Trent Lock facts for kids
Trent Lock is a special place in the United Kingdom. It sits where three counties meet: Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Nottinghamshire.
This area is a very important spot for boats. It's where the River Soar and the Erewash Canal connect to the River Trent. From here, boats can even reach the Trent and Mersey Canal using the Trent and a small waterway called the Cranfleet Cut.
Close by, there's also a big railway meeting point called Trent Junction. It's a busy spot for trains, just like Trent Lock is for boats!
Where is Trent Lock?
Trent Lock is exactly where the counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Nottinghamshire all come together. The River Soar forms the border between Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. The River Trent marks the border for Derbyshire.
This means Derbyshire is to the north of Trent Lock. Nottinghamshire is to the south-east, and Leicestershire is to the south-west. Nearby towns include Long Eaton to the north and Ratcliffe on Soar to the south. You can often see the large Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station in the distance.
Busy Waterways
Trent Lock is famous for its canal locks. This is where the River Soar, flowing north, meets the River Trent, which flows east. Two canals also join the Trent near this spot.
The Erewash Canal comes south-east from Long Eaton. The short Cranfleet Cut helps boats on the Trent avoid a weir (a small dam) when they are heading downstream.
The Midland Main Line railway also crosses this area. It has bridges over both the Trent and the Cranfleet Cut.
A little further west on the Trent, you'll find the Sawley Cut and Sawley Bridge Marina. Not far from there is Derwent Mouth. This is where the River Derwent and the Trent and Mersey Canal join the River Trent.
What Can You Find There?
Right above Trent Lock No. 60 on the Erewash Canal, there is a dry dock. This is a special area where boats can be taken out of the water for repairs. It can be drained into the River Trent below. A company called KingFisher Narrow Boats ltd uses this dry dock to build and fix boats.
On the east side of the same lock, you'll find the Steamboat Inn. This is a public house (a pub) and there's also a tea room nearby. On the south side of the lock, there's another pub and restaurant called the Trent Lock Inn. It used to be known as the Navigation Inn.
