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Ralph Manley had died in 1815 and the trade from Tower Wharf, Chester was handled by his widow
Mary. She decided to sell the boats by auction in 1821, but that decision was changed when John
Shanklin merged his affairs with those of Manley, forming Shanklin, Manley & Co. at the Tower
Wharf., which lasted as a carrying operation through to 1838.

John Goolden had begun as a boat builder but came to have warehouses at Maesbury Marsh and
Edstaston (Prees Branch). His partnership with Thomas Balmer as carrier on the Ellesmere & Chester
Canal lasted until his death in 1837. Edstaston Wharf benefited from the trade by turnpike from
Shrewsbury, whilst Maesbury Marsh was the closest wharf to Oswestry by turnpike. Richard
Goolden, his brother, inherited John’s warehouse at Edstaston. Richard was what may be described
as an entrepreneur, as he had stakes in various businesses. He was a timber merchant based at the
Union Wharf, Welshpool and also owned a nearby flannel factory. Richard was also a coach
proprietor and with Thomas Balmer was an Ellesmere and Montgomery canal carrier. Richard
Goolden’s various financial dealings culminated in bankruptcy in November 1841. This bankruptcy
notice went ahead on 16 November, five days after Thomas Balmer and Richard Goolden ended
their partnership!

The Coffield carrying business became known as Fairhurst, Tilston & Co. from 1830. The Tilston
family included three bothers - Edward, John and Richard. They were based at Ellesmere as boat
builders and timber merchants. Until 1830, both Richard and Edward Tilston were part of the
carrying concern, Lewis. Tilston & Co. There were four partners in this arrangement, J Lewis, R &
E Tilston and James Smith. Both Edward Tilston and James Smith then became partners in the firm
of Fairhurst, Tilston & Co. As carriers on the Ellesmere and Montgomery canals Fairhurst, Tilston
served wharves along the full length. Apart from Chester and Nantwich, their boats called at
Whitchurch, Edstaston, Ellesmere, Llangollen, Maesbury Marsh. Llanymynech, New Bridge,
Welshpool (Commercial Wharf) and Newtown.

Whilst canal carrying by a canal company was the exception rather than the rule, the Ellesmere and
Chester sought to take on this role and eventually gained parliamentary powers to do this. As part
of their plans to do this, they took over the two businesses Fairhurst, Tilston & Co and Shanklin,
Manley & Co to gain control of their wharves and boats. This was done during 1836 and their
combined businesses formed the core of their carrying business, even if they did not have the
sanction by parliament. This came later. Edward Tilston became the company agent at Chester
whilst Thomas Balmer was appointed agent at Liverpool.

For the Ellesmere & Chester Canal Company, this was a time to develop the wharves and carrying
trade, and this was done at the expense of other carriers. Whilst the companies of Fairhurst, Tilston
& Co and Shanklin, Manley & Co were dissolved respectively in 1837 and 1838, Edward Tilston
and James Smith still carried a separate carrying trade as Tilston Smith until July 1851.

Whatever the initial hopes of the Ellesmere & Chester Canal Carrying Company were, such plans
did not include the Manchester trade as they leased off their tugs, floats and flats to the Bridgewater
Trustees. Their scope was increased from 1845, when the Birmingham & Liverpool Junction canal
was absorbed into the greater Ellesmere & Chester Canal operations. This organisation became
greater still with the formation of the Shropshire Union Railway & Canal Company in 1847.

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