Maesbury Walks
Route
7a - the towpath from the Lift Bridge to Redwith Bridge.
Note: this section of towpath is not gravelled and can get quite muddy after heavy rain.
From the lift bridge turn left and walk along the towpath. On your right is the private arm of the canal which was originally built for the Maesbury Hall Mill, bringing corn from Chester. Today it is used by Maesbury Marine Services for building and maintaining canal boats.
The towpath goes under Gronwen Bridge which is the end of the navigable section of the canal (in 2007), but work is progressing...
Gronwen
Wharf was the terminus of the Morda Tramway which brought limestone from
quarries down to the canal. It was gone by the time of this 1890 map,
but the line can still be seen curving into the wharf.
More
about Grownen Tramway (link to Shropshire
County Council website)
The cottage on the wharf is now the home of Barry Tuffin who owns Maesbury Marine Services.
The low marshy fields to the left of the canal have been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This was part of the original Maesbury Marsh.
The section of the canal past Gronwen wharf is also thought to have been the line of end of Wat's Dyke, as it follows in a very straight line from section through Maesbury. The canal appears to have been built over the Dyke, possibly using some of the same earthworks. Where the canal bends west the Dyke would have petered out into the marsh, with just a few identifiable earthworks on towards Maesbrook where the River Morda runs into the River Vyrnwy..
Walks 7 & 8 - Route7b - at the bridge, go up to the road, turn right, and right again, take the right fork into the lane to Maesbury
Walks 10 & 12 - Route 10a - - at the bridge, go up to the road, turn right, and right again - then take the left fork into the lane to Morton.