Erewash Canal
engineered by John Varley, 11.5 miles long with 15 locks

History and General Knowledge of the Erewash Canal

A short but broad canal set in Derbyshire, completed in 1779 at a cost of £21,000 which is about £2.6m in today's money. Surveyed in 1766 by J Smith.
John Varley (also responsible for the Chesterfield Canal) was the engineer appointed.

It was mainly used to transport coal and was a great commercial success and was still in great use for coal haulage right up to 1932. Although cargo traffic dwindled, it was still in use right up to 1952.

Also used to transport quarried stone, bricks and even used to transport munition cases during World War 2.

History of the Erewash Canal

It is a 30-mile long canal located in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, England. It was built in the late 18th century to transport coal and other goods from the Erewash Valley to the River Trent.

The canal was authorised by an Act of Parliament in 1777, and construction began the following year. The engineer in charge of the project was John Varley, and the canal was completed in 1779. The original purpose of the canal was to transport coal from the coalfields of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire to the River Trent, where it could be transported further afield.

The Erewash Canal was initially very successful, and it quickly became a major artery for the transport of coal and other goods. However, in the mid-19th century, the canal faced competition from the railway, which began to take over much of the canal's freight traffic. The canal struggled to remain competitive, and by the early 20th century, it was in a state of decline.

In the 1920's the canal was acquired by the Grand Union Canal Company, which began a program of restoration and improvement. The company enlarged the locks, deepened the canal, and constructed new bridges and aqueducts. These improvements allowed larger boats to use the canal, and the Erewash Canal once again became a major transportation route.

However, with the decline of the coal industry in the mid-20th century, the canal faced another period of decline. By the 1960's the canal was in a state of disrepair and it was officially closed to commercial traffic in 1962.

The stretch above the Gallows Inn became un-navigable in 1962. In the decades that followed, the Erewash Canal underwent a period of full restoration of the canal which began in 1968. It was eventually reopened to pleasure craft in 1973. Today, the canal is used primarily for recreational purposes and it is a popular destination for boaters, walkers, and cyclists.

Despite its history of decline and restoration, the Erewash Canal remains an important part of the industrial heritage of the East Midlands. It is a testament to the ingenuity and determination of the engineers and labourers who built it, and it continues to provide a valuable resource for the communities that surround it.