One of the featured waterways.
Ashby-de-la-Zouch Canal
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The maps identify main roads, motorways & junction numbers, waterway features, waterway related museums & other tourist attractions etc.

Highlighted features such as Moira Furnace are described in a couple of paragraphs which end with a set of simple 'road directions' from an identified motorway junction.
Contact telephone numbers of local Tourist Information Centres, Boat Trip Operators, Waterways Managers and Restoration Societies are given, including web-site addresses.

'Moira Cut' meanders through gently rolling countryside. Away from motorways and dual carriageways, it even avoids almost every village on the way. Absolutely without slopes, the towpath follows this broad canal for 22 lock free miles along a single contour at 300 feet. Hedges and reed lined banks create a wildlife corridor harbouring many species, eg dragonfly, heron, kingfisher.

©GEOprojects 1999

Early (1781) designs were to link Burton upon Trent to the coal and limestone deposits at Ashby Would and onwards to the recently opened (1769) Coventry Canal. Over 20 years later it opened for 30 miles between Coventry Canal and a scatter of tramways serving into the coalfields but failed to arrive at Burton and missed Ashby by 5 miles. The coalfields were extensive and produced the highest quality coal until the Donisthorpe pit closed. For over 150 years it was carried by water to London markets. Subsidence undermined the canal leading to successive breaches and closures of the northern extremity in 1918, 1944, 1957 and 1966. The London Midland and Scottish Railway Company could not give the canal away... the Coventry Canal Company refused the offer. Restoration plans attracted Lottery support in 1997 but a little local difficulty jeopardised the project for a time.

Management and Restoration
British Waterways Alrewas Tel: 0/283 790236
Ashby Canal Restoration Project Tel: 01530 273956
Ashby Canal Association Tel: 01455614816

Moira Furnace (Tel: 01283224667)
Currently under restoration, a massive brick structure with its own (dry) wharf arm directly below. The blast furnace was finished the year the canal opened and operated for 8 years. The excellent coal became highly prized in London and was thus worth more as coal than when used to create iron. The foundry continued for 40 years and limekilns for 150 years. Industrial heritage trail and parkland.
From M42 J11, use A444 / B5003, going north-east.
Measham Pottery
Supplied to order, including personalised inscriptions, from Mrs Brown's canalside shop in Measham but made 5 miles away in Church Gresley. Salt glazed, generally brown, earthenware jugs, jars, chamber pots, kettles and, most famously, the tea pots treasured as 'best' by many a boatwoman. Oldest 1792: others celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee (1879) and Edward VII's coronation (1902). Buy a modem replica to support the canal restoration project. Approach from M42 J11. Use B5006 going north.
Snarestone
Limit of navigation (since 1967) is in an open field just beyond a short (250 yard) wide beam tunnel. From M69 J1, use A5/A444/B41l6 going north'east.

Boat Trips
Sutton Wharf Rose Tel: 0378 734073

Tourist Information
Ashby~de-la-Zouch Tel: 01530 411767
Hinkley Tel: 01455 635106
Nuneaton Tel: 024 7634 7006