Chesterfield Canal

The Chesterfield Canal is a barge canal in the north of England and it is known locally as 'Cuckoo Dyke'. It was opened in 1777 and ran 46mi from the River Trent at West Stockwith, Nottinghamshire to Chesterfield, Derbyshire. It is currently navigable as far inland as Kiveton Park near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, plus an isolated section near Chesterfield. Tapton Lock Visitor Centre is located on the Chesterfield Canal to the north of Tapton Park.The canal was built to export coal, limestone, and lead from Derbyshire, iron from Chesterfield, and corn, deals, timber, groceries, etc. into Derbyshire. The stone for the Palace of Westminster was quarried in North Anston, Rotherham, and transported via the canal. It briefly attained fame in 1978 when maintenance workers accidentally pulled a drain plug that no one was aware of and caused a portion to empty.