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Barnsley Canal and Dearne & Dove Canal

The Barnsley Canal and the Dearne & Dove Canal were built separately, but together provided a connection from the Aire & Calder Navigation through to the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation.  Both canals were closed shortly after World War II and have been the subject of restoration proposals.  The Dearne & Dove Canal has arms to Worsborough and Elsecar.

Location

Facts & Stats

14.5 miles

(23.2km)

The length of the Barnsley Canal.

10 miles

(16km)

The length of the main line of the Dearne and Dove Canal.  The two branches were just over 2 miles each.

17 locks

Barnsley Canal

There are 19 locks on the main line of the Dearne & Dove Canal, 6 locks on the Elsecar Branch and none on the Worsborough Branch.

Waterway notes

Maximum Boat Sizes

The maximum boat size that navigated the Barnsley Canal was:

  • length: 84′ 0″ (25.60 metres)
  • beam: 14′ 0″ (4.27 metres)

The maximum boat size that navigated the Dearne and Dove Canal was:

  • length: 58′ 0″ (17.68 metres)
  • beam: 14′ 10″ (4.52 metres)

Branch

Waterway underfunding

Hundreds of miles of waterways – along with their unique heritage and habitats – are currently starved of funding and rely on constant lobbying by us to safeguard their future.

Sustainable Boating

We want boating on canals and rivers to be more sustainable and – even though the current overall contribution to UK carbon emissions is very small – we want to help reduce emissions on the waterways.

Waterways Heritage at Risk

Britain’s canals and rivers are a unique, living heritage. But that heritage is at risk – from urban development, lack of protection, loss of skills and knowledge and climate change.

You can help Save Waterways Heritage.

Waterway restoration

Restoring the UK’s blue infrastructure – our inherited network of navigable canals and rivers – is good for people and places.