(c) Roger HaworthWe went to Derbyshire for the annual Ashford in the Water Well Dressing. Ashford under the Water as it turned out. But before we got drenched there, we met friends at Bugsworth or Buxworth Canal Basin for a look round and a lovely pub lunch.
Buxworth Basin was developed at the end of the Peak Forest Canal which was developed at the end of the 19th century. Limestone was brought here via the Peak Forest Tramway for calcining in kilns by the canal bank. This once-thriving canal was left derelict for most of the 20th century but a devoted band of enthusiasts began the work of transforming the basin in 1968. It might have taken 30 years but after work to seal leaks in the walls and new over bridges constructed from stone saved from locally demolished buildings, the basin was finally re-opened in 2005 when 101 narrow boats arrived in the basin.
The works had been somewhat slowed by the building of a by-pass so close by that the noise of traffic can be clearly heard, despite the vegetation. However the various buildings demolished for the road plan provided the raw materials for the rebuilding.
