Park on Croxton Lane at canal bridge, join the towpath and
follow the arrow
The Big Lock pound is the old boatmen's name for this stretch of
water,(a pound being the water between two locks ie impounded)
leaving the Big Lock in middlewich it signified a chance to put
away the windlass, leaving the work of the Cheshire locks behind
you and enjoy the long lock free pound all the way to the
bridgewater canal and manchester,a good 30 miles away by canal.
The canal crosses the River Dane on a steel aqueduct which is 9'
wide, this is a replacement of the original aqueduct that was
washed way by the river Dane in the 1930s, the original footings of
the 2 arch aqueduct can still be seen in the bank and under the
water.
The big lock pound suffers from subsidence caused by wild brine
pumping in the last 2 centuries this has led to most of the bridges
on the pound, being replaced with flat decks to allow them to be
easily jacked up when the surrounding land subsides.
The effect of the subsidence is also seen at croxton flash,
which has been used as agraveyard for unwanted boats in the past.
The towpath is also regularly being built up as it subsides, this
all leads to deep water for the boats to run in, rather tahn the
usuial 4-5' depth of most canals