Cromford Canal

The Cromford Canal ran 14.5 miles (23 km) from Cromford to the Erewash Canal in Derbyshire, England. Its alignment included four tunnels and 14 locks.

Related Topics:
Cromford - Erewash Canal - Derbyshire - England - Tunnel - Locks

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From Cromford it ran south following the contour line along the east side of the valley of the Derwent to Ambergate, where it turned eastwards along the Amber valley. It turned sharply to cross the valley, crossing the river and the Ambergate to Nottingham road, by means of an aqueduct at Bullbridge, before turning towards Ripley and thence to Butterley Tunnel.

Related Topics:
Derwent - Ambergate - Amber valley - Nottingham - Bullbridge - Ripley - Butterley Tunnel

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From the tunnel it continued to Pye Hill, near Ironville, where a branch was built to Pinxton, and turned southwards through the Erewash Valley to join the Erewash Canal at Langley Mill. The Pinxton Branch became important as a route for Nottinghamshire coal, via the Erewash, to the River Trent and Leicester and was a terminus of the Mansfield and Pinxton Railway.

Related Topics:
Ironville - Pinxton - Erewash Valley - Erewash Canal - Langley Mill - Nottinghamshire - River Trent - Leicester - Mansfield and Pinxton Railway

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The canal obtained its act of parliament in 1789 and opened in 1794. The canal, despite costing about twice the initial estimate (£42,697), was a financial success. The canal mostly carried coal, lead and iron ore, some extracted from inside the Butterley Tunnel.

Related Topics:
Act of parliament - 1789 - 1794 - Coal - Lead - Iron - Butterley

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The canal also carried limestone from the Butterley Company's quarry at Crich with a plateway to the Amber Wharf at Bullbridge. In attempt to avoid using cable-haulage or a rack and pinion system, a remarkable steam engine, the "Steam Horse" was tried out in 1813.

Related Topics:
Limestone - Butterley Company - Crich - Plateway - Bullbridge - Cable-haulage - Rack and pinion - "Steam Horse" - 1813

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In 1831, the Cromford and High Peak Railway was built to connect the canal to the Peak Forest Canal at Whaley Bridge.

Related Topics:
1831 - Cromford and High Peak Railway - Peak Forest Canal - Whaley Bridge

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In 1840 when the North Midland Railway was built, George Stephenson was faced with the problem at Bullbridge of taking the line over the road but under the canal, thus the Bullbridge Aqueduct, in its final form, placed the river, road, railway and canal at four levels.

Related Topics:
1840 - North Midland Railway - George Stephenson - Bullbridge Aqueduct

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Although the 1840's and 1850's were its busiest period, it was clear that its business would be taken over by the railways. In 1846, Parliamentary assent was granted to merge with the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway. The sale was not carried through until 1852 by which time the Midland Railway and the LNWR had assumed joint control and, with railway lines from Rowsley through Ambergate to the north and south, it was being used for little more than local traffic.

Related Topics:
1840 - 1850 - 1846 - Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway - 1852 - Midland Railway - LNWR - Rowsley

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In 1900 the 3,063 yard (2801m) Butterley Tunnel was closed due to subsidence. Most of the canal was abandoned in 1944 with the exception of a half-mile (800m) stretch to Langley Mill which was abandoned in 1962. Some attempts are being made to restore the canal and about 5 miles (8km) of it is in shallow water.

Related Topics:
1900 - 1944 - 1962

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See also Cromford and High Peak Railway

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