Up to the top, or is it the bottom?

Wednesday, 01 September 2010 14:06

Up the Erewash to the head of navigation

After Pastures Lock, the M1 roars overhead through the countryside. The River Erewash and the railway follow the canal northwards. I noticed that the locks are numbered and Stanton Lock is 65.

I am assuming that the BW numbering continues from the River Soar. It is also part of the Grand Union "navigation" and the remains of the idea of the GUCC for a "mainline" canal from London to the coal fields of Derbyshire. Interestingly, the Erewash Canal Preservation and Development Association (ECP and DA for short) refer to the locks as numbers 1 to 14.

Gallows Inn Lock

As we came up Gallows Inn Lock we had a number of interested gongoozlers - drinks in hand! The usual questions were asked - how much does a narrowboat cost, where do you moor etc ......

Above this lock, we were back into housing estate territory for a while as the canal skirted Ilkeston. At Potters Lock, the old Nottingham Canal is not far away, beyond the railway; a walking trail follows the contour of the old canal.

As I waited for Barker's Lock I spotted the opencast coal workings and depot beyond the trees. It all looked very Heath Robinson to me, but no doubt it is the best way to mine the coal in these parts.

Opencast workings

Now we had left Ilkeston and Cotmanhay behind; meanwhile the railway had swung away to the west. Shipley and Eastwood Locks are the last two on the Erewash Canal. At Shipley Lock , the two buildings on the west side are apparently related to the old horse drawn working boats. One was a stable and the other a slaughterhouse for worn out canal horses.

Shipley Lock buildings

Poor things, they came for a rest and ended up in the knackers yard! No "putting out" to grass or horse rescue centre then - they were an economic burden once they were too old to pull.

The rural stretch comes to an end at Langley Bridge Lock.

Langley Bridge Lock

We had achieved another head of navigation - but at the same time we had achieved another "head of navigation". No, I am not repeating myself. The fact is that Langley Bridge Lock (Langley Bridge Lock according to BW) is on the Cromford Canal. The Erewash arrived at the junction with the Cromford Canal just below Langley Mill Bridge.

We think the Erewash ended in a Basin to the left of the photograph below  - we spoke to a local boater who gave us this information. If anyone knows more or "better" please let us know!

Entrance to the Erewash Canal Basin?

There is a photo of the junction - I have just found it after much searching, it is on the Friends of the Cromford Canal website! But you will have to follow the link to find it - clickety click

On Langley Bridge, there are a couple of signs that I missed on the way, as I was keeping an eye on some lads fishing on the lock landing just below the bridge. One managed to get his line caught on the opposite side just as I wanted to pass!

Moored above the lock in the Great Northern Basin

Erewash Canal, Pasture Lock to Great Northern Basin

5 hours 44 minutes, 6.7 miles, 10 locks