Geograph - photograph every grid square

The Shropshire Union Canal (from Autherley to Nantwich) was engineered by Thomas Telford and opened in 1835. There are long straight sections of this canal which required either embankments or cuttings to avoid the need for locks. Although this was a more difficult procedure, the end route was shorter and the progress for horse drawn working boats could be maintained with (hopefully) no stoppages. The canal (formerly the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal) was opened at a time when railways were making serious inroads into the canal companies' businesses.

The current Shroppie north of Nantwich was formerly the Chester Canal, opened in 1779, and has wider locks and bridges. Boats up to nine feet in beam can still navigate this section; Telford's canal accommodates only narrowboats up to seven feet in beam.

Beeston Castle is a former Royal castle. It was built in the early thirteenth century and it was kept in good repair until the 16th century, when it was considered to be of no further military use, although it was pressed into service during the English Civil War. The castle was partly demolished in 1646, on the orders of Oliver Cromwell, to prevent its further use as a stronghold..

A lodge house, with circular towers either side of a central archway was built in the 19th century, and is now the visitor centre.

The castle is a Grade I listed building, and the lodge is Grade II listed