mobile logo

Ceramic Trail Site 3

North Portal of Berwick Tunnel & Donkey Shed

Hidden Waterways is an intergenerational community project delivered by The Hive, exploring the heritage and tales behind Shropshire’s hidden canals and waterways. Through engagement with creative workshops, the project focuses on storytelling to improve mental and emotional wellbeing, whilst encouraging community cohesion and pride in the local area.

Please explore the images, videos and audio clips below to learn about the people who lived and worked on the Shrewsbury Canal and to see a birds-eye-view of how the waterways look now.

Nature to spot along the Towpaths and Tiles: The Towpaths and Canal are home for a wealth of wildlife and different plants. As you walk, look out for Cowslips, Bulrushes, Yellow Iris, Dragonflies, Butterflies, Water Voles, Tench, Pike and Moorhens along the towpath and the Ceramic Tiles.

Poetry created in community workshops with artist Jean Atkin.

Mal Edwards was the last lengthsman to work on the Shrewsbury Canal. He spent some time living in the donkey shed at Site 3. Hear Mal talking about this below:

Please be aware these sites are situated along a canal which is in the process of being regenerated by Shrewsbury and Newport Canal Trust volunteers. As such, we advise you to stay on the towpath and wear suitable outdoor footwear. You enter at your own risk and under your own supervision. Children must be supervised at all times.

Parking: It is possible to park in one of the laybys on Preston Lane. Please do not park in front of the wooden gate leading to the site.

SNCT – Working to restore the Shrewsbury and Newport Canals for the benefit of the Community and the Environment. We are always looking for volunteers, if you are interested please get in touch: http://www.sncanal.org.uk/ or call 01743 761447 for membership enquiries.

Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ShrewsburyAndNewportCanalTrust

Land is owned by Canal and River Trust.

Thanks to: We have received an enormous amount of support from Shrewsbury and Newport Canal Trust and their volunteers (Margaret Cann, Chas Warren, Stuart Dady and Andrew Dady), along with Paul Hutchinson from Drone Rangers, Ben Crane’s groundwork and Fil Poli at Condover Forge. Thanks also to Mel Board from Upton Magna Village Store and Café for providing a site for the first panel.

Ceramic Trail created by: Mike Griffiths, Huw Powell Roberts and Stephanie Kelly with Mythstories Home Education Group, St Giles C of E Primary School and families who participated in a ceramic workshop at Upton Magna Memorial Hall on May 1st 2023. It also incorporates Oral History recordings from SNCT archives, and poems created during a workshop led by Jean Atkin. Map: Ceramic Transfer Map by M Griffiths based on a map drawn by Lilian Hayward in 1950. Photos: Photos courtesy of Shrewsbury and Newport Canal Trust and Paul Shooter.