In 2021 members of Chester Civic Trust, after much hard work with partners Inland Waterways Association and Cheshire West and Chester Council, achieved Chester’s designation as the first canal and river system Heritage Port. This was by the national body responsible for promoting this designation scheme, the Maritime Heritage Trust (MHT) in partnership with National Historic Ships (NHS) and European Maritime Heritage (EMH). Final semi-statutory designation by Historic England is in progress.
