Harbours are not a legal designation, the National Working Group of Heritage Harbours, supported by Maritime Heritage Trust, National Historic Ships UK and Historic England, has adopted criteria for schemes that are proposed and it is hoped that other locations will join the network.

Today, there are 10 Heritage Harbour and Heritage Inland Port locations around the country: Bristol, Buckler’s Hard, Chester, Exeter, Faversham and Oare Creeks, Maldon and Heybridge, Sandwich, Shardlow, Stourport and Wells next the Sea.

Hannah Cunliffe, Director, National Historic Ships UK said “Historic vessels are important assets which bring great character and interest to our harbours and inland waterway ports, but they will only survive if the maritime infrastructure needed to service and maintain them is also preserved. NHS-UK supports the development of Heritage Harbours in line with its Shipshape Network initiative, which promotes regeneration of traditional maritime skills and connects projects across the UK.

Ken Hamilton, National Listing Adviser for Historic England said “Historic England is keen to support local communities to help safeguard waterside historic features including working harbour facilities. We want to promote a better appreciation of maritime heritage and to encourage heritage-based regeneration and sustainable growth. We are working to provide practical help for this project by producing a toolkit of resources to help communities make the most of their maritime heritage.”

Hannah Hurford, Trustee, Maritime Heritage Trust said “New waterside development threatens many traditional ports and can easily squeeze out the traditional trades, workshops and slipways that are critical to operation of a historic vessel. This is short sighted –a lively waterfront can attract visitors, bring increased cultural activity with open days, activities and trails and help regenerate an area in a sympathetic, sustainable way. This in turn benefits vessels and can support the skills and volunteering which bring maritime heritage to life.”

Branch Walk’s for This Autumn

Below is a list of the Branch Waterway Walks until Christmas. Booking lists are now open for all of them. All of the walks are circular and free, held on Sunday mornings and start from a pub car park. There is also the option of a pub lunch at the end of the walk. You can apply to join any one at any time; and perhaps bring a partner too. We will of course be putting adverts on the branch website a month before each walk, and head office has kindly agreed to send out reminder emails ten days before each walk.

To book a place - all you need to do is send an email to derek.smith@waterways.org - and give the number and name of the walk you wish to book for. You’ll be quickly sent a confirmation of your booking. Later you’ll be invited to choose from the menu. Four days before the walk you’ll be sent a reminder of your booking, and full details of when and where you will need to park.

17th September.

This walk will be about 4.8 miles long, and has delightful scenery for almost all of the route. It’s the walk that had to cancelled last December because of iced pavements. Most of the scenery is close to hand; first alongside of the canal then through the Dingle Woods and valleys and other nature reserves. There is only a little road walking and all of the paths are firm and mostly quite wide and well used. There are no stiles and only a few old wooden kissing gates. Only one or two easy slopes to climb and no fields to cross so you won’t see many farm animals and it should be fine for dogs.

Sunday 15th October.

This walk will also be about 4.8 miles long, following good and quite level footpaths for most of the route. Starting with The Countess Country Park through very scenic wetland, the walk then takes us through the old Mollington Grange golf course and its maze of undulating scenic golf-cart tracks. The return walk is along the excellent Shropshire Union Canal surfaced tow path followed by a short section of the Mercian Greenway trail, then back to the pub. There will be lots of walkers with dogs but no farm animals, no stiles, and one kissing gate. The route is excellent for dogs, and suitable footwear will be anything flat soled but trainers will be best.

This walk will be about 3.5 miles long and along well used footpaths or hard paths all the way. It commences with a long walk along the banks of the Trent & Mersey Canal as far as Marbury Park. The broad path close to Witton Brook takes you some distance before you turn through Carey Park and Anderton Nature Park; finishing along the bank of the River Weaver to the famous Anderton Boat Lift. There are very few roads and all the paths are broad and firm, and although a little bumpy in parts. The walk is suitable for everyone and is also excellent for dogs. Suitable footwear will be anything flat soled, and good trainers will be okay.

This Christmas walk will be about 4.5 miles long and follows well used footpaths or hard paths most of the way. Most of the walk is in the Weaver Parkway, which is a long and landscaped river Weaver valley and a delightful picturesque walk on a sunny day. It’s a very popular locality with the numerous local joggers and dog-walkers. There are several deep kissing gates, no roads and a good variety of scenery to enjoy; including over two miles of riverbank pathway. As the route passes close to the west coast main railway and you may also see the Avanti Pendolino high speed train its way to Glasgow.

Fund Britain’s Waterways warns against the government’s latest Canal & River Trust funding offer

After months of waiting for DEFRA to announce its decision on future grant funding for the Canal & River Trust (CRT), and less than a fortnight after the launch of Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW), the Secretary of State has now confirmed that the Government plans at least to continue providing grant funding to CRT beyond March 2027 when the current grant comes to an end. Whilst this is welcomed, FBW members including Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs are deeply concerned that the Secretary of State has only gone as far to offer “over £400m” for the ten-year period from April 2027 which marks a further dramatic cut1. According to CRT it will equate to at least a 40% reduction of funding in real terms compared to recent levels2. The current funding, which has been fixed at £52.6m per annum since 2021, is already failing to keep up with inflation and the physical toll that more frequent severe weather is having on the waterways’ infrastructure.

DEFRA’s offer is simply not enough to avert the decline of CRT’s network, particularly given the charity already faces a deficit of £12 -15m. The grant it receives from DEFRA makes up almost a quarter of its income and is critical in helping it lever in other sources of income and fund its essential maintenance programme. As Richard Parry, Chief Executive of CRT, has said3 the proposed funding cuts from 2027/2028 will have a potentially “devastating impact”.

FBW is campaigning to ensure that beyond this Parliament there will be sufficient grant funding to retain the huge environmental, economic and social benefits that Britain’s inland waterways provide. That includes the 2,000 miles of waterways managed by CRT which alone contribute £6.1bn per year in economic and social value4. It is why, as part of FBW’s broader campaign, it will continue to work with CRT and others to encourage the Government to rethink this week’s funding announcement.

Les Etheridge, Chair of FBW, said: “The Government must take heed of CRT’s warnings. Otherwise, these proposed cuts will result in the closure of waterways, harming businesses and placing communities at risk as the condition of CRT’s waterways inevitably deteriorates.”

Sarah Niblock CEO - IWA

IWA Chester & Merseyside Branch Programme of Meetings 2023-2024

All meetings start at 7.45 pm on the second Tuesday of the month. Meetings are free and will be held at the

The Holiday Inn, Lower Mersey St, Ellesmere Port, CH65 2AL

Our sales and shop is available for Christmas Cards and Publications, and don’t miss out on our fun raffle.

10th October 2023 - Les Green talks on the Shropshire Union Canal its Heritage and History.

14th November 2023 - Jim Forkin our Chairman runs a Social and Quiz night with prizes for the winner.

12th December 2023 - Jim Mole talks on ‘Northwich Heritage Port’, its buildings and its commercial history of Salt and Chemicals.

(Followed by our Christmas party with mince pies, sherry and our bumper raffle).

9th January 2024 - Ian Wilson talks on his canal travels from Preston Brook to the Harecastle tunnel on the Trent & Mersey Canal.

13th February 2024 - Another Social and Quiz night with Jim Forkin

12th March 2024 - Branch AGM - followed by a speaker - TBA

(Except for those attending the April and May branch walks, this will be the last meeting of the season).