Ashby Canal: A Heritage Guide
The Ashby Canal runs for 22 miles through Leicestershire from Marston Junction on the Coventry Canal to Snarestone, south of the village of Measham. Originally planned to reach 30 miles to Moira, the canal was never completed to its intended terminus. It has no locks along its entire length, making it unusual among British canals.
Key Facts
- Route: Marston Junction (Bedworth, Warwickshire) to Snarestone (Leicestershire)
- Length: 22 miles
- Number of Locks: 0
- Opened: 1804
- Chief Engineer: Robert Whitworth
Why the Canal Was Built
The Ashby Canal was authorised by Act of Parliament in 1794 to serve the rapidly expanding coal mining industry in north-west Leicestershire. The Ashby-de-la-Zouch Canal Company promoted the waterway to transport coal from mines around Moira, Measham, and Donisthorpe to markets in Leicester, Coventry, and further afield via connections to the national canal network. Limestone quarrying at Cloud Hill near Breedon on the Hill also generated significant demand for transport.
The canal connected to the Coventry Canal at Marston Junction, giving access to Birmingham, the Trent and Mersey Canal, and the wider Midlands network. Local landowners and coal proprietors backed the scheme, recognising the potential for reduced transport costs compared to rutted roads.
Construction and Engineering
Robert Whitworth, who had worked with James Brindley and surveyed several major canals, served as chief engineer. Construction began in 1794 and the canal opened throughout its built length in 1804, taking ten years to complete.
The canal was built as a contour canal, following the 300-foot contour line to avoid the need for locks. This created a winding route but eliminated the water supply problems and operational costs associated with locks. Several embankments and cuttings were required, and a short tunnel was constructed at Gopsall.
The northern section beyond Measham to Moira was never built due to mining subsidence concerns and insufficient funds. The canal terminated at Snarestone rather than reaching the richest coalfields as originally intended.
Working Life and Trade
Coal dominated traffic throughout the canal’s working life. Collieries at Measham, Moira, and Donisthorpe dispatched narrow boats laden with coal southwards, while lime, building materials, and agricultural goods also travelled the waterway. The town of Hinckley, served by a branch that opened in 1814, received coal for its hosiery factories and domestic use.
Wharves developed at Hinckley, Market Bosworth, and Measham. The canal enabled local industries to compete more effectively and reduced coal prices in the towns it served. At its peak in the mid-nineteenth century, the canal carried over 180,000 tons annually.
Decline and Restoration
Competition from the Leicester and Swannington Railway, which opened in 1832, began eroding coal traffic. The Midland Railway gradually took over most freight. Mining subsidence caused serious problems, with sections near Measham collapsing in 1944 and again in 1957, severing the northern section permanently.
Commercial traffic ended in 1970. The Ashby Canal Association, formed in 1966, campaigned for restoration. The navigable section from Marston Junction to Snarestone was secured, and is now managed by the Canal & River Trust. The Hinckley branch closed and was largely filled in during the 1960s. Restoration efforts continue to extend navigation northwards towards Measham.