Monument record 10971 - North Basin, Shropshire Union Canal

The North Basin is first shown on Wood’s map of Chester of 1833 with three buildings to the east and a fourth to the west. For the remainder of the 19th century and into the 20th century the wharf surrounding the north basin continued to grow and by the Ordnance Survey 1911 3rd edition map there are a complex series of buildings recorded. (1)

To the northwest a long narrow structure first recorded in 1833 and subdivided into smaller units, probably represent canal side cottages. To the southwest Dandy’s shed sits on the narrow spit of land between the basin and the canal. A large structure to the south is recorded as the Boatman’s Mission Room while a further series of small cottage type structures are also located here. (1)

The basin continued in use until the mid 1950s when it appears that it was gradually being infilled, with a plan drawn by a British Waterways engineer in the 1950s or 1960s indicating ten boats were deliberately sunk in order to reclaim the basin. (1)

A programme of archaeological investigation between 1996 and 2003 has involved the excavation of the basin wall on several occasions. An initial evaluation recorded the basin wall, constructed of red handmade brick in trenches 1, 2 and 4. (1)

<1> Cook, M., 2003, Interim Report on Archaeological Work on North Basin, Chester, R2720 (Client Report). SCH4836.

<2> York Archaeological Trust, 1999, Barges from North Basin, Tower Wharf, Chester. Conservation Options, R3014 (Client Report). SCH5364.

<3> British Waterways, 1995, Report on Site investigation at Tower Wharf, Chester, R3290 (Client Report). SCH6687.

<4> Cole, G, 1805, Chester 1805 (Map of) (Maps and Plans). SCH6511.

<5> Neele, Samuel John, 1809, Plan of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH6512.

<6> Batenham, 1821, A Plan of the City of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH6513.

<7> Cole, G, 1851, Chester 1851 (Map of) (Maps and Plans). SCH6514.

<8> Thomas, T, c.1853, Plan of the City and Liberties of Chester with Recent Additional Buildings (Maps and Plans). SCH6515.

<9> Wood, J, 1833, Plan of the City of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH5258.