The Trent and Mersey Canal

The Trent and Mersey Canal

a.k.a.
The Grand Trunk Canal
and
The Grand Union Canal

Was originally engineered by James Brindley (1716-72) although completed after his death in 1777. Running from Wilden Ferry in Derbyshire near the confluence of the Derwent with the Trent, heading first in a south-westerly direction via Burton and Wichnor to Fradley, where it is joined by the Coventry and Fazeley Canal. From there the Trent and Mersey proceeds north-west, passing by Handsacre and Brereton on to Rugeley, where it twice crosses over the Trent, thence via Bishton and Colwich to Great Haywood where it is joined by the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. From Haywood Junction the Trent and Mersey continues north-westwards up the Trent Valley, on the north-east bank of the river, past Weston, Sandon Hall, Sandon and through Stone where it turns north towards the potteries at Hanley and Stoke-on-Trent.

Canals came into being because the Industrial Revolution (which began in Britain during the mid-18th century) demanded an economic and reliable way to transport goods and commodities in large quantities. Some 29 river navigation improvements took place in the 16th and 17th centuries[2] starting with the Thames locks and the River Wey Navigation. The biggest growth was in the so-called "narrow" canals which extended water transport to the emerging industrial areas of the Staffordshire potteries and Birmingham as well as a network of canals joining Yorkshire and Lancashire and extending to London.