Shropshire Union Canal North West Entrance To Berwick Tunnel

The north-west entrance to Berwick Tunnel is a canal tunnel entrance dated 1797, possibly designed by Josiah Clowes or Thomas Telford. It is constructed from dressed red sandstone with ashlar dressings. The entrance features a parabolic arch with chamfered voussoirs and triple keystones, along with curved retaining walls, a string course, a central square datestone, a coped parapet raised at the center, and coped square end piers. The arch was bricked up in the late 20th century. Berwick Tunnel, which is 970 yards long, was the first canal tunnel to incorporate a towpath from the beginning, although this was removed in 1819. The towpath, suggested by William Reynolds, was wooden, about 3 feet wide, and rested on bearers set in the wall, allowing the full width of the tunnel to be filled with water and reducing the resistance for boats. The Shrewsbury branch of the Shropshire Union Canal began construction in 1793 with Josiah Clowes as the engineer under William Reynolds, who was replaced by Thomas Telford after his death in February 1795. The canal was opened in February 1797.