CHESTERFIELD CANAL VISITOR
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Location: The Chesterfield canal is 46 miles in length and stretches from Chesterfield to the River Trent. Although only part of the canal is navigable. Chesterfield is on the A61, between Clay Cross and Sheffield, approached from the south. From the east, take Junction 29 on the M1 and follow the A619; pick up the A619 from the west through Baslow (SK380710).
Visit: Staveley. Until a few years ago, there were several large coalfields around Staveley, but they have now closed. In 1893, the Miners Welfare built an indoor market hall, which was called Markham Hall in memory of the man who played a large part in the development of the area. The impressive-looking Staveley Hall is to the northeast of St John the Baptist Church in the town. Today, Staveley is a thriving community with amenities and attractions for visitors to enjoy, including Staveley Town Basin on the Chesterfield Canal and Poolsbrook Country Park.
Refreshments: Hollingwood Hub near Staveley, Tapton Lock Visitor Centre and public houses near the canal. There is a good selection of cafés, pubs and restaurants in both Chesterfield and Staveley.
Chesterfield: A busy redbrick town, with a lively market, a delightful cricket ground at Queens Park and an unusual church spire. Second only to Derby in population in the county, it is quite different in style and character to any of its neighbours in the Peak District. It is the crooked spire that does most to make Chesterfield well-known, and the first thing newcomers usually look for on arrival in the town. The spire to St Mary and All Saints Church started its life straight, but is now over nine and a half feet out of line and leans a tiny bit further every year. It gives the impression that it could fall in the next strong gale, but having stood for over 600 years, it is quite safe for a long time yet.
CHESTERFIELD CANAL VISITOR
The Chesterfield Canal is 46 miles in length and stretches from Chesterfield to the River Trent. Although only part of the canal is navigable, from Chesterfield to Staveley. The towing path, known as the Cuckoo Way, is available to walkers. The strange name appears to have originated from the unique vessels which used the canal and were known as cuckoos.
Tapton Lock is the only Visitor Centre on the canal and is open to the public for information, light refreshments, and gifts. The Derbyshire County Council Countryside Service has offices upstairs, and it is the embarkation point for the John Varley II, the Chesterfield Canal Trust’s passenger trip boat.
The John Varley II runs trips from Tapton Lock, located by the Tesco roundabout in Chesterfield, to Staveley. From the comfort of the boat, you can enjoy the five-mile cruise through attractive countryside and at the same time admire the restoration work carried out along the canal. The boat is suitable for wheelchair users and has a large wheelchair lift.
Hollingwood Hub is the restored and extended Hollingwood Lock House. The Hub is the home of the Chesterfield Canal Trust and the Chesterfield Canal Partnership. The offices of the Trust and the Partnership are in the old Hollingwood Lock House. It is on the road between Staveley and Barrow Hill. It could make an alternative starting point for a walk along the canal – the car park can hold 60 cars comfortably. There is a café on site. For more information, visit the Chesterfield Canal Trust website.
At Bluebank Lock are the remains of an old wooden barge that was recovered from the canal when it was dredged in 1997. It is thought the boat may have carried locally made cannonballs to be used at the Battle of Waterloo. Station Road crosses the canal at Brimington. On the Brimington bank of the canal to the towpath is The Mill public house, from where you get good views of Brimington Wharf. On the Chesterfield side of the bridge, there is a delightful collection of mosaics on the towpath.
