The canal goes through Attercliffe or Darnall Cutting and it was built by out of work men following the Napoleonic Wars. By using this cheap labour the 150 yd and 36 ft deep was completed quickly and cheaply.
We were ten minutes early but the gates was open so we set off down. As we got through the second David the Lockie came up to advise us that all was set for the first few and Nigel was looking after two coming up. It was David's day off but he wanted to see us safely down the deep lock at 7/8.
I think it was Lock 5 that this sign was sited.
David got us through the deep lock and then left us again, but not before telling us that the up bound boats were running late so we may have to turn locks. I was leaving both bottom gates open for them. Here we are at Lock 11 and Halfpenny Bridge. Before the Sheffield and Tinsley was built this was head of navigation of the River Don Navigation, and goods for Sheffield had to go on by road.
As we approached Jordan's Lock we could see that Land and Water had managed to reestablish the floating barrage across the weir which was hanging down the race when we came up.
I think this is the towpath bridge over the Walker Branch that served the iron works of Samuel Walker and Co. His father was a nail maker, but he was a school teacher, land surveyor and sun dial maker! He and his two brothers work together and set up a furnace in 1741. By 1746 they were the leading iron canon maker to the Government and this coincides with a move to a new site in Masborough by Rotherham and this short arm was the transport link.
There is so much work going on by the canal in Rotherham but it doesn't seem to have made moving the bottom gate. It took all my strength to get it moving. The workmen on the site next to the lock said they have always had to help other boats. Just outside Rotherham was an old canalside building with this old crane still standing sentinel.
Another canal arm was the Fitzwilliam Canal, also known as the Parkgate or Greasborough Canal. The canal was surveyed three times before it was given the go ahead. It had four locks up to a wharf at Cinder Bridge. The canal opened in 1780 and was joined to the Marquis of Rockingham's collieries. There was a short arm to Sough Bridge too. Another branch went to Parkgate where the Parkgate Iron Company was developed in 1823 sometimes called the Newbiggin Branch. Coal was brought to the canal by plateway and in containers and each boat carried 30 tons and a horse pulled three of them. When the railway came in 1836 the canal quickly declined and by 1918 it was closed.
We kept going as it was a nice day and as it only took us 51/2 house from Sheffield to leaving Rotherham Town Lock we were in the groove. As we approached Mexborough Low Lock it was a lovely day with the countryside all a round.
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