Bugsworth Basin facts for kids
Bugsworth Basin is a historic canal basin located in Buxworth, near Whaley Bridge. It's the very end of the Peak Forest Canal. Long ago, this basin was a very busy place. It was a key spot where boats met a special railway called the Peak Forest Tramway. People used it to move important materials like limestone and burnt lime.
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What is Bugsworth Basin?
Bugsworth Basin is a large area of water where canal boats can turn around, load, or unload goods. It's like a harbor for narrowboats. This basin was built to help transport limestone from the hills of the Peak District down to towns and cities. Limestone was a very important material for building and making things like cement.
A Busy History
The basin was once a hub of activity. Boats would arrive full of goods, and the tramway would bring down huge amounts of limestone from the nearby quarries. This limestone was then loaded onto the boats. Sometimes, the limestone was heated in special ovens called lime kilns to make "burnt lime." This burnt lime was used in farming and building.
Bringing the Basin Back to Life
Over time, the basin became less used and fell into disrepair. It was even named a Scheduled Ancient Monument in 1977. This means it's a very important historical site that needs to be protected.
Early Restoration Efforts
Work to restore the basin began way back in 1968. Many dedicated volunteers helped out. Groups like the Inland Waterways Protection Society (IWPS) and the Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) worked for over 30 years. Local people also joined in to help fix up this important place.
In 1992, the IWPS got a 50-year lease. This allowed them to manage and operate the basin. Money for the repairs came from different places, including British Waterways (the group that looks after canals), the European Regional Development Fund, and a grant from Derbyshire County Council.
Reopening and Challenges
The basin was first reopened to boats at Easter in 1999. More boats started using the canal, which was great! However, this was the first time modern powered boats had used the basin. The old walls, built with dry stone and sealed with clay, started to break down quickly. Parts of the walls collapsed, and there were worries the basin might completely break open. Sadly, it did break open in October 1999, and the basin had to close again. British Waterways quickly made emergency repairs so people could at least walk around the basin.
A New Beginning
In 2005, Bugsworth Basin reopened to boat traffic once more. This time, it was after a big £1.2 million restoration project. British Waterways worked closely with the IWPS again.
Protecting Nature and History
During this restoration, they made sure to seal the bottom of the basin. This stopped water from leaking out. They also repaired the stonework carefully. Plus, they took special steps to protect the local water vole population. Water voles are small, protected animals that live near water.
Even though the basin is now open and restored, people who love waterways still want to make more improvements. They hope to create an exhibition that tells the story of Bugsworth's history. They also want to reopen part of the old tramway, so visitors can see how it worked.
Official Reopening Ceremony
Bugsworth Basin was officially reopened on March 26, 2005. It was a big celebration! A total of 94 narrowboats attended the opening ceremony. The opening was performed by Tom Levitt, who was a Member of Parliament for the local area, High Peak, at that time. A Member of Parliament is a person elected to represent their local area in the country's government.
A Place for Visitors
The basin is located right next to the beautiful Peak District National Park. The main goal of the restoration was to turn this old industrial site into a place for tourists to visit and learn about history. It's a great spot to explore and see how canals and industry shaped the area long ago.
