Derby Canal : Attraction of Derby

The Derby Canal ran 14 miles (23 km) from the Trent and Mersey Canal at Swarkestone to the Erewash Canal at Sandiacre, Derbyshire, England. The canal gained its Act of Parliament in 1793 and was fully completed in 1796. The canal’s main cargo was coal.

The route included the 44ft-long, single-span Holmes Aqueduct, the world’s first cast iron navigable aqueduct, carrying the canal over a millstream in central Derby.

In 1817 the link to the Trent and Mersey canal was closed due to its lack of financial success. The reason for this failure was that the Trent and Mersey canal had been charging tolls at extortionate rates on boats using the link.

By the mid 19th century the canal was in trouble. Competition from the railways had resulted in several neighbouring canals being sold off which had in turn reduced the level of through traffic. However the canal company did continue. In 1908 the Little Eaton Branch closed. In 1964 the canal company gained permission to close the rest of the canal. Over the next three decades, areas of the canal were built on while others were allowed to decay. The Holmes Aqueduct was demolished in 1971.

In 1994 the Derby and Sandiacre Canal Society was set up. Restoration began in earnest the following year and is now well underway.