At this level there is a tunnel 2850 yards in length, width 9 feet 3 inches, height 12 feet ; and there is another tunnel, 153 yards in length, at Drake's Hole. From Norwood to Chesterfield, 13 miles, the fall is 45 feet.
To Retford this canal admits barges of 60 tons; above that, it is only for boats of 7 feet beam, and 70 feet long. The tunnel was begun in 1771, and completed in 1775. The engineers were James Brindley and John Henshall. The exports are coal and lead, and the imports deal baulk, corn, groceties, E-cc.
The Nottingham canal, completed in 1802, proceeds from the Trent, and passing that town, has a winding line for about 15 miles, to the iunction of the Erewash and Cromford canals, at Langley bridge. The rise is 108 feet, it is supplied by a reservoir at Ainsworth. The engineer was William Jessop. The exports are coal, litne, lead, and the imports, merchandise for Not tingham, Ste.
The Cromford canal proceeds from the head of this last, 18 miles past flynor Harly, Tadmoor and Critch, to Cromford near Matlock. In the first four miles there is a rise of 80 feet—the rest is level. It is made through a very rugged country, and has several tunnels, one at Ripley of 2966 yards in length, and 9 feet in width. It crosses the Derwent by an aqueduct 200 yards long, and 30 feet high. There is one canal branch of three miles from it, and two railways to the several adjacent works. Exports, coal, lime, lead. Imports, general merchan dise. Engineer, William Jessop. Completed in 1794.
From the junction of the Cromford and Nottingham at Langley bridge, the Erewash canal (act 17 Geo. III.) proceeds to the Trent near Sawley ferry, and opposite the mouth of the Soar, or Loughborough navigation, being a distance of 114 miles, with a fall of 108 feet. There is a railway branch to Brinsley coalworks. Near the middle of the length, the Nutbrook canal joins. Farther down is a branch of the Derby canal, and near Sawley, the Trent canal. Trade nearly the same as in the Cromford canal. William Jessop, engineer.
The Nutbrook canal, act 33 Geo. III. is a branch from the western side of the Erewash. It proceeds north-west 5 miles to Shipley colliery. It also has a branch to West Hallam collieries.
The Derby canal commences in the Trent at Swark stone bridge, whence, to the Trent and Mersey canal, is a rise of 26 feet in half a mile; thence to Derby 5-4 miles, rise 12 feet. It here crosses the river Dement
by means of a tumbling bay, and proceeds 3,-t. miles to Little Eaton, rising 17 feet. From the eastern bank of the Derwent, a branch proceeds 81 iniles to the Ere wash canal, with a fall of 29 feet. This canal is for boats of 14 feet beam. Act 33 Geo. III. Engineer, Benja min Outram. There are railways from this canal to Horseley collieries, to Smithy Houses, near Derby, 4 miles; to Smolley Mills, 1/ mile. The exports are coal, lime, iron.
On the opposite side of the Trent we have various navigations, a S formerly noticed. The Fossdyke navi gation from the Trent to the Witham at Lincoln, begun probably by the Romans, was materially enlarged and improved in 1121 under Henry I. but the description of it belongs to the Fen district.
Al Newark the Dean river has been improved under the 12 Geo. III. for two miles to the town of Newark. It was completed in 1797.
The Grantham canal (acts 33 and 39 Geo. III.) com mences at the tiver Trent, nearly opposite to the mouth of the Nottingham canal. It proceeds tip the Vale of Belvoir, by a crooked course, 33 miles to Grantham. Total rise 141 feet. There is a level branch ol 3,1 miles to the town of Bingham. The Grantham canal is fed entirely by reservoirs, which collect the flood waters. The imports are coal, lime, deal baulk, 8(c. and the exports agricultural produce.
The river Soar, or Loughborough navigation, falls into the Trent nearly opposite to the Erewash canal. Act 16 Geo. III. It follows the course of the river Soar for 9 miles to near Loughborough, where a cut of one mile continues it to that town. Here it connects with the Leicester navigation, and also the Charnwood Forest Railway, which proceeds westward 21 miles, with a rise of 185 feet to the Forest Lime. Basin, where commences the Charnwood Forest water-level of 8a miles, with a branch three quarters ol a mile to Thring ston Bridge. There are branches of railways to the lime works of Coal Orton, Barrowhill, and Cioudshill, also Swannington collieries. From the Cloudshill lime works, the railway is continued 6/ miles to the Ashby de la Zouch Canal.