2020
CANAL FACTS
Mileposts
These 'lollipop' style mileposts were installed every quarter of a mile. The proprietors
of the canal were noted for their strict adherence to toll charges, even with the onset
of railway competition.
Of these mileposts you will encounter today, 58 are original, many having Grade 2
listing. The Inland Waterways Association funded the provision of a further 15, to
replace some of the missing ones. Occasionally, you may encounter a wooden one,
these are modern 'stop gap' replacements.
Some facts about the canal
Although the canal is 33 miles long it is only 19 miles end to end as the crow flies.
There are 18 locks along its length. 7 have been restored and when Kingston’s Lock
is completed it will bring the total to 8.
The canal is fed by 2 reservoirs, Knipton and Denton, and at the time of construction
was the first English canal fed only by reservoir. There are also 6 feeder streams.
There are 35 fully navigable bridges with 35 still to be restored.
The canal is fully navigable from Lock 15, Bottom of Half Mile Pond Lock, up to the
A1. As locks are restored so will the length of the navigable section grow.
LOCKS ARE NUMBERED FROM THE RIVER TRENT AND ARE NAMED AS FOLLOWS:
1.
TRENT
2.
BRIDGFORD
3.
GAMSTON
4.
SKINNER’S
5.
SANDER’S
6.
COTGRAVE
7.
HOLLYGATE LANE
8.
JOSHUA’S
9.
CROPWELL BOTTOM
10. CROPWELL MIDDLE
11. CROPWELL TOP
12. WOOLSTHORPE BOTTOM
13. STAINWITH
14. KINGSTON’S
15. BOTTOM OF HALF MILE POND
16. CARPENTER’S
17. WILLIS’S
18. WOOLSTHORPE TOP
Locks highlighted in bold text have been restored.
Details taken from Bradshaw’s Canals and Navigable Rivers dated 1904
