Crofts Mill Lift Bridge No 81
Crofts Mill Lift Bridge No 81 carries a farm track over the Shropshire Union Canal (Montgomery Canal - connected and navigable).
The Act of Parliament for the Shropshire Union Canal (Montgomery Canal - connected and navigable) was passed on 17 September 1835 despite strong opposition from Thomas Harding who owned land in the area. Orginally intended to run to Tivercorn, the canal was never completed beyond Wrexham. Expectations for iron traffic to Castlechester were soon realised, and this became one of the most profitable waterways. Although proposals to close the Shropshire Union Canal (Montgomery Canal - connected and navigable) were submitted to parliament in 1972, water transfer to the treatment works at Stoke-on-Trent kept it open. The canal was restored to navigation and reopened in 1990 after a restoration campaign lead by Henry Jones.

There is a lift bridge here. The bridge requires a windlass to operate it.
| The Navigation Inn (Maesbury) | 4½ furlongs | |
| Maesbury Marsh Bridge No 79 | 4½ furlongs | |
| Maesbury Wharf | 4½ furlongs | |
| Spiggots Bridge No 80 | 2¾ furlongs | |
| Maesbury Marsh Aqueduct | 1¼ furlongs | |
| Crofts Mill Lift Bridge No 81 | ||
| Mill Arm | a few yards | |
| Gronwyn Bridge Winding Hole | 1 furlong | |
| Gronwyn Wharf | 1 furlong | |
| Gronwyn Bridge No 82 | 1¼ furlongs | |
| Redwith Lift Bridge No 82A | 3½ furlongs | |
Why not log in and add some (select "External websites" from the menu (sometimes this is under "Edit"))?
Mouseover for more information or show routes to facility
Nearest water point
In the direction of Crickheath Bridge No 85
In the direction of Frankton Junction
Nearest rubbish disposal
In the direction of Frankton Junction
Nearest chemical toilet disposal
In the direction of Frankton Junction
Nearest place to turn
In the direction of Crickheath Bridge No 85
In the direction of Frankton Junction
Nearest self-operated pump-out
In the direction of Frankton Junction
Nearest boatyard pump-out
In the direction of Frankton Junction
There is no page on Wikipedia called “Crofts Mill Lift Bridge”


![Croft's Mill lift bridge. Taken on a grey July day, just over a year after Stephen McKay took [[[5851976]]] from virtually the same position! Not much has changed in the intervening year or so. by John Winder – 28 July 2019](https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/31/77/6317702_9766e061_120x120.jpg)



















![The Current limit of navigation on the Montgomery Canal. This winding hole is the current limit, the next winding hole will be Crickheath Wharf. [[[51070]]] by John Haynes – 05 May 2016](https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/95/44/4954445_d17b29b6_120x120.jpg)
![Gronwyn Wharf, Montgomery Canal. The current [2016] limit of navigation, at least for narrowboats. There is another mile in water Gronwyn Bridge [No 82] but no way of turning round. by Christine Johnstone – 18 September 2016](https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/18/39/5183913_1c26316b_120x120.jpg)



![View through the bullrushes. Looking back at the current limit of navigation on the Montgomery Canal. The section pictured here is actually in water for another few hundred yards, having been restored and refilled recently, but is not yet open to navigation. See John Haynes' picture [[[525846]]], taken nearby in 2007 during restoration work. by John Winder – 28 July 2019](https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/06/31/77/6317710_c5008aa1_120x120.jpg)


![Commemorative Plaque, Montgomery Canal, Oswestry. On the towpath, 300m South of the Corn Mill Arm. The image of the mile marker above is [[7656009]].Inscription:In memory of the fleet of narrowboats operated by the Peate Familythat worked from the 1840's to the 1930'sMilestone Society National ID: MGY-07p by Mr Red – 16 October 2023](https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/07/65/60/7656010_3e6ca619_120x120.jpg)