Preston Brook Wharf

08/11/2025

Remembering the wharf lads

11/11/2024

"At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them"

05/11/2024

That time of year again. We remember 'our' lads

16/09/2024

For Heritage Open Days theme of "routes, networks and connections" is year, Heatherfield Heritage did a series of small videos looking at history of, and around, the wharf 😎
Here's a link to the full playlist:

Heritage Open Days "Routes, Networks and Connections"

04/05/2024

A new view! This photo would have been taken about 1910, with the photographer stood in the Chester road. It's a lovely clear view of all the lost buildings; in the foreground to the right (and with the young man peering out of the door) we see the Brigdgewater company office, where the official work of the wharf foreman, the company agent and the main traffic agent took place. That building straddled the towpath, to physically preventing any boats, all horse drawn when it was built, from sneaking past without paying their dues.
To the left of this we can see what is now Brook house, very originally built as agents cottages but later amalgamated into one. Just behind this, we can see the small bell tower of the Bell Warehouse. This bell was used to call the men to work at 6 and mark their noon lunch break until its work was replaced by a steam ho**er in about 1900.
In the very far distance on the towpath side we can see the whitewashed Bridgewater stables, used only by company horses (everyone else being sent to the Red Lion). Finally we can see the mighty main warehouse, with the canal arm disappearing deep within. This seems to have been originally built akin to the grocers warehouse in Castlefield, with road access straight into the building above the arm, but records suggest that was redundant by about 1850. The tall chimney gently smoking is attached the beam engine, which powered all the jiggers and hoists from its arrival in 1849 to its final removal in the late 1930s

Saturday Snippet - Preston Brook

Preston Brook was very important as a transhipment port during the heyday of the canals, employing about 100 men and women. Good would be transferred from rail to canal and between the two canals, so they could be shipped via the Mersey to Liverpool. In the early part of the 20th century, as many as 30 boats a day were dealt with.
I came across this picture the other day. The road in the front is the A56 and we're looking towards what is now the M56. I'm not sure what the first building on the right was, but the next one is the warehouse which used to stand on what is now Preston Brook wharf. The white cottages in the background on the left used to be stabling for the canal horses. Am I right? Any other ideas?

25/03/2024

Clerk Robin has a nest! Probably a breach of company policy for the office staff to make nests in other staffs wellies but rules don't matter when you're this cute 😉

23/01/2024

Another new view of the wharf found on the Railways & Canals Historic Society image archive. This was taken in the early sixties, and trip boat Hyperion has just winded in the old warehouse arm and is preparing to take a party of passengers to Runcorn

22/01/2024

A new view of the wharf! This photo was taken in the late 60s, after the warehouse was destroyed but before the motorway ruined the view. We're very grateful to the Braine family for sharing it with us 🙂

14/11/2023

Morris Homes have submitted their 'amended' planning application to build 135 houses on the field directly behind the wharf. We all know houses need to be built, but this development doesnt take in to account our existence and would have a devastating effect on the wharf if carried out without making just a few simple changes. Despite their claims, Morris Homes have never consulted us and never replied when we reached out.
Details of the planning application can be found on the Halton Planning website, case number 22/00203/FUL
If you can spare a moment to email [email protected] (put the planning ref number as the subject) to voice concern for the safety of the wharf, we would be eternally greatful. Let's keep the wharf working! 🙂