Nottingham Canal, built 1792-1796. The canal was 14.75 miles long and had 20 broad locks, to take boats 85ft x 14.5ft with a stoplock at Langley Mill. The highest part of the canal was reached at Wollaton, whence it ran level to Langley Mill. Taken over by railway company in 1855, all but the Lenton-Trent section was abandoned by 1937. (1)
Long stretches now obliterated by open-cast mining.
Grid ref is for Langley Mill end.

The Nottingham Canal extended from Langley Mill (SK 454 472) where it joined the Cromford Canal, to the Trent lock near Trent Bridge, Nottingham (SK 582 384). The Act for the canal was passed in May 1792, and the first section from Trent Bridge to the town wharves was opened in July 1793. After a number of setbacks, the canal was fully opened in April 1796. There were a total of nineteen locks, and one stop lock at Langley. The canal was lengthened by the addition of a private canal, one furlong in length, built by Earl Manvers in 1835-6. There were several small branches, including the Poplar Arm (circa SK 580 395) opened about 1794; the Bilborough Cut (circa SK 521 403 to SK 532 414) opened 1799 and totally closed by 1874; Robinett's Arm (SK 488 419) opened in 1796; the Greasley Cut (SK 483 447) opened in 1800 and closed about 1875 and the Westcroft Arm opened in 1842 and closed in 1866. The main canal was closed for commercial use in 1928 except for the Lenton to Trent lock section which was transferred to the Trent Navigation company in 1937. (2)(3)

Data Held: Ground Photograph (Ground photograph). SNT2646.

6 BW print, J3, J4, SMR

<1> Patrick A, 1975, Canals in Nottinghamshire (Monograph). SNT50.

<2> Hadfield C, 1966, The Canals of the East Midlands, pp. 54-61; 194-195; 274-275 (Published document). SNT739.

<3> Historic England, 2021, National Record of Historic Environment (Digital archive). SNT5271.

<4> Council for British Archaeology, 1963, National Record of Industrial Monuments (NRIM): Index Cards, Record No.NT184,186,212,218-222,224,234 (Index). SNT6095.