At its height was the largest inland port in England shipping coal and limestone from local quarries. These were taken to the basin along railways using horse draw wagons. The remains of lime kilns are visible beside the basin.
When the Peak Forest Canal opened in 1796, canal mania had gripped the country. This was the time of the Industrial Revolution. Factories and building site demanded more and more raw materials. Canals allowed safe transport on a massive scale. It was a monumental enterprise.
In 1808 alone, workers moved enough limestone at Bugsworth Canal Basin to fill over 2,000 canal boats. Horses hauled boats at about 4 miles per hour. A journey from Bugsworth to Manchester took around 10 hours because the crews had to negotiate 34 locks on their way.
@gilbertwood Thanks Denise, I first visited it many years ago when it was derelict but a lovely wild life haven. but it good to see it restored and in use
September 12th, 2014
Leave a Comment
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
