Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
44
Stainforth & Keadby Canal
Distance
20km from the River Dun Navigation to the River Trent
Highlights
St Cuthbert's church, Fishlake
Rigle Motor Museum, Crowle
Vazon sliding bridge near Keadby
Navigation Authority
Canal & River Trust
OS 1:50,000 Sheets
111 Sheffield & Doncaster
112 Scunthorpe & Gainsborough
The Stainforth & Keadby Canal was built between 1793 and 1802 to extend the River Dun
Navigation from near Stainforth to the River Trent. Both form parts of the Sheffield & South
Yorkshire Navigation. Effectively, it was a ship canal for 200t craft and was to prove a finan-
cial success. Being cut across fenland, it had mostly long straight reaches and only needed two
locks, the second of which was to deal with the tides on the Trent. Construction of the New
Junction Canal has now removed most of its traffic.
It is a waterway heavily used by anglers, having numbered pegs over much of its length.
Most bridges open and are low.
At first the canal follows the tidal River Don, on the other side of which is Fishlake with
an armless windmill and the fine medieval church of St Cuthbert. The church is noted for its
intricately carved late-Norman doorway with animals and foliage and for a belltower with a
notice banning the ringers from wearing hats or spurs.
Beyond the M18, the Doncaster to Hull railway crosses as the canal enters Thorne, the only
town along its line. The Canal Tavern is tucked in next to the A614 as it crosses and the Don-
caster to Grimsby railway line crosses and follows the canal, most of the way keeping close to
the bank of the canal. Fenland is opening up, flat but fertile, and plants include bog rosemary.
