East Shropshire network. The junction continued in operation until 1944, when the Shrewsbury Canal, along with much of the Shropshire Union network, was abandoned as a result of an Act of abandonment obtained by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, which had owned the canals since 1922. Location The small settlement by the junction is named after the canal junction. The first lock on the Newport Branch has been turned into a dry-dock. There is a pub, the Junction Inn, a boatyard with full facilities for boaters, including the Old Wharf Tearoom, and a Canal & River Trust maintenance depot. The junction site is in the middle of a long, level pound. To the north, the pound stretches for to Tyrley Top Lock, the first of 25, arranged as two flights of five and a flight of fifteen, which descend to Nantwich, while to the south it is to Wheaton Aston lock, which raises the canal level a little and is the only lock before the stop lock at the junction at Atherley. A very short section of the Shrewsbury Canal remains, up to the dry dock, which is used as private moorings by the boatyard. Norbury Canal Festival Since 2004, the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust has worked with the Norbury village community and the Junction Inn to jointly organise the May Bank Holiday Canal Festival. During the festival, there is a gathering of boat traders, modern narrowboats and restored working boats, and people visiting have the opportunity to look inside some of the boats to see what life is like on board. The festival includes stalls, refreshments and boat trips along the canal. The volunteer-run Windmill Broadcasting has been at the event, along with a fairground and other attractions. See also Canals of the United Kingdom History of the British canal system Bibliography References External links GEOGRAPH image 337792, from 1964 More Geograph images of Norbury Junction Old images of Norbury Junction Walking Britain - walk 2499 - Aqualate Mere and Forton from Norbury Junction Canal junctions in England Canals in Staffordshire Shropshire Union Canal 1835 establishments in England Hamlets in Staffordshire Borough of Stafford