Trent Navigation Company
Encyclopedia
The Trent Navigation Company existed from 1783 to 1940. It was responsible for control of navigation on the River Trent
in England.
) and Gainsborough
(with the exception of Averham
to South Muskham), and junctions with the various other canals. The first business tackled by the Company was the building of towpaths.
Some of the canals opening in the 1790s offered routes for traffic by-passing large sections of the River Trent. By 1796 the Derby Canal
connected directly to the Erewash Canal
at Sandiacre and the River Trent
at Swarkestone
. The Nottingham Canal
ran from the Erewash Canal
junction at Langley Mill
, which itself linked to the Cromford Canal
, down to the River Trent near Trent Bridge in Nottingham. Coal from Derbyshire could be transported to Nottingham
and Derby
without using the river.
The competition prompted the company to implement canals cuts of their own. The Sawley Cut, the Cranfleet Cut and the Beeston canal provided easier navigation avoiding difficult and shallow sections of the river.
In a minor hiccup in its history, an Act of Parliament of 1887 caused the company to be taken over by the Trent (Burton-upon-Trent and Humber) Navigation Company. The Trent Navigation Act of 1892 restored the original company name.
In 1906 the Trent Navigation Company obtained an Act of Parliament authorising improvements upstream of Newark. However, only one lock at Cromwell was constructed before the outbreak of the First World War. By the Nottingham Corporation (Trent Navigation Transfer) Act of 1915, the river from Averham
to Nottingham
was put under the control of Nottingham Corporation. They implemented improvements to a value of £450,000 (£ as of ),which included a new locks and a cut at Holme Lock. The works completed by 1927 enabled larger river boats to sail up to Nottingham
from Hull
and the continent.
In 1937, the bulk of the Nottingham Canal was closed with the exception of the stretch through Nottingham, from Trent Bridge to the junction with the Beeston Canal at Lenton. This was taken over by the Trent Navigation Company.
The Trent Navigation Company ceased to exist in 1940, when it was taken over by the Trent River Catchment Board. The Catchment Board was replaced by the Trent River Board in 1951 and by the Trent River Authority
in 1965.
The annual tonnage carried increased more than eight-fold following the Nottingham Corporation assumption of control of part of the Trent Navigation.
A train of the company's barges could reach Gainsborough
within five hours from Hull, and Newark on Trent within twelve hours. The journey from Hull to Nottingham
took eighteen hours.
A typical train consisted of a mechanically propelled barge carrying 60 tons, towing three dumb barges each of which had 120 tons of goods. The largest trains of barges could carry 600 tons of cargo.
River Trent
The River Trent is one of the major rivers of England. Its source is in Staffordshire on the southern edge of Biddulph Moor. It flows through the Midlands until it joins the River Ouse at Trent Falls to form the Humber Estuary, which empties into the North Sea below Hull and Immingham.The Trent...
in England.
History
The Trent Navigation Company was established by Trent Navigation Act 1783 'An Act for improving the Navigation of the River Trent'. It was responsible for improving and maintaining the navigation on the river between Wilden Ferry (near Cavendish BridgeCavendish Bridge
Cavendish Bridge is the name of a bridge over the River Trent, and a hamlet, on the border between Leicestershire and Derbyshire. It once carried the main London-Manchester turnpike, though a modern dual carriageway has now been built to the south bypassing the location.-History:Before the bridge...
) and Gainsborough
Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
Gainsborough is a town 15 miles north-west of Lincoln on the River Trent within the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. At one time it served as an important port with trade downstream to Hull, and was the most inland in England, being more than 55 miles from the North...
(with the exception of Averham
Averham
Averham is a village and civil parish in the Newark and Sherwood district of Nottinghamshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 187. The village is just west of Newark-on-Trent.-Averham weir:...
to South Muskham), and junctions with the various other canals. The first business tackled by the Company was the building of towpaths.
Some of the canals opening in the 1790s offered routes for traffic by-passing large sections of the River Trent. By 1796 the Derby Canal
Derby Canal
The Derby Canal ran from the Trent and Mersey Canal at Swarkestone to Derby and Little Eaton, and to the Erewash Canal at Sandiacre, Derbyshire, England. The canal gained its Act of Parliament in 1793 and was fully completed in 1796...
connected directly to the Erewash Canal
Erewash Canal
The Erewash Canal is a broad canal in Derbyshire, England. It runs just under and has 14 locks. The first lock at Langley Bridge is actually part of the Cromford Canal.-Origins:...
at Sandiacre and the River Trent
River Trent
The River Trent is one of the major rivers of England. Its source is in Staffordshire on the southern edge of Biddulph Moor. It flows through the Midlands until it joins the River Ouse at Trent Falls to form the Humber Estuary, which empties into the North Sea below Hull and Immingham.The Trent...
at Swarkestone
Swarkestone
Swarkestone is a village and civil parish in Derbyshire, England.Swarkestone has a very old village church, a full cricket pitch, the Crewe and Harpur pub, a canal with locks, moorings and canalside tea-rooms...
. The Nottingham Canal
Nottingham Canal
The Nottingham Canal was a long canal between Langley Mill in Derbyshire and Nottingham, England. It opened in 1796, and most of it was closed in 1937. The southern section is now part of the River Trent Navigation, and the northern section is a nature reserve.-Origins:The idea for the canal first...
ran from the Erewash Canal
Erewash Canal
The Erewash Canal is a broad canal in Derbyshire, England. It runs just under and has 14 locks. The first lock at Langley Bridge is actually part of the Cromford Canal.-Origins:...
junction at Langley Mill
Langley Mill
Langley Mill is a small town in the Amber Valley district of Derbyshire, England. It is on the border of Nottinghamshire, and runs into the towns of Aldercar and Heanor . Across the River Erewash is the Nottinghamshire town of Eastwood. It is part of the Aldercar and Langley Mill parish....
, which itself linked to the Cromford Canal
Cromford Canal
The Cromford Canal ran 14.5 miles from Cromford to the Erewash Canal in Derbyshire, England with a branch to Pinxton. Built by William Jessop with the assistance of Benjamin Outram, its alignment included four tunnels and 14 locks....
, down to the River Trent near Trent Bridge in Nottingham. Coal from Derbyshire could be transported to Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
and Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
without using the river.
The competition prompted the company to implement canals cuts of their own. The Sawley Cut, the Cranfleet Cut and the Beeston canal provided easier navigation avoiding difficult and shallow sections of the river.
In a minor hiccup in its history, an Act of Parliament of 1887 caused the company to be taken over by the Trent (Burton-upon-Trent and Humber) Navigation Company. The Trent Navigation Act of 1892 restored the original company name.
Averham
Averham is a village and civil parish in the Newark and Sherwood district of Nottinghamshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 187. The village is just west of Newark-on-Trent.-Averham weir:...
to Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
was put under the control of Nottingham Corporation. They implemented improvements to a value of £450,000 (£ as of ),which included a new locks and a cut at Holme Lock. The works completed by 1927 enabled larger river boats to sail up to Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
from Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
and the continent.
In 1937, the bulk of the Nottingham Canal was closed with the exception of the stretch through Nottingham, from Trent Bridge to the junction with the Beeston Canal at Lenton. This was taken over by the Trent Navigation Company.
The Trent Navigation Company ceased to exist in 1940, when it was taken over by the Trent River Catchment Board. The Catchment Board was replaced by the Trent River Board in 1951 and by the Trent River Authority
Trent River Authority
The Trent River Authority was one of 27 river authorities created by the Water Resources Act 1963 . It took over the powers of the existing Trent River Board and was given additional duties to monitor water quality and protect water resources....
in 1965.
Statistics
Annual tonnage carried for the years 1913 to 1926 inclusive 29,062 tons.- 1928 – 66,960 tons
- 1929 – 83,118 tons
- 1930 – 105,337 tons
- 1931 – 159,315 tons
- 1932 – 284,666 tons
- 1933 – 230,609 tons
- 1934 – 242,853 tons
- 1935 – 222,538 tons
- 1936 – 230,514 tons
- 1937 – 259,321 tons
- 1938 – 275,030 tons
The annual tonnage carried increased more than eight-fold following the Nottingham Corporation assumption of control of part of the Trent Navigation.
Freight transport
In the late 1930s, the powerful motor vessels and dumb barges owned by the company had a total carrying capacity of 4,500 tons. Each day, vessels were in attendance at each of the Hull docks and consignments of five tons and upwards were collected direct overside from steamers. Under an ancient charter, the port of Hull is free to river and canal craft. No wharfage or landing charges were incurred when cargo was directly discharged into the company's boats.A train of the company's barges could reach Gainsborough
Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
Gainsborough is a town 15 miles north-west of Lincoln on the River Trent within the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. At one time it served as an important port with trade downstream to Hull, and was the most inland in England, being more than 55 miles from the North...
within five hours from Hull, and Newark on Trent within twelve hours. The journey from Hull to Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
took eighteen hours.
A typical train consisted of a mechanically propelled barge carrying 60 tons, towing three dumb barges each of which had 120 tons of goods. The largest trains of barges could carry 600 tons of cargo.