Weaver Milepost

Living History: NarrowBoat, Winter 2006

Colin Edmondson

Colin Edmondson discovers history in the hedgerow of the River Weaver

It is possible to walk along both the north and south banks of the River Weaver from Frodsham to Dutton Locks, although a part of the path on the north bank through Hatton’s Hey Wood at Aston is a permissive path only, as the rights to what was once the towpath seem to have lapsed. Along this stretch is a small wooden stump, for years covered with ivy, which has a bit of history attached to it. It seems that the River Weaver Navigation managed to exist for nearly 150 years without anybody worrying about the lack of mileposts, very necessary elsewhere to allow tolls to be calculated, but not so important when most of the trade came from either Winsford or Northwich, with very little originating elsewhere. This was to change, however, with the appointment of Lionel Bury Wells as Engineer to the Navigation in February 1877. The second paragraph of the Finance & Works Committee minutes for 5th June 1877 states: “Ordered that posts be put up along the Navigation, one quarte…