Updates - December 2011

The South Pennine Ring  -  Part 2 of 2
 
Map 16, and text on pages 28 and 30.  Sellers Tunnel.
 
While the canal was derelict most of its route between Longroyd Bridge 25 and Queen Street was filled in.  The site was used industrially and several buildings were built on the line of the canal. As a result the restored canal was built at a lower level in a tunnel, and locks 3E and 2E were moved.  Now the surface site is being redeveloped, the tunnel roof is being removed, the locks resited, and the water level raised.
 
This will make the route more attractive to boaters, and re-open the towpath as a through route.  These major works on still on-going.  When they are complete we will, of course, update the guide-book, but in the meantime we took the following photographs on 27 December - but it is a site closed to the public so we couldn't get as near as we would have liked. And being a Bank Holiday there was no one to discuss things with, which the civil-engineering half of Richlow likes to do.

The roof of Sellers Tunnel removed, just beyond the excavators.

From above what was the "new" lock 3E looking east.  The gates have been removed from the lock, but the tail bridge is still in place.  Beyond, the roof of the tunnel has been removed, and a new waling can be seen on the pile tops which previously formed the tunnel walls.

An emergency access point in Sellers Tunnel - which is actually at the site of the original lock 3E, just upstream (west) of Chapel Hill Bridge.

Updates - December 2011

 
Chesterfield Canal
 
Map 11.  Staveley.  The canal now has water in it from Chesterfield to the new Staveley Basin. It will take until approximately the middle of January 2012 to fill the basin.  Meanwhile the towpath remains officially closed in the area  -  however, walkers and cyclists have continued to use it.  Those doing so should note that in the vicinity of Hall Lane Bridge (12) the path is very muddy across its entire width, and for a considerable distance.  This is a result of the heavy machinery working in the area.

If you wish to see the new basin, there is a good view from Hall Lane, Staveley (down the hill from the Library). 

The whole project is another success for the Chesterfield Canal Partnership  -  and the gap between the two restored sections is reduced yet again.

The new basin at Staveley beginning to fill.  The water is still shallow, but it shows what the Chesterfield Canal's latest feature will look like.

Updates - December 2012

North Yorkshire Waterways
 
Page 7. Locks - Maximum Craft Sizes. Experience shows that narrowboats 60ft long can pass through all the locks in this guide (sometimes diagonally).
Also wide-beam (14ft) craft up to 57ft, but bear in mind the following - River Derwent, Sutton Lock - 58ft x 14ft but obstructed by a ladder near bottom end, so width at that point is about 12ft 6ins. Guillotine-gate air draught approx 10ft 6ins.

Licences. A BW Rivers Licence covers the Ouse and Ure from Goole to Ripon. With a Rivers Licence boaters can transfer between the Trent and Ouse, via the canals, provided the transit takes no longer than 72 hours.

Page 9. Holiday Boat and Narrowboat Hire. Add, Shire Cruisers (Sowerby Br) 01422 832712.

Page 10. River Derwent Distance Table - Sutton Lock added. From Barmby Barrage 15.5 miles. From Cottingwith Junction 4 miles. From Stamford Bridge 10.5 miles.
Page 12. Nav Notes. Head of Navigation Plaque. Ripon Canal Basin, Wharf Services Ripon, 01765 609777 £9.95 in 2011.

Page 16. Nav Notes. The River Nidd joins the navigation from the south at Nun Monkton. There are moorings here, but they are bows into the bank in front of the Alice Hawthorn pub sign (see picture).

Linton Lock - the bottom paddle gear is NOT hydraulic, although signed by Adams Hydraulics Ltd. It can be heavy to work, and needs many turns to operate.

General Text - Linton Lock cottage. This is a licensed cafe with tables outside in good weather. 2011-07-0173.

Page 26. Nav notes. Cawood Swing Bridge - take care - motor cruisers may be milling about waiting for a delayed bridge-swing to open (not necessary for narrowboats).

Page 28. Nav notes. The river passes under two swing-bridges which open for large craft. Take care - be aware, cruisers may be milling about, waiting for a delayed bridge-swing to open (not necessary for narrowboats). Boaters should take the eastern span, but beware of the strong flows from the east.
Commercial barges coming up from the Humber are rare at Selby but they still do so. It is important to note that they are required to pass stern-first, facing the current, through the Selby swing-bridges. If following one, be warned, it will take up the whole of the river when turning to do so. Consider turning also, to stem the tide, until the barge is once again underway.

Page 38. Nav notes. Particularly in the summer, weed is a general problem if the weed-cutter boat has not been operated. The weed is less between Gardham Lock and Melbourne, as the trip-boat operates there. For the same reason, that stretch has landings at the swing-bridges. Both locks now have landings above and below.
Head of Navigation Plaque - from trip-boat crew, or Rose Cottage opposite the pub in Melbourne. £8.50.

Page 40. Canal Head. The PCAS information centre is open Sundays and Bank Holidays during the summer.

Page 42. Nav notes. The only moorings on this section are 40ft on the east bank above Sutton Bridge for Elsan disposal (BW key) and water. If no water flows, turn on the stop-tap.

Images of - the Chesterfield Canal

 
Chesterfield Canal guide  -  available from http://www.richlow.co.uk/
 
"Written by People Who Go There"
 
One of England's most pleasant waterways.  Its 46-mile course passes through quiet and unspoilt scenery, yet it remains easily accessible.  Land-based visitors have the benefit of the towpath, sign-posted as the Cuckoo Way, a reference to the nickname given to the uniquely-styled working boats of the canal.
 
Access for boaters is via the River Trent or a number of slip-ways, and hire-craft are also available.  In addition there are two trip-boats operating on the canal.
 
Only eight miles await restoration, the planning of which is actively promoted by the Chesterfield Canal Trust.  Examples of what has already been achieved are the beautiful and historic Thorpe and Turnerwood flights of locks, restored in 2003.
 

 
 
Richlow's Madeley Wood in the entrance lock at West Stockwith  - locking up into the canal's basin.  The warehouse in the background is 18th century and houses the lock-keeper's office.

Stockwith Basin.  The entrance to the Chesterfield Canal is through the bridge in the centre background.

The first five locks are wide, up to Retford. The reason is that when the canal was built in the 1770's Retford wanted the waterway to be capable of bringing large Trent craft up to the town.

A view from the portal of Drakeholes Tunnel, showing the countryside typical of the eastern end of the Chesterfield Canal.

Hayton, typical of the small villages skirted by the Chesterfield Canal.

Eventually the canal has to climb the flank of the limestone ridge which it must cross to reach Chesterfield.  These locks at Shireoaks are the last before the steep climb begins to the summit level.

The culmination of the climb to the summit are the seven locks of the Turnerwood flight, and the fifteen locks of the historic Thorpe flight  - which includes two double staircase sets, and two treble staircases.  They are of the pioneering early 1770's era of canals in this country, and were designed by the great engineer James Brindley.  Their sympathetic restoration, completed in 2003, was a major addition to the canal network.

The by-washes of the Thorpe flight are unchanged since they were created, and are thought to now be unique.  They are unlined, and instead use the natural clay of the area.

Visitor moorings on the summit level, at Pennyholme.  A feeder from the reservoirs provides a turning point.

Beyond the still-to-be-restored Norwood Tunnel - the Chesterfield Canal Trust is restoring the waterway at the Chesterfield end.  This is the new Staveley Town Basin on 1st July 2012, during its opening festival - this a new feature, not a restoration.  In the foreground is one of the Trust's tripboats, Hugh Henshall. The narrowboat in the background is Richlow's flagship Madeley Wood.

And all of the above is accessible for walkers by using the Cuckoo Way towpath  -  as here on the Turnerwood lock flight.

And access for boaters?  Yes, it is via the River Trent  -  but give it a try  -  many boats do, and are rewarded by the delights of the Chesterfield Canal.

Richlow's guide to the Chesterfield Canal, and our Narrowboat on the Trent, are both available via our website  -  post free. Go on.  At least find out what's involved by visiting www.richlow.co.uk

Updates - September 2011 (2nd post)

 
Narrowboat on the Trent
 

Page 13. Trent Charts  -  For many years the TBA has published Trent charts as easy to follow, clear line- drawings, and I (John Lower) have always recommended them as a “must have”. However, their latest update (version 10 published in 2011) is an entirely new format based on aerial photography and, in my view, the pages are cluttered and difficult to follow, and therefore look very off-putting.  On balance, I would say boaters do need a copy, but better still, try to obtain a copy of an old edition. See p37 for where to purchase the current version).

 
New format

 
Preferred
old format








North Yorkshire Waterways
 
Page 7. Locks - Maximum Craft Sizes.  Experience shows that narrowboats 60ft long can pass through all the locks in this guide (sometimes diagonally). 
Also wide-beam (14ft) craft up to 57ft, but bear in mind the following - River Derwent, Sutton Lock - 58ft x 14ft but obstructed by a ladder near bottom end, so width at that point is about 12ft 6ins. Guillotine-gate air draught approx 10ft 6ins.
Licences. A BW Rivers Licence covers the Ouse and Ure from Goole to Ripon. With a Rivers Licence boaters can transfer between the Trent and Ouse, via the canals, provided the transit takes no longer than 72 hours.
 
Page 9. Holiday Boat and Narrowboat Hire.  Add, Shire Cruisers (Sowerby Br)   01422 832712.
 
Page 10.  River Derwent Distance Table  -  Sutton Lock added.  From Barmby Barrage 15.5 miles.  From Cottingwith Junction 4 miles.  From Stamford Bridge 10.5 miles.
 
Page 12. Nav Notes.  Head of Navigation Plaque. Ripon Canal Basin, Wharf Services Ripon, 01765 609777  £9.95 in 2011.
 
Page 16. Nav Notes. 
 

The River Nidd joins the navigation from the south at Nun Monkton. There are moorings here, but they are bows into the bank in front of the Alice Hawthorn pub sign (see picture).


Linton Lock - the bottom paddle gear is NOT hydraulic, although signed by Adams Hydraulics Ltd. It can be heavy to work, and needs many turns to operate.

General Text - Linton Lock cottage. This is a licensed cafe with tables outside in good weather.

 
 
 
 
Page 26.  Nav notes.  Cawood Swing Bridge - take care - motor cruisers may be milling about waiting for a delayed bridge-swing to open (not necessary for narrowboats).
 
Page 28. Nav notes. The river passes under two swing-bridges which open for large craft. Take care - be aware, cruisers may be milling about, waiting for a delayed bridge-swing to open (not necessary for narrowboats). Boaters should take the eastern span, but beware of the strong flows from the east.
Commercial barges coming up from the Humber are rare at Selby but they still do so. It is important to note that they are required to pass stern-first, facing the current, through the Selby swing-bridges. If following one, be warned, it will take up the whole of the river when turning to do so. Consider turning also, to stem the tide, until the barge is once again underway.

Page 38. Nav notes. Particularly in the summer, weed is a general problem if the weed-cutter boat has not been operated. The weed is less between Gardham Lock and Melbourne, as the trip-boat operates there. For the same reason, that stretch has landings at the swing-bridges. Both locks now have landings above and below.

Head of Navigation Plaque - from trip-boat crew, or Rose Cottage opposite the pub in Melbourne. £8.50.

Page 40.  Canal Head.  The PCAS information centre is open Sundays and Bank Holidays during the summer.

Page 42. Nav notes.  The only moorings on this section are 40ft on the east bank above Sutton Bridge for Elsan disposal (BW key) and water. If no water flows, turn on the stop-tap.
 
 

Updates - July 2011

 
Chesterfield Canal
 
Page 9.  Bus route 271  -  delete Kiveton Park, insert Harthill.  Does not run on Sundays.
 
North Yorkshire Waterways
 
Page 30.  Approaching Barmby Barrage.  The lock gates will normally be open because the Barrage-keeper will have been advised of your approach by the dispatching lock-keeper.  In addition, there are traffic lights indicating if the lock gates are open or closed, but these can be impossible to see on sunny summer mornings when the sun is behind them.
Boats from Selby may not arrive at slack-water if they are the last of multiple lockfuls leaving, therefore all boats approaching Barmby Barrage should be aware of the flow on the Ouse, and turn into the flow before approaching the lock gates.
 

This photograph was taken from Barmby Barrage in July 2011, with the ebbing River Ouse flowing right to left.

The boat in the foreground is Richlow's Madeley Wood.

Just upstream of the Barrage, John turned into the flow of the ebbing River Ouse, and is now allowing the river to push Madeley Wood backwards -  while using the engine in slow-ahead so the tiller will steer the boat to keep it straight.

Narrowboat Kano newly arrived on the River Derwent, emerging from the lock-chamber of Barmby Barrage.


The buoys in the foreground guard the sluices which control the Derwent's water levels.


The green sloping installation in the left foreground is a lamprey-ladder, said to be the only one in this country.  Newly-installed it is designed to allow the eel-like lampreys to bypass the Barrage on their quest to reach the fresh water of the Derwent.

On the Derwent.  Narrowboats Kano and Madeley Wood, immediately upstream of Barmby Barrage.  A good pontoon is just out of sight around the bend, to moor and visit the Barrage-keeper to pay for the EA Certificate of Permission to Navigate.

In the summer, there are usually swallows and house martins swooping around the Barrage-keeper's control-cabin.  The martins often build nests under the eaves.

Updates - June 2011

 
Narrowboat on the Trent
 
Page 29.  Dunham Bridge Moorings - Notice of a restriction.  Many of our customers have dogs with them, and rivers such as the tidal Trent offer few opportunities to get them ashore.  Therefore, please note that BW has issued a warning that a problem has been identified with the access ramp connecting the pontoon moorings at Dunham Bridge to the shore.  The moorings remain in use, but the ramp to the shore is out use until the problem can be identified and solved.