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IWA Branch
South Yorkshire & the Dukeries Branch
Navigation Authority
British Waterways, The Kiln, Mather Lane, NEWARK, NG24 1FB. T: 01636 704481, F: 01636 705584
enquiries.hq@britishwaterways.co.uk
www.britishwaterways.co.uk
The canal runs from the river Trent at West Stockwith to Chesterfield, covering 46 locks over the 31.5 miles.
West Stockwith Lock into Basin
Length | Beam | Height | Draught |
78ft | 15ft | 12ft | 6ft |
23.77m | 4.57m | 3.65m | 1.82m |
West Stockwith to Norwood Tunnel
Length | Beam | Height | Draught |
72ft | 7ft | 6ft | 3ft |
21.94m | 2.13m | 1.82m | 0.91m |
Boaters’ Services
Hire Boat Companies
Chesterfield Canal Boat Co
The Old Rectory, 19 Newport, LINCOLN, LN1 3DQ
Tel: 01522 514774
Historical Information
The canal was built to link Chesterfield, Worksop and Retford to the Trent and so gain access to more trade. Local Anston Stone was transported by the canal to the river Trent for the building of the new Houses of Parliament. During the 19th century the canal was a commercial success due to local coal. However, mining caused subsidence in the Norwood Tunnel, severing the top end of the canal.
In June 2003, the entire canal from the river Trent to the eastern portal of the collapsed Norwood Tunnel became navigable with the reopening of the section between Shireoaks and the tunnel. The isolated westernmost five miles of the canal from Chesterfield to Staveley is also completely restored, with four formerly derelict locks restored by the volunteers of The Chesterfield Canal Trust, and one entirely new lock being designed and partly built by the Trust. Derbyshire County Council owns this section. Between Staveley and Norwood, the canal has been filled in and is in mixed ownership. Derbyshire County Council has enabled £250,000 funding, over a two-year period, for the restoration of the next section of the Canal in Derbyshire, from Staveley to Killamarsh, and the funding includes the cost of a two-year full time post of Canal Partnership Manager, with the intent that the partnership will find additional funding to make this a full-time five-year post. Chesterfield Canal Trust’s volunteer working party continues to support the restoration and work.
For books, maps, guides, videos, DVDs and gifts on this canal, click here
Websites
Local government links
