Bilby Lane Bridge Over The Chesterfield Canal - New Whittington, UK
Posted by: dtrebilc
N 53° 16.050 W 001° 23.900
30U E 606818 N 5903225
This brick single arch bridge carries a footpath over the canal and was built in 2002.
Waymark Code: WM10FQ9
Location: East Midlands, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 04/30/2019
Views: 2
"The canal was built to link Chesterfield, Worksop and Retford to the Trent and so gain access to more trade. Local Anston Stone was transported by the canal to the river Trent for the building of the new Houses of Parliament. During the 19th century the canal was a commercial success due to local coal. However, mining caused subsidence in the Norwood Tunnel, severing the top end of the canal.
The Chesterfield Canal runs from the river Trent at West Stockwith to Chesterfield. The Canal is 45.5 miles (73.3 km) long and has 65 locks, but only the section from West Stockwith the eastern end of Norwood Tunnel is currently navigable. This navigable section is 31.6 miles (50.9 km) long and has 46 locks.
At the isolated western end of the canal, five miles and five locks have been restored. The new Staveley Town Basin opened in 2012. There are slipways at Tapton Lock in Chesterfield and Staveley Town Basin. There is also a craning pad at the basin. This leaves nine miles to be restored. There are detailed plans for the entire stretch, prepared by the Chesterfield Canal Partnership."
link
A bridge was originally erected here to bring glass from Whittington and load it onto the canal boats.
Since the canal's decline Bluebank Pools Local Nature Reserve has been formed between the canal and the River Rother and a nearby notice board tells us that this current bridge connects Brimington and Whittington to the reserve. It was built as part of the renovation of the canal and provides access to the reserve for walkers, cyclists and horse riders..
There is a metal plaque on the bridge .
CHESTERFIELD CANAL
BILBY LANE BRIDGE
This bridge was officially opened by
COUNCILLOR WALTER BURROWS, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport
COUNCILLOR BOB JANES, Cabinet Member for Community Services
DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
and
PETER WATSON, Director
BOWKER AND KIRKLAND CIVIL ENGINEERING LIMITED
23 MAY 2002