Editing Ellesmere Canal (section)

===Ellesmere Port to Chester===
{{Ellesmere Canal Wirral Branch map|Ellesmere to Chester}}
The canal starts at [[Ellesmere Port Dock]] by the Mersey. Originally goods would be transferred directly from inland waterways craft into river-going vessels at the dock, which would enter and exit through tidal lock gates. However, in the 1890s, with the construction of the [[Manchester Ship Canal]], the basin became detached from the river. Traffic was controlled by a set of two-lock staircases.

A [[contour canal]] runs between Ellesmere Port and Chester following the course of a natural river valley that encompasses Backford Brook and the [[Bache, Cheshire|Bache valley]]. The canal enters Chester Basin (wharf) at the junction with the [[Chester Canal]]. At this point, there is also a 4-lock branch that once led down to the [[River Dee (Wales)|River Dee]] and [[Chester|Port of Chester]].

When the Ellesmere Canal reached the Chester Canal, the configuration of the staircase locks at Chester was altered. The original 5-lock staircase was replaced by a deeper three-lock arrangement. At this point, the section is now part of the [[Shropshire Union Canal]].
{{wide image|Whitby-locks-1.jpg|1000px|align-cap=center|Whitby Locks, [[Ellesmere Port Dock]]s.}}
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