Ashby canal - Land Blockage
The Dral
Rankdave said,
> So how did the canal ever end up at Moira?
> The 1975 Nicholsons's guide say that the canal had been completed 2
> year before the mine at Moira was sunk. However the Leics canal book
> says the whole canal through to Moira was finished in 1805 through
> to Moira.
> I'm informed (and it seems most plausible ) that the canal was going
> to terminate at Willesley, however, the high quality of the coal
> from the new mine at Moira sunk in 1804 actually changed things. So
> instead of going east and up to AdlZ (and the 4 branches) it headed
> west to Moira.
In his writing's on the Ashby Canal, Peter Hardcastle disagrees that
the canal was finished /after/ coal was found at Moira......
_________________________________________________________________________
ASHBY-DE-LA-ZOUCH CANAL
c1768 From the moment the Coventry Canal was granted its Act,
other local businessmen looked at ways to create a similar route
slightly to the east which would also link into the Trent & Mersey
Canal or the River Trent. Time and again the idea was promoted but
nothing was ever begun.
1792 Eventually a plan was formed under the name of the Ashby
Canal. The promoters were mainly Leicestershire businessmen who owned
limestone works and coalfields around the Ashby-de-la-Zouch area. Both
Derbyshire and the Black Country were becoming prosperous due to coal
being carried by canal, it was thought that west Leicestershire could
also cash in if it had a canal.
The plan which was promoted included a main line from the Coventry Canal
to Ashby-de-la-Zouch - the idea of linking into the Trent & Mersey Canal
was dropped as local business was now more important than a through-route.
Two branch lines to limestone works at Cloudhill and Ticknall in Derbyshire
were also promoted. The proposal would have created a waterway totalling
43 miles, 30 of which would be completely lockless. However, the most
northerly 13 miles would have to be built across difficult terrain with a
large amount of locks, a reservoir, a pumping station and a tunnel. In the
end the promoters decided that the canal would terminate at Moira (4 miles
west of Ashby) and the two branches would be created as plateways built by
Benjamin Outram.
1794 An Act was granted which allowed the construction of a
canal from Marston Jabbett to Moira. The Act also allowed the
construction of the plateways to Cloudhill and Ticknall.
c1800 While the route was still under construction it became
apparent that the quality and quantity of coal coming from the mines of
west Leicestershire was nowhere near as good as the coal being mined in
Derbyshire and the Black Country. Some people began to fear that the
canal was doomed to failure even before it had seen its first boat.
1802 The Ashby Canal opened *through-out*. As feared, it was
not an instant success. (In fact, it didn't return a profit for 20
years).
1804 One glimmer of hope *during the early years of operation*
came when a mine was sunk at Moira which *eventually* produced such
good quality coal that it was in demand as far away as London and
Oxford. The canal company set reduced tolls for carriage of the coal
and this kept the route going and eventually helped produce a profit.
........................
Copyright © Peter Hardcastle 1996, 1998
_____________________________________________________________________________
This suggests that the canal had been running (to Moira) for 2 years
before the good coal was struck. It also suggests that the Act
authorised the canal to be built to Moira - I wonder if this is
correct?
> Much evidence of the tramways still remain today espeically near
> Calke Abbey, Stuanton Harold, and Dimminsdale. (OS Pathfinder 852)
> All highly recommended walking country, especially if you stop for
> beer from the glass at the Saracens Head at Heath End. Campaign for
> bringing back the tramways anyone :)
Where did the tramways meet the canal? At which wharf? Is there
evidence today? Also, can somebody point out where Willesley is, not
with OS numbers but with a road map?!
--
--
__________________________________
- Dral -
__________________________________
Chris Deuchar
> Where did the tramways meet the canal? At which wharf? Is there
> evidence today? Also, can somebody point out where Willesley is, not
> with OS numbers but with a road map?!
Lots of tramways, lots of wharves!
eg Illott wharf on the bend just north of Snarestone aqueduct; on the
Donisthorpe loop (nearest for Ashby); immediately east of Moira
furnace (I think THIS was the one that ran 3/4mile east to
Willesley), from the terminus at Spring Cottage etc etc
The Ashby Canal Association produce a map which shows many of these
Chris D
chris....@nottingham.ac.uk tel 0115 951 6264 fax 0115 951 6267
Recently published: "A Boaters Guide to BOATING" 3-75GBP + 0-75 GBP
p&p. A mixture of old and new waterway techniques. ISBN 0 9531512 0 4
Details at: http://www.blacksheep.org/canals/books.htm
Martin Ludgate
In message <34FA119C.MD...@enterprise.net>, The Dral
<dr...@enterprise.net> writes
>
>1794 An Act was granted which allowed the construction of a
>canal from Marston Jabbett to Moira. The Act also allowed the
>construction of the plateways to Cloudhill and Ticknall.
>
the Cloud Hill / Ticknell / Staunton Harold branches were included in the
1794 Act as canals. In Oct 1796 the company realised they had spent
much more than intended on building the still-incomplete Marston - Ashby
Woulds section, so they decided to substitute tramways for the branches
'soon afterwards'.
>
>Where did the tramways meet the canal? At which wharf? Is there
>evidence today? Also, can somebody point out where Willesley is, not
>with OS numbers but with a road map?!
>
but I've had a look at my maps and I think I can work out where it probably
was:
The B586 Measham - Moira road crosses the canal twice, about 1 mile
and 1 1/3 miles from Measham. Between these crossings the canal
heads north east following the contour up one side of the valley of the
Saltersford Water, turns north west and crosses it - presumably on an
embankment - and then turns west and follows the other side of the valley
back to the B road. The small scale map in Hadfield shows the tramway
leaving the canal somewhere on this section, which is the nearest the
canal gets to Ashby.
By comparing the 1955 Bartholemews half-inch map (which shows the
canal) with the 1987 OS 1:50,000 map (which does not show the canal,
but shows rights-of-way), I reckon the line of the canal is followed for most
of this section by unsurfaced dirt-roads and public footpaths. Follow the B
road from Measham past the two turnings on the left that go into
Oakthorpe village. About 1/4 mile after the second one, the canal crosses:
to your left it is a public footpath; to the right it is a dirt road that follows
the line of the canal before it comes to a dead end after a few hundred
yards. To follow the next section beyond here, return to the B road and
back towards Measham for about 200 yards to where a public footpath
crosses the road. Follow this in a north easterly direction. After about 1/4
mile the canal line merges from the left. After following the canal line for
another 1/3 mile, a footpath branches off on the right and heads south
east, then immediately afterwards the canal swings round to the left (north
west) and a dirt road follows its line, while the footpath continues in a
suspiciously straight line north-north-east to a crossroads labelled
'Willesley' (where the Ashby - Donisthorpe unclassified road crosses the
one that goes from the B5003 near Norris Hill to the A453 / B4116 / B5396
junction) I wonder if the rather straight continuation of the footpath is the
line of the tramway, and the junction is near where the two footpaths and
dirt road meet. If not, it is possibly on the next section of the dirt road,
which follows the line of the canal for a further quarter mile as it swings
round towards the west across the stream, before diverging north from the
canal line to join the Ashby - Donisthorpe road half a mile east of the
B586. The next quarter mile of the canal is not followed by a right of way,
but the final few hundred yards back to the second crossing of the B586
are followed by another dead-end dirt road, which joins the B586 from the
east about 300yds south of where it crosses the Ashby - Donisthorpe
road.
It would appear from my maps that most of the Ashby northern reaches
are followed by public footpaths, so it may well be an area worth exploring.
--
Martin Ludgate
The Dral
> > Where did the tramways meet the canal? At which wharf? Is there
> > evidence today? Also, can somebody point out where Willesley is, not
> > with OS numbers but with a road map?!
>
> Lots of tramways, lots of wharves!
>
> eg Illott wharf on the bend just north of Snarestone aqueduct; on the
ah, thats good, I'd guessed that would be one place. The wharf didn't
appear to be much use in that position for much else!
The Dral
> >Where did the tramways meet the canal? At which wharf? Is there
> >evidence today? Also, can somebody point out where Willesley is,
> >not with OS numbers but with a road map?!
> >
> I've never been there, so I don't know what if any evidence there is
> today, but I've had a look at my maps and I think I can work out
> where it probably was:
Ah - you do it the same way I do!
> The B586 Measham - Moira road crosses the canal twice, about 1 mile
> and 1 1/3 miles from Measham. Between these crossings the canal
> heads north east following the contour up one side of the valley of
> the Saltersford Water, turns north west and crosses it - presumably
> on an embankment - and then turns west and follows the other side of
> the valley back to the B road. The small scale map in Hadfield
> shows the tramway leaving the canal somewhere on this section, which
> is the nearest the canal gets to Ashby.
Yep, this was my guess - mainly because its nearest to Ashby and I
thought the tramway (or especially the original planned canal) may
have followed Saltersford Water.
> I reckon the line of the canal is followed for most
> of this section by unsurfaced dirt-roads and public footpaths.
Yes, my Philip's Navigator road map shows the line of the
canal on this loop as a road! I have an old map of the canal (sent to
me by a mail list member) but it doesn't show the tramways. However,
having now looked more closely at this map I've found Willesley. In
fact its at the point we're talking about on this "loop".
> a dirt road follows its line, while the footpath continues in a
> suspiciously straight line north-north-east to a crossroads
> labelled 'Willesley' (where the Ashby - Donisthorpe unclassified
> road crosses. I wonder if the rather straight continuation of the
> footpath is the line of the tramway, and the junction is near where
> the two footpaths and dirt road meet.
I can now see the dotted lines on the old map showing this same
line. But the old map also lists Willesley Colliery right at the
point where we are talking of a canal/tramway junction so this track
may just have been an access road/path to the mine.
> If not, it is possibly on the next
> section of the dirt road, which follows the line of the canal for a
> further quarter mile as it swings round towards the west across the
> stream, before diverging north from the canal line to join the Ashby
> - Donisthorpe road half a mile east of the B586.
My Philips map shows two different tracks. One is the old canal
line which crosses the stream then magically has water in it on the north
of the valley while the second is the lane heading north (and south) to
minor roads (this could have served the wharf (or the mine again).
> It would appear from my maps that most of the Ashby northern
> reaches are followed by public footpaths, so it may well be an area
> worth exploring.
Peter James sent me a leaflet he picked up at the recent meeting he
attended. It marks a number of walks in this area. Peter says he may
take a look at the area soon(ish) - he lives at Ashby.
Thanks for the help - espicially in finding Willesley. It would appear
from this that (as it was suggested yesterday) the Moira line was
an after-thought or more likely only ever intended as a branch off the
main line. Though the main line ended up being the tramway from
Willesley.
One final (?) point. People seem to assume that the canal ended at
the (now) famous furnace in Moira but the historic map shows it
continuing on through the village to a wharf beside the B5003.
Peter James
The Dral said:
<snip loads of good investigative historic canal finding)
> > reaches are followed by public footpaths, so it may well be an area
> > worth exploring.
>
> Peter James sent me a leaflet he picked up at the recent meeting he
> attended. It marks a number of walks in this area. Peter says he may
> take a look at the area soon(ish) - he lives at Ashby.
Things are a bit hectic at the minute (moving house and picking up the new
boat), but when I get some spare time I'll take a wander.
> One final (?) point. People seem to assume that the canal ended at
> the (now) famous furnace in Moira but the historic map shows it
> continuing on through the village to a wharf beside the B5003.
I was at the old furnace site at the weekend and there is an old map of the
canal on display. It does show the canal continuing on for a mile or so
north west past the furnace. I will try to confirm the precise point of
termination after I've had a look 'on the ground'.
Pete J
nb Platypus
E-Mail pe...@hurstmidlands.softnet.co.uk
David Kitching
In article <34FA119C.MD...@enterprise.net>, The Dral
<URL:mailto:dr...@enterprise.net> wrote:
> Rankdave said,
> > So how did the canal ever end up at Moira?
>
> > The 1975 Nicholsons's guide say that the canal had been completed 2
> > year before the mine at Moira was sunk. However the Leics canal book
> > says the whole canal through to Moira was finished in 1805 through
> > to Moira.
>
> > I'm informed (and it seems most plausible ) that the canal was going
> > to terminate at Willesley, however, the high quality of the coal
> > from the new mine at Moira sunk in 1804 actually changed things. So
> > instead of going east and up to AdlZ (and the 4 branches) it headed
> > west to Moira.
>
> In his writing's on the Ashby Canal, Peter Hardcastle disagrees that
> the canal was finished /after/ coal was found at Moira......
>
> _________________________________________________________________________
>
> ASHBY-DE-LA-ZOUCH CANAL
[snip]
> The plan which was promoted included a main line from the Coventry Canal
> to Ashby-de-la-Zouch - the idea of linking into the Trent & Mersey Canal
> was dropped as local business was now more important than a through-route.
> Two branch lines to limestone works at Cloudhill and Ticknall in Derbyshire
> were also promoted. The proposal would have created a waterway totalling
> 43 miles, 30 of which would be completely lockless. However, the most
> northerly 13 miles would have to be built across difficult terrain with a
> large amount of locks, a reservoir, a pumping station and a tunnel. In the
> end the promoters decided that the canal would terminate at Moira (4 miles
> west of Ashby) and the two branches would be created as plateways built by
> Benjamin Outram.
>
> 1794 An Act was granted which allowed the construction of a
> canal from Marston Jabbett to Moira. The Act also allowed the
> construction of the plateways to Cloudhill and Ticknall.
Priestley states that the Act for the canal was entitled:
'An Act for making and maintaining a navigable Canal from the Coventry
Canal, at or near Marston Bridge, in the parish of Bedworth, in the county
of Warwick, to a certain Close in the Parish of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, in the
county of Leicester; and for continuing the same from thence, in one Line,
to the Lime Works, at Ticknall, in the county of Derby; and in another Line,
to the Lime Works, at Cloudhill, in the said county of Leicester, with
certain Cuts or Branches from the said Canal.'
This is conclusive in showing that the original intention was to build a
canal rather than tramroads to Cloudhill and Ticknall.
> c1800 While the route was still under construction it became
> apparent that the quality and quantity of coal coming from the mines of
> west Leicestershire was nowhere near as good as the coal being mined in
> Derbyshire and the Black Country. Some people began to fear that the
> canal was doomed to failure even before it had seen its first boat.
>
> 1802 The Ashby Canal opened *through-out*. As feared, it was
> not an instant success. (In fact, it didn't return a profit for 20
> years).
The canal did not open throughout until 19th April 1804 whereas the
tramroads were completed between July and October 1802 (Hadfield). For a
fullaccount see: C.R.Clinker and Charles Hadfield, 'The Ashby-de-la-Zouch
Canal and its railways', in Transactions of the Leicestershire
Archaeological and Historical Society., Vol 34, 1958. The Ashby Canal
Company Minute Book 2.4.1804 notes that the coal supply situation was
unsatisfactory and records that the company commissioned Willis Bailey and
Jonathan Woodhouse to carry out a survey (not the first by any means) of the
local coal resources. Colin Owen in his book 'The Leicestershire and South
Derbyshire Coalfield 1200 - 1900' suggests that the encouraging results of
this survey may have finally persuaded the Earl of Moira to sink his Double
Pits on the Ashby Woulds later in the year.
> 1804 One glimmer of hope *during the early years of operation*
> came when a mine was sunk at Moira which *eventually* produced such
> good quality coal that it was in demand as far away as London and
> Oxford. The canal company set reduced tolls for carriage of the coal
> and this kept the route going and eventually helped produce a profit.
Owen suggests that only a very small proportion of the Moira coal found its
way to London for it was not even possible to compete effectively in the
Leicester market with the North Derbyshire collieries unless conditions were
in some way exceptional.
> Copyright © Peter Hardcastle 1996, 1998
> _____________________________________________________________________________
>
> This suggests that the canal had been running (to Moira) for 2 years
> before the good coal was struck. It also suggests that the Act
> authorised the canal to be built to Moira - I wonder if this is
> correct?
>
> > Much evidence of the tramways still remain today espeically near
> > Calke Abbey, Stuanton Harold, and Dimminsdale. (OS Pathfinder 852)
> > All highly recommended walking country, especially if you stop for
> > beer from the glass at the Saracens Head at Heath End. Campaign for
> > bringing back the tramways anyone :)
>
> Where did the tramways meet the canal? At which wharf? Is there
> evidence today? Also, can somebody point out where Willesley is, not
> with OS numbers but with a road map?!
What is it about Grid References Dral? They are the easiest way of locating
things and can be related to a whole range of OS maps. Any publication worth
its salt gives GRs to locate sites.
Willesley is shown on the map that I sent you. It is about two mile
east-north east of Donisthorpe. Several of the tramroads show on the Moira
area map that I also sent.
Some Tramroads of the Ashby Canal.
Quoting Priestley again.
'The railway to Ticknall Lime Works, commences at the Ashby-de-la-Zouch
Canal, three quarters of a mile south-west of the village of Willesley, in
the county of Derby, and at the distance of two miles and a half, passes
through the town of Ashby-de-1a-Zouch. One mile and a half further, the
railway passes under a tunnel, at the end of which the Cloudhill Branch
commences; and one mile and three quarters further it enters Derbyshire :
whence it is rather more than two miles and a half to Ticknall Lime Works,
making the whole distance from the canal eight miles and a half.
The Cloudhill Branch Railway, commencing from the tunnel on the Ticknall
Railway, runs in a *westerly*' (should read easterly) 'direction for one
mile and a quarter, where a railway, more than half a mile in length,
branches northwards to a colliery. A quarter of a mile further, there is
another branch, running southwards, about three hundred yards, to a colliery
near Park Wood. From hence it takes a northerly course, passing to the west
of the village of Worthington, to the Cloudhill Lime Works, a distance of
two miles and three quarters, where it terminates. The total distance of
this branch is four miles and a quarter.
There is also a railway, of half a mile in length, from a colliery near
Moira, to the canal, opposite the Moira Baths.'
From Baxter, Stone Blocks and Iron Roads.
Granville (Swadlincote). From termination of canal at Ashby Woulds to
Granville Colliery and Pottery at Woodville (3m.). Branch west to Church
Gresley (1.25m.). Opened 1827.
Rawdon (Moira). Opposite Moira Baths, north east to Rawdon Pits (0.5m.)
Opened 1830.
Furnace Pits. At Moira Baths, south to Furnace Pits (0.33m.) Opened c1806.
Newfields. At the Furnace, north-east to Newfields Colliery (0.5m.). Opened
c1800.
Ashby & Ticknall. At Willersley Basin, north-east to Ashby-de-la-Zouch, then
north to Ticknall Limeworks (8m.). Branch at Old Parks, east to Worthington
then north to Cloud Hill limeworks (4.25m.). Opened 1802. Also branch from
above at Lount Wood, north to Heath End Colliery (1m.). Opened 1826; also
east of Lount Wood, south to colliery near Park Wood (300yd). Opened 1836.
Branch at Ticknall, east to Burdetts Quarries (.375m.). Plateway 4'2" gauge.
(Cloud Hill Branch rebuilt combined from limeworks to juction with Coleorton
Railway at Worthington Rough (1839).
Dimminsdale. From Ticknall Tramroad, north of South Wood, north east to
Dimminsdale Limeworks (1.25m.). Opened 1830.
Measham. At Ilott Wharf, on east side of Measham, north (pastsite of
Meashamfield Colliery) to Coalpit near Jewsbury Farm (1000yd). Opened c1799.
Trach wooden, rebuilt bar rail (1805).
Hinckley. From Hinckley Wharf Bridge, east to Hinckley. Opened c1833.
Cheers,
--
David Kitching -------------------------- dav...@brocross.u-net.com
_____|______|_ _____
)| | |88| TCO | /
___|____________________________________[]|_|__|_______|_____/_
\----- http://www.u-net.com/~brocross/home.htm ----)
======================================================================