Turn right at Trent Junction

Tuesday, 31 August 2010 12:29

We chose the Erewash Canal at Trent Junction

Junction sign

The Erewash Canal was built towards the end of the 18th Century as one of the five canals to carry coal from the pits of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire to the towns of the East Midlands. John Varley was appointed engineer (he was the engineer on the Chesterfield Canal too) and the build was completed in 1779. The canal was a commercial success and this success encouraged the building of the Cromford, Nottingham, Derby and Nutbrook Canals.

C and J Deuchar and Sons - ex FMC coal carrying narrowboats Hereford and Jackal on the Erewash today:

High tolls and the advent of the railways meant that by 1834 the Canal Company was unable to continue to be profitable, so, in 1932, the Erewash Canal Company was bought up by the Grand Union Canal Company. The GUCC wanted to create a through route to London via their other acquisitions, the Loughborough and Leicester navigations.

Trent Lock - the entrance from Trent Junction

This attempt failed, and after nationalisation the British Transport Commission closed the upper section, in 1962. The lower section still needed water, so the upper section had to be maintained. Boating was allowed on application. Working narrowboats ceased in 1963, but leisure craft increased until finally it was designated a cruiseway in 1972 and upgrading was finished by 1983.
Trent Lock with a view to Ratcliffe Power Station, a coal-fired power station on the River Soar.

The leisure boater is well provided for, with opportunities for refreshment at Trent Lock: the Steamboat Inn with its tea rooms and the Navigation Inn are nearby.

Steamboat Inn

Above the lock is a boatyard. Mill Dockyard has a dry dock that empties into Trent Junction. Opposite are the visitor moorings; there was just room for us on the end of the moorings!

Epiphany moored with the dry dock opposite

So we were now on a completely new waterway - a canal with broad locks, fourteen locks in 11 and three quarter miles! What adventures awaited us I wonder?