ASHBY Canal Association has celebrated the opening of the new stop gate and associated pedestrian bridge at Snarestone.
The stop gate is for safety and also to give access to the association’s shop and other facilities.
“The event was well attended,” said chairman Peter Oakden. “I was a bit pessimistic due to the uncertainty of the weather, but there was a good turnout, with a chance to meet old friends, get to know visitors, and talk about plans for the future.”
ACA has restored and installed an old Midland Railway signal on the site, which actually works, and was used at the celebration to signal the association’s workboat Ram to pass the new gate. This railway connection is particularly appropriate as the Ashby Canal belonged to the Midland Railway Company or its successors from 1846 to nationalisation in 1948.
The Ashby Canal was progressively abandoned to Snarestone by 1966, as a result of mining subsidence. An isolated length has been restored at Moira and about 600m restored from the new stopgate to beyond the next bridge. There are also plans to extend the canal to Measham and eventually to connect to the length at Moira.
