River Weaver
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The River Weaver is a river, navigable in its lower reaches, running in a curving route anti-clockwise across west Cheshire, northern England.
Perhaps its most notable feature is the Anderton Boat Lift (1875), near Northwich, which links the Weaver with the Trent and Mersey Canal some 50ft above.
[edit] Route
From its source in the hills of west Cheshire near Peckforton Castle, it initially flows in a south-easterly direction towards the border with Shropshire, fed by tributaries some of which rise in north Shropshire. Just south of the Cheshire village of Audlem, the river then starts to flow approximately northwards across the Cheshire Plain, and today empties into the Manchester Ship Canal at Weston Point Docks, Runcorn (it previously flowed into the River Mersey).
From the Peckforton Hills, the Weaver flows through the village of Wrenbury, and then passes to the west of Audlem. The first significant town on the river is the small market town of Nantwich. Further north, it passes through Winsford. The 21-mile-long stretch north from Winsford Bridge is navigable (Acts of Parliament dating back to 1721 were introduced to allow the river to be 'canalised' to carry freight, including salt and chemicals). This Weaver Navigation stretch includes the town of Northwich.
From Northwich, the Weaver flows north-west across north Cheshire, passing between Frodsham and Sutton Weaver before reaching the Manchester Ship Canal.
At one time, the Weaver navigation rejoined the Weaver at Frodsham lock, via Frodsham Cut. Between 1807 and 1810, a short section of canal, the Weston Canal, was built to bypass the lower Weaver entirely and connect directly to Weston Point Docks, and the Frodsham cut and lock became derelict.
[edit] Tourism
There is not currently an obvious attractive "destination point" for recreational boaters heading down the Weaver Navigation, although Weston Marsh Lock and the Weston Point Docks are of interest to those who like industrial heritage. However, there are now plans to repoen the Frodsham cut, and to redevelop the Frodsham wharves on the Weaver. Frodsham is an attractive small town, but has no particular focus of interest to visitors. The proposers of the new "waterfront" believe that it will be a popular attraction to boaters and gongoozlers alike.
Rowing is popular on the River Weaver, with competitive clubs in Runcorn, Northwich[1], and Acton Bridge (The Grange School). Fishing is also popular along the river especially at Weaver Parkway where it runs adjacent to the West Coast Main Line - the railway line from Crewe to Liverpool/Preston.
