SJ9922 : Great Haywood Junction in Staffordshire
taken 5 years ago, near to Great Haywood, Staffordshire, England
The Trent and Mersey Canal is 93·5 miles in length from Derwent Mouth to Preston Brook. The first cut was made by Josiah Wedgwood in July 1766 at Middleport (Stoke-on-Trent). The eastern section between Derwent Mouth and Shugborough (the junction with the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal) was already operational by 1770 and the whole canal through to Preston Brook, where it linked with the Bridgewater Canal was open for business by 1777. James Brindley was the engineer until his death in 1772. There are seventy-six locks en route to raise and lower the water level where hills impede the course. There are four tunnels, including the famous Harecastle Tunnel near Stoke-on-Trent.
The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal was opened in 1772, engineered by James Brindley. It cost a little over £100,000 at the time. It links the River Severn at Stourport to the Trent and Mersey Canal at Great Haywood Junction in Staffordshire. There are 43 locks (45 if you don't fancy the deep wide locks at Stourport) and the canal is 46 miles in length.