Monument record 14474 - Pickerings Cut on the Weaver Navigation

<1> White Young Green, 2004, Stage 1 Assessments; Helsby Sites, Lostock Sites, River Weaver, Wallerscote, Cledford, Bewsey Meadows., p.69 (Client Report). SCH4686.

Cut on the Weaver navigation, first dug as part of the original construction of the navigation in the early 1730s, bypassing a meandering section of the River, and fitted at the western end with locks. This western end was modified in 1758 when the locks were rebuilt. In the 1870s, with the construction of present cut through Dutton Locks, the eastern section of Pickering's Cut became disused and as shown on the 1908 map, was allowed to silt up.

<2> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 416/2b (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1909-1912, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH4361.

<4> Canal & River Trust, 2024, Heritage Impact Assessment and Justification Statement: Anderton Boat Lift Visitor Centre, R4816 (Client Report). SCH9712.

The first known alterations to enable the transfer of goods on the River Weaver were authorised via an Act of Parliament in 1720. Although the natural river course runs through the salt producing areas of Cheshire, due to its limited depth it was not possible for craft to navigate beyond the tidal section which extended from the confluence with the River Mersey to Pickering’s Wharf, north of Crowton. This required salt to be carried by packhorse from the salt mines to Pickering’s Wharf, where it could then
be loaded onto barges for passage downstream on the ebbing tide. This first Act authorised improvements to the course of the river from Frodsham to the town of Winsford, comprising dredging, straightening and the construction of eleven locks and weirs. These improvements were completed in 1732 and finally allowed craft of up to 40 tons, including Weaver Flats, to reach the burgeoning number of salt works appearing around Anderton, Northwich and beyond.