from Marple Junction where it joins the Peak Forest Canal, southwards (through Bollington, Macclesfield, and Congleton), to a junction with the Trent and Mersey Canal near Kidsgrove. Shropshire Union Canal The Shropshire Union Canal links Wolverhampton (and the Birmingham Canal Navigations) with the River Mersey. History The Bridgewater Canal is often considered to be the first true canal in Britain. However, the Sankey Canal also has good claim to that title. Although the Sankey Canal was originally contained within the old county of Lancashire, the transfer of Warrington and Widnes to Cheshire means that it now lies partly in the county. Preston Brook also lies in Cheshire, south of the River Mersey. Opening dates Where possible, opening dates for the entire length have been used. Otherwise the date indicates when the Act of Parliament was granted. 1721 – River Weaver (canalised) 1757 – Sankey Brook Navigation – Engineer Henry Berry and William Taylor, 1761 – Bridgewater Canal – Engineer James Brindley 1772 – Chester Canal 1777 – Trent and Mersey Canal – Engineer James Brindley 1796 – Ashton Canal 1800 – Peak Forest Canal – Engineer Benjamin Outram and Thomas Brown 1804 – Rochdale Canal 1829 – Wardle Canal 1831 – Macclesfield Canal 1835 – Shropshire Union Canal – Engineer Thomas Telford and others 1894 – Manchester Ship Canal – Engineers Edward Leader Williams List of canals in Cheshire The following is an incomplete list of canals (or navigable rivers) which pass (at least in part) through Cheshire: Trent and Mersey Canal Shropshire Union Canal Macclesfield Canal Ellesmere Canal Llangollen Canal Chester Canal Manchester Ship Canal River Weaver Rochdale Canal Ashton Canal Peak Forest Canal Bridgewater Canal Cheshire Ring Wardle Canal Structures found on canals Anderton Boat Lift Red Bull Aqueduct Marple Lock Flight The Cheshire Ring The Cheshire Ring is a popular canal cruise which includes six of the canals in Cheshire. Because it takes approximately a week to complete, it is suited to narrowboat holidays which start and return to the same location. The route has 92 locks and is long. It is popular because it offers a contrast between the city centre of Manchester, views of the Peak District, and the Cheshire Plain. See also Geography of England Transport in England Transport in the United Kingdom History of the British canal system References Transport in Cheshire