The Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company

The Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company (SUR&CC) was formed in 1846, which managed several canals and a railway. Operating mainly in the Midlands and North Wales.
They operated on the Trent & Mersey, Caldon & Burslem Branch Canals transporting raw materials and finished pottery.
From 1847he London & North Western Railway leased capacity from the SUR&CC - hence both names appear on the gable end of Longport Wharf.
By 1907 there were three main carriers serving the Potteries....

Anderton Company Ltd.
Mersey Weaver & Ship Canal Carrying Company.
Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company.

In 1922 the SUR&CC was bought by the London & North Western Railway (LNWR).

The Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company
Advert: Keates's Gazetter and Directory of the Potteries and Newcastle 1879

THE SHROPSHIRE UNION
Railways and Canal Company
give Public Notice that they RECEIVE and FORWARD GOODS
DAILY between
North Staffordshire and the Potteries
AND
CHESTER AND LIVERPOOL,
Via Ellesmere Port

ALSO BETWEEN
NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE AND THE POTTERIES
AND
South Staffordshire, East Worcestershire, Birmingham,
Manchester, Shropshire, the Ruabon Mineral
District, and all parts of North Wales.

Extensive accommodation is provided at Ellesmere Port (on the Mersey), for Crates, Flints, Clays, and all other description of Goods, and also at Manchester Basin, Liverpool.

The Company's Canals also communicate with the River Dee, at Chester, and accommodation for Flints and Clays is provided at the River Dee Basin.

The Company have also very extensive Wharfage and Warehouse accommodation for Clay, Flint, Stone, Earthenware, &c., at their Wharfs at Tunstall, Longport and Stoke-upon-Trent.

The Company are also Agents to the London and North-Western Railway Company in the Pottery towns, for the Delivery and Collection of Goods,

For Rates and Freight, and full information, apply to the Company's District Agent (Mr. J. ALLERTON), Shropshire Union Company, Stoke-upon-Trent, or to the undersigned, at the Company's General Office Tower Wharf, Chester

WM. JONES,
General Manager.

The Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company Wharf at Longport
later owned by the Mersey, Weaver and Ship Canal Carrying Company

sign on the gable end.....
London & North-Western Railway Company
Shropshire Union Railways & Canal Co.

Shropshire Union Railways & Canal Co. wharf buildings on Burslem Branch Canal

wharf buildings at Burslem Port
this wharf building was owned by the Shropshire Union Railway and Canal Company.
The building sat on the Burslem branch of the Trent and Mersey canal which has since been filled in

later owned by the Mersey Weaver & Ship Canal Carrying Co.......

Committee of Inquiry into Inland Waterways
Record of visits made by Mr. H. Leslie Bowes to the various canals

Wednesday 22nd August 1956

Visited the Caldon Canal, i.e. the Caldon Branch of the Trent & Mersey. It was here that a length was cleared at an expense of £5,000 to enable the Willow Wren people to transit, they stating that they could do business but could not navigate owing to there not being sufficient water; in the event, however, no traffic has resulted. This Canal is primarily a feeder for the Trent & Mersey, and Mr. Marsh will be quite happy to have it closed to navigation and weired. The Burslem Arm is let to the Mersey Weaver & Ship Canal Carrying Co. Considerable quantities of china clay are stored here.

1895 Act of Parliament empowering the Shropshire Union Railways
and Canal Company to aquire (amongst many other things)
land and buildings in Longport.

from: 1907 Staffordshire Sentinel
'Business Reference Guide to The Potteries, Newcastle & District'