An audience of 47, including 11 non-members, attended a presentation by Mike Higginbottom entitled ‘Waterways and Railways of the Derbyshire Peaks’ at a recent meeting of Nottinghamshire Environmental Association. This is the largest attendance the Association has had since the Covid pandemic. Some visitors chose to join the Association on the night.
Mike defined the Peak District as lying between the River Mersey to the north and the River Trent to the south. This includes all of the uplands – reaching up to 2,000 ft – in Derbyshire. He began with the Cromford Canal, built by Richard Arkwright, who had established woollen mills in the Derbyshire village set in the Derwent Valley near Matlock.
The canal, which opened in 1794, was designed to aid the movement of raw materials into the mill and to distribute finished products across the country. It included a 3,083-yard tunnel known as the Butterley Tunnel, which linked the canal to the Butterley works. Initially known for brickmaking, Butterley later became involved in steel production and operated a blast furnace above the tunnel. A vertical shaft from the works led down to a small wharf within the tunnel, allowing direct access to the canal. Due to the tunnel’s narrowness, there was no towpath, and narrowboats had to be ‘legged’ through.
In 1900, a partial collapse caused by mining subsidence cut the Cromford Canal in two. It has never been repaired. In addition to transporting weaving materials, the canal carried household goods to shops in local villages. The initial water supply for Arkwright’s mill came from a ‘sough’ (a drainage tunnel) from a nearby lead mine.
Other canals mentioned included the Erewash and Mansfield canals, the latter having been filled in. Mike also discussed the Peak Forest Canal, which is still in use and located near Leeds. Usage began in 1796, and though closed in the early 1960s, it now forms part of the Cheshire Ring – a circular route comprising six canals.
Mike then turned to tramroads – or trackways – which were inclines used to transport ore from Derbyshire mines to canals or railways. These relied on gravity to allow wagons to roll downhill, although frequent accidents occurred when wagons gained too much speed and derailed.
In 1830, the Cromford & High Peak Railway was opened. It featured the sharpest bend on any British railway and was heavily cambered to help trains maintain speed. It also included one of the steepest gradients at 1 in 8, requiring a ‘banking’ engine for the climb.
This period of rapid railway expansion soon led to the decline of canals as rail transport was far swifter. Railways were, of course, privately owned and built. Some landowners refused access across their estates, while others demanded their own stations — often grand in design, reflecting their social status. Many of these railway lines were closed during the Beeching Cuts of the 1960s and now form popular walking and cycling trails, such as the Monsal Trail, the Tissington Trail, and the High Peak Trail. Several trackside buildings still remain, some repurposed as welcome refreshment stops.
The Association’s outdoor visits programme begins in May. The next bookable visit is on Friday 19th July, with a tour and hot lunch at Floral Media near Newark. In August, the visit will be to Melbourne Hall, followed by a September outing to Benningborough Hall. All visits must be booked three months in advance.
The full programme of talks and visits is available from Paul Willcock (Chairman and Secretary) – paul@paulwillcock.com or 07581 531595, or Adrian Blackburn (Vice-Chairman and Treasurer) – adrian.blackburn@sky.com or 07718 766873.
New members are always warmly welcomed.