It's not really an "anachronism" Paul - just a "truncation" of events.

"1772 An act of Parliament was passed allowing a canal to be built from the River Dee in Chester to the new Trent & Mersey Canal at Middlewich, a branch line into Nantwich was also to be built.

Work continued over the next few years but engineering troubles and lack of finances caused many problems for the company. Work had to be stopped before the canal got anywhere near to Middlewich though the branch line to Nantwich was completed and connected to the finished portion of the main line. Arguments with the River Dee Company over delays in building a river lock in Chester cost the company dearly and any intended competition with the Trent & Mersey Canal was lost. (It should be noted that the Trent & Mersey Canal Company were never keen on the link themselves because they wanted to stay totally independent of any other canals or river navigations"

It is quite likely that as a "local" Baker would have been employed in this canal work and afterwards, as an experienced "navvy" on the later work which resulted in the "birth" of Ellesmere Port in 1795.