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By act of 1827 the Chester Canal Middlewich Branch runs 10 miles with 3 locks from Barbridge Junction (Shropshire Union Main Line) to Wardle Lock, Middlewich, where it joins the Trent & Mersey Canal. The canal became part of the Shropshire Union system in 1846 that was taken over by the London and North Western Railway within a year. The Trent and Mersey insisted that there should be no direct connection at Middlewich, and instead built the short Wardle Canal and lock to join the two, charging large compensation tolls for traffic passing along it. The canal was the location for trials with locomotive haulage of boats in 1888, using a narrow-gauge engine from Crewe railway works, but no further action was taken.