Great Haywood Bridge

Today's the day ............................. to turn right

It's pretty easy to navigate yourself around the canal systems. When you come to a junction, all you need is a big signpost pointing the way. We had been on the Trent & Mersey Canal heading south but now we needed to turn right on to the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal which would eventually take us to the Shropshire Union.

The Staffs & Worcs Canal was designed by the famous canal engineer, James Brindley. His vision was for a Grand Cross of canals to link the ports of Hull, Liverpool and Bristol by connecting up the rivers Mersey, Trent and Severn. An Act of Parliament was passed in 1766 and work began soon after. The canal opened in 1772, just six months before Brindley died.

The completion of the Trent & Mersey Canal in 1777 made his vision a reality .......................