I have happy memories of a childhood when Swarkestone was in the country with market gardens growing vegetables and the canal bed which still had water in places which was a wonderful playground for kids. Sadly the canal route has not been well looked after, a new road has been driven through it recently further educing any likelihood of restoration. Housing built on the market gardens now encroaches almost to Swarkestone lock, and will continue to do so, and the continuous sound of the nearby A50 road has taken away the peace and tranquillity. Like everywhere else Derby continues to gobble up land for building houses and commercial estates and the once outlying villages have become mere suburbs. Still the days of kids roaming the countryside, cycling, building dens, getting up to mischief are gone, they spend their time playing games on their I Phones with their mates online and even if they want to go out their parents probably wont allow them because "its too dangerous". Its a very different world to my childhood when my Dad and I would go fishing here and never see a boat (it was after commercial carrying ended but before the boom in recreational boating) and as a result the canal water was gin clear and full of vegetation.
It's such a shame we wont see it restored in our lifetime. Being a boater in the area i would of enjoyed it and been so handy to be a continuous cruiser
I used to live near here 20+ years ago. This spot hasn't changed much at all. I would have thought that they may have restored the canal under the bridge and a bit further towards Derby. Used to occasionally cycle from here to the city centre on this route, way before Chellaston grew massively and that big pub on the roundabout was restored !
Good to see your new video. guess you have seen my flights over the entire derby canal route : ruclips.net/video/TET5m2q_plc/видео.html The culvert at 12:20 is overflow from the canal into Cuttle Brook.
I have happy memories of a childhood when Swarkestone was in the country with market gardens growing vegetables and the canal bed which still had water in places which was a wonderful playground for kids. Sadly the canal route has not been well looked after, a new road has been driven through it recently further educing any likelihood of restoration. Housing built on the market gardens now encroaches almost to Swarkestone lock, and will continue to do so, and the continuous sound of the nearby A50 road has taken away the peace and tranquillity. Like everywhere else Derby continues to gobble up land for building houses and commercial estates and the once outlying villages have become mere suburbs.
Still the days of kids roaming the countryside, cycling, building dens, getting up to mischief are gone, they spend their time playing games on their I Phones with their mates online and even if they want to go out their parents probably wont allow them because "its too dangerous". Its a very different world to my childhood when my Dad and I would go fishing here and never see a boat (it was after commercial carrying ended but before the boom in recreational boating) and as a result the canal water was gin clear and full of vegetation.
It's such a shame we wont see it restored in our lifetime. Being a boater in the area i would of enjoyed it and been so handy to be a continuous cruiser
I used to live near here 20+ years ago.
This spot hasn't changed much at all. I would have thought that they may have restored the canal under the bridge and a bit further towards Derby.
Used to occasionally cycle from here to the city centre on this route, way before Chellaston grew massively and that big pub on the roundabout was restored !
Enjoyed this Chris. The disused parts are really interesting to see.
Good to see your new video. guess you have seen my flights over the entire derby canal route : ruclips.net/video/TET5m2q_plc/видео.html
The culvert at 12:20 is overflow from the canal into Cuttle Brook.