Dearne and Dove Canal

Dearne and Dove Canal
The bottom gate of the third lock in 2008, with Waddington's yard occupying the line of the canal beyond
Specifications
Maximum boat length58 ft 0 in (17.68 m)
Maximum boat beam14 ft 10 in (4.52 m)
Locks25
StatusRestoration proposed, part new route
History
Original ownerDearne and Dove Canal Company
Principal engineerRobert Mylne
Other engineer(s)John Thompson
Date of act1793
Date completed1804
Date closed1961
Geography
Start pointBarnsley
53°33′25″N 1°27′50″W / 53.5569°N 1.4640°W / 53.5569; -1.4640 (Junction with Barnsley Canal)
End pointSwinton
53°29′04″N 1°18′10″W / 53.4845°N 1.3028°W / 53.4845; -1.3028 (Junction with River Don Navigation)
Branch(es)Elsecar, Worsborough
Connects toRiver Don Navigation, Barnsley Canal
Dearne and Dove Canal
Barnsley Canal
Barnsley Canal
19
Hoyle Mill stop lock (Junction Lock)
Worsborough Reservoir
Penistone Line railway bridge
Worsborough Branch
11-18
Stairfoot flight (8)
Bradberry Balk Bridge (d)
Littlefield Bridge (d)
Station Road Bridge (d)
Double Bridge (d)
Everill Gate Bridge (d)
Junction Bridge (d)
Elsecar Reservoir
Elsecar Locks (5)
Elsecar Branch
8-10
Brampton Locks (3)
Knoll Beck new Bridge (A633)
7
Well Spring (Wath) Lock
Old Moor Bridge (d)
Factory Bridge (d)
Wet Moor Bridge
'Bay of Biscay'
Brewery Bridge (d)
Outlane Swing Bridge (d)
Bolton Bridge (d)
Common Bridge
Manvers Main Colliery
5-6
Swinton Locks (2)
Wakefield line railway bridge
Canning Town glassworks
Halmshaw Bridge (A6022)
1-4
Swinton Locks (4)
River Don Navigation

The Dearne and Dove Canal ran for almost ten miles through South Yorkshire, England from Swinton to Barnsley through nineteen locks, rising 127 feet (39 m). The canal also had two short branches, the Worsbrough branch and the Elsecar branch, both about two miles long with reservoirs at the head of each. The Elsecar branch also has another six locks. The only tunnel was bypassed by a cutting in 1840.[1]

The canal was created mainly to carry cargo from the extensive coal mining industry in the area. Other cargo included pig iron, glass, lime, oil products and general merchandise. A combination of railway competition and subsidence caused by the same mines it served forced the canal into a gradual decline, closing completely in 1961. As the local coal industry also collapsed in the 1980s the canal was thrown a lifeline with the forming of the Barnsley Canal Group who are now attempting to restore the whole canal, an effort further boosted by the abandonment of the railway which replaced it.