X-Nico

6 unusual facts about Narrowboat


Butterley Tunnel

The Newlands Inn served the Cromford Canal as a place where the narrow boat horses were changed and probably where the narrow boat crews were refreshed prior to or after legging it through the tunnel.

One of the horizontal tunnels departing from the tunnel at this point used to run to the Butterley Company's Butterley Carr Pit which opened in 1812 and loaded its coal directly into narrow boats at the underground wharf.

The box could be lifted from the tram chassis and loaded directly into narrow boats or barges on the Derby Canal.

Canal boat

Narrowboat, a specialized craft for operation in early narrow canals

Horse harness

Similar to cart harness but without breeching, used for dragged loads such as plows, harrows, canal boats or logs.

Harnesses may also be used to hitch animals to other loads such as a plow or canal boat.


Butterley Tunnel

A horse drawn narrowboat is brought into service by "The Friends of Cromford Canal" occasionally on the only navigable section of the Cromford Canal near to the Derbyshire village of Cromford itself.


see also