|
Cromford Wharf as found in late 60s. Small warehouse is behind trees to L. Note brand new work punt suddenly unloaded by BWB (called the "Lea Wood") by way of claiming possession of the canal. It disappeared just as suddenly!
Looking through the newly built canopy at the top of Cromford Wharf. This was rebuilt to original photos by CCS and job creation. Our work boat is midground left and behind are "Duchess" and the floating dredger. On the right is the dismantled cast iron swingbridge rescued from Bull Bridge Aqueduct.
February 1979, this was taken at sunrise on a hard winter. Note absence of canopy and also that water only frozen to end of wharf. Where main feed entered it never froze as the supply was mainly out of the ground via soughs. [We later discovered the original culvert which fed water directly to the main wharf, just past canopy on right. This was reinstated by way of 2 X 4" pipes and they supplied 'warm' water to main line and prevented freezing.]
Gary and Dennis Shooter (father and son) who were full time employees of CCS in the almost finished shop in the larger warehouse at Cromford Wharf. When finished the counter was constructed to look like the John Gray, cabin at left is not yet painted. [For access we used the original fixed bridge from Leawood Aqueduct. Waste not want not] 
Taken in late 60's. Photo of Bridge 1 with ground paddle in situ. (Removed because it was a hazard to boat towlines)
I took this from a light aircraft to show how tight are the various methods of transport down at High Peak. Cibachrome print from 35mm transparency. High Peak Junction, immediately east of Bridge 2, before the Trail had been properly developed. (ADS)
Swing Bridge at High Peak (Bridge 2) late 1960s
Leawood Aqueduct. 80 yd span, carries the canal at approx 260ft above sea level 30ft above the River Derwent. (ADS)
An icy February morning on Leawood Aqueduct.
John Gray on the one and only trip through the Tunnel, crossing Iron Aqueduct. December 21st 1988.
East of iron Aqueduct - Restored section which has breached several times since original construction. Piles driven in down LHS. Picture taken at almost the point of overtopping.
First and last trip with John Gray through Gregory Tunnel. (see Building Bridge 6)
The mess left when STWA cut through the canal to lay their pipeline to the Ogston Reservoir. The new pumping station was built just above and right of the offside bank. Pressure from us and others eventually managed to get them to clear the spoil – with a dragline which also nearly ruined the canal! (ADS)
Misplaced duckling chick rescued by kindly CCS worker.
One of the trapdoors set in the bed of the canal. About halfway between Cromford and High Peak. (ADS)
Dennis Shooter and Simon Stoker, dressed by the BBC for filming Silas Marner on 29th March 1985. Horse is 'Strawberry'
Dr Desmond Stoker, Chairman of CCS, on 13th August, 1988, the day after his 79th birthday. He did a sponsored boat-pull from Leawood to Cromford (solo!) raising about £1000 for CCS |
Return to Simon Stoker Archive Index
