Sheffield & Tinsley Canal facts for kids

Sheffield & Tinsley Canal
Sheffield & Tinsley Canal boatyard at Cadman Street
Specifications
Length	3.9 miles (6.3 km)
Maximum boat length	61 ft 6 in (18.75 m)
Maximum boat beam	15 ft 6 in (4.72 m)
Locks	11 (originally 12)
Original number of locks	12
Status	Operational
Navigation authority	Canal and River Trust
History
Original owner	Sheffield Canal Co.
Date of act	7 Jun 1815
Date completed	22 February 1819
Geography
Start point	Sheffield
End point	Tinsley
Connects to	River Don Navigation

The Sheffield & Tinsley Canal is a waterway in the city of Sheffield, England. It stretches about 3.9 miles (6.3 km) from Tinsley to the city centre. Along its path, it connects to the River Don and goes through 11 special water elevators called locks. These locks help boats move up or down different water levels. Boats using this canal can be up to 61 feet 6 inches (18.75 m) long and 15 feet 6 inches (4.72 m) wide.

Why Was the Canal Built?

Sheffield is located on the River Don. However, the river near Sheffield wasn't deep enough for large boats. In olden times, goods from Sheffield had to be carried over land to the nearest port, which was far away. Even when parts of the River Don were made deeper, boats still couldn't reach Sheffield itself.

People started suggesting a canal link to Sheffield as early as 1697. This would connect Sheffield to the wider river network and eventually to the sea. These early ideas didn't happen, but the need for better transport grew.

Early Plans for a Waterway

By 1751, the River Don was improved up to Tinsley, which was still about 4 miles (6.4 km) from Sheffield. Goods were moved by road from Tinsley to the city. In 1792, a public meeting was held in Sheffield to discuss building a canal. People raised money for a canal that would connect Sheffield to the Don.

There were many ideas for the canal's path. Some wanted it to reach coal mines for easy transport of coal. Engineers like John Thompson and Benjamin Outram drew up different plans. They had to think about how to get enough water for the locks and where the canal should end in Sheffield.

One big challenge was getting enough water for the locks. Another was dealing with objections from other canal companies. They worried about losing business if a new canal was built. The Duke of Norfolk, a very important landowner, also had a big say in where the canal could go.

In 1801, people in Sheffield asked the Don Navigation Company to extend the canal. But the Don Navigation Company worried about losing money. The Duke of Norfolk also opposed some plans. Because of these disagreements, no canal was built at that time.

A New Plan Takes Shape

In 1813, the idea came up again. William Chapman surveyed possible routes. He looked at paths both north and south of the River Don. The Don Navigation Company didn't want to build it themselves. They asked for money if someone else built it.

Finally, a plan was agreed upon in 1814. The chosen route was south of the Don. This path would allow access to the Duke of Norfolk's coal mines. It also made it easier to connect to the Chesterfield Canal in the future. This new plan included reservoirs to hold water and a steam engine to pump water from collieries.

Building the Canal

In 1815, the Sheffield Canal Company was officially created by a special law from Parliament. This law allowed them to build the canal.

The first suggested route for the canal was on the north side of the Don Valley. But the Duke of Norfolk, who owned many coal mines, pointed out that this route wouldn't help his coal reach the canal. Since he was the biggest supporter of the project, a new route was chosen.

The new route was on the south side of the Don Valley. It would end at a basin where Sheffield Castle used to be. This path needed two sets of locks to raise the boats up to the city centre. A short branch, called "The Greenland Arm," was also planned to reach the Tinsley Park Collieries. Even though this route was longer and more expensive, the Duke's support made it the chosen one.

The law to build the canal was passed on June 7, 1815. Many people invested money, with the Duke of Norfolk and Earl Fitzwilliam being the largest contributors. William Chapman, who designed the plans, became the engineer. The first stone of the canal basin was laid on June 16, 1816. The canal was ready to open less than three years later.

Canal Opening Day

The Sheffield & Tinsley Canal officially opened on February 22, 1819. It was a huge celebration! A holiday was declared, and about 60,000 people gathered to watch. The first boats, a group of 10, arrived from Tinsley. One of these boats carried coal from Handsworth Colliery, making it the very first cargo to travel on the new canal.

How the Canal Was Used

By 1840, the canal was very busy. Boats called "fly-boats" offered quick services to places like Thorne. From Thorne, goods could be sent on to Hull and London by steamship. Other companies offered direct services to London without needing to transfer goods. There were also regular services to Gainsborough and Leeds.

Connecting to Coal Mines

From the very beginning, the canal basin and the Greenland Arm had special tracks called wagonways. These tracks brought coal from nearby mines to the canal. The coal could then be loaded onto boats and shipped away. Mines in the Manor area and Tinsley Park used these wagonways to connect to the canal.

The Rise of Railways

In the mid-1800s, railways started to become popular. In 1846, a railway company tried to buy the Sheffield Canal Company. Before that deal finished, another railway company, the Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction Railway, made an offer that was accepted.

On July 22, 1848, the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway (M.S.& L.R.) became the owners of the canal. Over the next few years, the canal changed hands a few times as railway companies merged. Eventually, the M.S.& L.R. owned the canal again.

In 1895, the Sheffield Canal joined with the River Don Navigation and the Stainforth & Keadby canal. Together, they formed the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation. The next year, the facilities at Sheffield were updated, and a new warehouse was built over the canal basin.

The Canal in Modern Times

During the First World War, the government took control of the canals. Not much maintenance was done. After the war, in 1918, Sheffield's city council and businesses wanted the government to take over the canals permanently and pay for repairs.

In 1920, there were plans to build a new basin at Tinsley to serve the eastern part of Sheffield. They also wanted to improve the existing canal basin in the city centre. However, the city council didn't want to go ahead without government support, which didn't come. Still, in 1925, a new building for storing grain was built next to the canal.

In December 1940, during the Second World War, one of the canal's locks (lock 6) was hit by a bomb. It was badly damaged. A nearby plaque remembers the hard work of the people who rebuilt the lock during difficult times.

Nationalization and Beyond

The canals, including the Sheffield Canal, became government-owned in 1948. Even with many efforts, boat traffic didn't increase much. In 1960, the British Waterways Board decided to make Rotherham the main water hub for goods. They opened a new warehouse there in 1961.

In July 1980, the Sheffield Canal received its first commercial cargo in 10 years. But this was more of a final delivery than a new beginning. Plans to restore the canal were made in the early 1980s. It wasn't until the 1990s that the canal basin was finally restored and renamed Victoria Quays.

How the Locks Work

The Tinsley flight of locks helps boats climb about 70 feet (21 m). Originally, there were twelve locks. But in 1959, to make way for a new railway bridge, locks 7 and 8 were combined into one larger lock. So now, there are 11 locks in total (numbered 1 to 6, then 7/8, then 9 to 12).

Water for the top part of the canal and the locks is pumped from a small building near the Tinsley Viaduct. This building used to have a steam engine to power the pumps. In 1918, it was replaced with powerful diesel engines. These pumps can supply a lot of water to the canal.

Walking and Cycling Along the Canal

In 2014, improvements were finished on the canal's towpath. The Sheffield & Tinsley Canal Towpath Trail is now part of a walking route called the Blue Loop. This route goes from Meadowhall Shopping Centre into Sheffield city centre. It runs alongside the Five Weirs Walk, which follows the River Don. The towpath also connects to other walking routes that go to Rotherham town centre.

Important Buildings Along the Canal

Several historic buildings are located along the canal. These include the Terminal Warehouse and Grain Warehouse at Victoria Quays. Other notable structures are Bacon Lane Bridge, Cadman Street Bridge, and Darnall Canal Aqueduct. These buildings are "listed," meaning they are protected because of their historical importance.

The Canal on Film

The Sheffield & Tinsley Canal appeared in the opening scene of the 1997 film The Full Monty. The clip used in the movie was actually from an older publicity film about Sheffield, made about 30 years before The Full Monty.

Images for kids

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  Sheffield & Tinsley Canal boatyard at Cadman Street