Chesterfield Canal

The Chesterfield Canal runs for 46 miles from West Stockwith on the River Trent, through Retford, Worksop, Kiveton Park, Killamarsh, Staveley and on to Chesterfield. It was in daily use from its completion in 1777 until 1907 when the roof of the Norwood Tunnel collapsed, cutting off the western section from the Trent. It fell into severe disrepair in the mid 20th century, and has been since been restored largely due to the efforts of the Chesterfield Canal Trust and Chesterfield Canal Partnership.

©Chesterfield Canal Trust

The canal runs through the borough from the county line between Shireoaks and Cinder Hill, passes through Turnerwood, runs to the north of Thorpe Salvin, and through to Kiveton Park Station and the Head of Navigation at the eastern portal of the Norwood Tunnel. The line of the canal then crosses under the M1 motorway to Norwood, where there is still much evidence of one of the country's greatest canal engineering achievements is still to be seen - the Norwood Flight. This is a whole staircase of locks placed one above another to take boats from the summit (the highest section of the canal) down the hill to Killamarsh.

Plans are in place to restore the canal though into Kiveton Waters and then for a surface route to carry the restored canal through to Norwood and then into the Rother Valley Country Park. For further information see the Chesterfield Canal Trust website.

Construction of the canal began in 1771. It cost under £100,000 and took 6 years, 2 months and 6 days to complete. The architect was James Brindley, but Brindley unfortunately died a year after the project started. John Varley, still in his 20's, picked up the reins from Brindley and completed the whole canal, without the aid of GPS, mobile phone, motor car or laser level. Varley moved his family to Harthill whilst working on the Chesterfield Canal. He is buried in Harthill, and commemorated by a plaque on the Reading Room.

The towpath, known as the Cuckoo Way, runs alongside the canal. The path is 46 miles long and is said to be the prettiest in England. See wildlife as you meander along the path or just drink in the tranquillity on offer alongside this once thriving artery for trade through Derbyshire, South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire.

Chesterfield Canal Map