Bugsworth Basin was once one of Britain's largest inland ports, situated on a branch of The Peak Forest Canal the upper basin was first to be completed in 1797, with further wharves developed as trade grew, built primarly to transport limestone via the Peak Forest Tramway from the many quarries on the limestone plateau of Dove Holes, but there is no doubt that the development of Bugsworth Basin and The Peak Forest Canal certainly brought greater prosperity to the whole area. Limestone was transported by Canal to Manchester which by the 1790's was the hub for Canals and Waterways in the North West, from there goods could be transported to the industrial centres of the UK.

 

An industry developed around the Basin with Lime Kilns and later a crushing plant which was providing ballast for the growing network of railway lines, ironicly this would be one of the major reasons for the demise of the canal systems. The Basin fell in to dis-use in 1927 as a result of the dominance of the railways, the railway network had grown and provided a cheaper, faster and more direct alternative to Canal transportation. One interesting fact related to Bugsworth Basin is that of John Cotton who was the last man to be hanged at Derby Gaol on Wednesday 21st December 1898, John Cotton was a boatman and a frequent visitor to Bugsworth where he was well known for his violent behaviour and this is where after a visit to the local hostelry The Rose & Crown he savagely beat his wife to death on his boat moored in the Bugsworth Basin.

It is with thanks to the efforts and expertise of the Inland Waterways Protection Society, that after much work and involvement by many volunteers, financial assistance from local the councils and the EEC, the basin has been cleaned and fully restored. Re-opened on 3rd August 1999 Bugsworth Basin is now classified as an ancient monument. If you visit today you can walk alongside the wharves and picture what life was like when the whole of this quiet rural area was central to the Country's Industrial heritage and you are able to picture a time when everything was operated by Horses, you can also see the remains of the trackways and buildings relating to The Peak Forest Tramway. From here you can follow the towpath alongside the Bugsworth Basin branch around to the main Peak Forest Canal and turn left for Whaley Bridge with its shops, pubs and restaurants, or you can turn right and walk in the other direction heading through Furness Vale towards New Mills and the impressive multi lock system at Marple.