Our History section is under development - if you have information that would help us please use the Contact us page to get in touch.

The beginning

On 30 April 1777 King George III gave the royal assent to "An Act for making and maintaining a navigable Cut or Canal from the River Trent, in the Lordships of Sawley and Long Eaton, in the County of Derby, to or near Langley Bridge, in the Counties of Derby and Nottingham." (Source www.parliament.uk.)

Construction

Prior to royal assent, the area from the river Trent through to Langley Mill was surveyed by John Smith (a surveyor from Packington, formerly apprenticed to William Wyatt) who noted a rise of 108 feet 8½ inches.

After royal assent was granted the owners "The Company of Proprietors of the Erewash Canal, in the counties of Derby and Nottingham" (amongst them Charles Manners, 4th Duke of Rutland) raised around £21,000 to construct the canal.

The engineer John Varley was appointed, and John and James Pinkerton were the main contractors. It was completed, all 11.75 miles and 14 locks later, in 1779 but wasn't without difficulties. In August 1778 a problem with his measurements meant that the lock had to be rebuilt - John Varley was ordered to pay the £78 costs (less the value of the bricks) from his £220 salary. This would not be the last time that Varley got into trouble over his management and record keeping.

Commercial success

The Erewash Canal was a commercial success from the start mainly transporting coal.

More coming soon ...

Developments around the Erewash Canal

The Eastwood Colliery was sunk next to the Erewash Canal close to Eastwood Lock (Lock 1) with a wharf above the lock allowing transhipment of coal directly onto the canal. At the Shipley Gate Lock (Lock 2) coal was brought to the wharf above this lock from the Shipley Collieries.

The 20th century

In 1932 the Erewash Canal became part of the Grand Union.

The canal's success kept it going far longer than many others faced with competition from the railways. In 1932 when the Grand Union Canal Company took over the running of the Erewash it was still a going concern. Nationalisation came in 1947, by then the closure of canals resulting in a loss of trade and competition from other forms of transport was making itself felt and the last commercial narrow boat delivered its cargo in 1952.

Richard Beeching's British Transport Commission (BTC) closed the section of canal in 1962. However, it was kept in water to supply the lower half of the canal and it remained navigable. In 1963 the BTC transferred control of the canals and waterways to the British Waterways Board, now British Waterways.

The Erewash Canal Preservation and Development Association

The ECP&DA was formed in 1968.

Click to read Val Clark's diary of the 1970 ECP&DA rally 22 and 23 August.

More coming soon ...

The future

The future for the Erewash Canal and the ECP&DA looks very exciting. Next year, 2008 in the 40th anniversary of our formation. We are planning a boat rally.

More coming soon ...

You can also view our Photograph collection.

Should you have any queries or wish to know more, please do not hesitate to Contact us.