The proposed new Port for Burslem will be at the end of the reinstated Burslem Branch Canal, set in a basin overlooked by an historic canalside warehouse in which there will be a shop/museum, café/restaurant, craft workshops, cinema/theatre and art gallery cum community hall.
There will be space for six overnight berths, providing attractive and safe overnight moorings for travelling boaters to the area, in order to give them the time to discover our rich ceramic history in both Middleport and Burslem at their leisure.
Canal entrance
The turn north off the Trent & Mersey will be announced by signage and possibly a new footbridge. There will be a broad approach tapering to a one-way single boat width stretch of canal only 100m long with extensive views looking north to Burslem and east to the wooded hills backing onto Festival Park
Narrow section
This section has needed to be redesigned due to a breach in 1961 which took place on a large easterly bend in the original canal of 1805, assumed to be due to mining subsidence. When infilled in 1962 the bend was removed with a straight road section built directly to the Trent & Mersey for continued used of the existing businesses.
Central section
Here the canal broadens out to full two-way width and moves further away from the overflow culvert. Rising on the left is potentially a new housing development where once stood the large Co-op bakery with its impressive waterside buildings, now sadly demolished in the name of progress!
Views to the right overlook the wooded hillside where once ran a branch line as part of the Shelton Bar steel foundry. Further on past the upper east end of the culvert, paths lead up to Grange Park.
Terminus
As you get nearer to the terminus the land rises on the left to meet with the local road system. Steps and a ramp on the left take you up to Luke Street and onwards towards Newport Lane, which in turn gives access to the recent Baskeyfield House retirement home. As you pass these steps up to Luke Street.
Quayside Warehouse
This magnificent 1850s warehouse will be substantially renovated to provide a destination point for not only visiting boaters but for the whole of the Middleport and Burslem community.
The various sub-projects are described on the following pages:
