Monument record 14475 - Site of Pickering's Locks 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.

Situated at west end of Pickering's Cut. Lock was established at Pickering's as part of the original construction of the Weaver Navigation in the early 1730s, this then being the most westerly of eleven lock son the navigation. In 1748 the lock was rebuilt on a site to the south of its original position. The lock was rebuilt again in 1781, and in 1849-50 was doubled by the construction of a new, larger lock, alongside the existing one. In the 1870s, Pickering's Locks were replaced by Dutton Locks to the east.

Ashmore decribes the site as contianing masonry walls, anchors and recesses for gates (the gates were removed after 1945)

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

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

Map illustrates lock structures named as Pickering's Locks

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1909-1912, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH4361.

Area now labelled Pickering's Bridge. Structure shown as a single bridge across the cut.

<5> Canal & River Trust, 2024, Heritage Impact Assessment and Justification Statement: Anderton Boat Lift Visitor Centre, R4817 (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.