Erewash Canal - Origins

Origins

Erewash Canal
Legend
18.3km River Trent
18.2km Trent Lock (No.60)
17.1km Sheet Stores Arm
15.5km Long Eaton Lock (No.61)
13.9km Dockholme Lock (No.62)
13.1km Sandiacre Lock (No.63)
13.05km Derby Canal from Derby
10.8km Sandiacre Pasture Lock (No.64)
10.25km M1 overpass
9.8km Stanton Lock (No.65)
9.6km Nutbrook Canal Joining from Shipley
9.1km Hallam Fields Lock (No.66)
7.8km Gallows Inn Lock (No.67)
6.95km Greens Lock (No.68)
6.5km Potters Lock (No.69)
4.8km Barker's Lock (No.70)
4.35km Stensons Lock (No.71)
2.13km Shipley Lock (No.72)
2km Aqueduct over River Erewash20 m
1.6km Eastwood Lock (No.73)
Erewash Canal to River Trent
0km Langley Bridge Lock (Cromford No.14)
Nottingham Canal branching to Nottingham
23km Langley Mill Basin
Cromford Canal in use until 1944
Butterley Tunnel2712 m
Cromford Canal in use until 1944
Cromford Basin


The canal obtained its act of parliament in 1777 with John Varley appointed as engineer and John and James Pinkerton the main contractors, it was completed in 1779 at a cost of £21,000 (£2,252,740 as of 2012),. It was a commercial success from the start mainly transporting coal.

The canal's success kept it going far longer than many of its contemporaries in the face of competition from the railways. When the Grand Union Canal Company took over the running of the Erewash in 1932 it was still a going concern. The canal was nationalised in 1947. By this time the closure of feeder canals resulting in a loss of trade and competition from other forms of transport was making itself felt and the last commercial narrowboat delivered its cargo in 1952. In 1962 the British Transport Commission closed the top section of canal. However, it was kept in water to supply the lower half of the canal and it remained navigable.

The main line from Long Eaton to Langley Mill was one of seven stretches of canal, formally designated as remainder waterways, which were re-classified by the British Waterways Act of 8 February 1983. Under the act, a total of 82 route miles (132 km) were upgraded to Cruising Waterway Standard.

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