Derby Canal
DERBY CANAL
The Derby Canal ran north from a junction with the Trent & Mersey at Swarkestone to Derby, crossed the river Derwent near the city centre and turned eastwards to end in a junction with the Erewash Canal at Sandiacre.The canal fell into disuse in the 1940s but remained officially open. However there was no public right of navigation, so the company could prevent its use, attempts to organise protest cruises were thwarted and it was finally abandoned in 1964. Much of the canal was filled in, but in many places the route has avoided being built on and could be restored.In the 1990s the Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society was formed with the aim of reopening the canal. So far the society has restored one lock and two bridges and carried out extensive canal clearance. For the longer term, a diversionary route has been identified which will avoid the parts of the canal near the centre of Derby that have been obstructed since closure. Current thinking is that this would cross the Derwent not by an aqueduct or level crossing but a novel boat lift, and that a new route to the city centre would be provided by a lock connecting into the river.www.derbycanal.org.uk
