History of the Sheffield & Tinsley Canal
The Sheffield and Tinsley Canal is a broad canal running from the River Don Navigation at Tinsley, for 3.9 miles (6.3 km), to Sheffield Basin. Previously, there were originally 12 locks in the Tinsley flight but locks 7 & 8 are now combined into a new single lock to make room for a new railway bridge in 1959. It opened in 1819 and was a great success. Later on, flyboat services connected with steamers from Hull to London in 1840. There is no reservoir to feed the basin; water is pumped from the River Don instead, originally by a steam engine but now by electric pumps.
Maintenance
In the late 19th century, users of the local waterways were dissatisfied with high tolls and poor maintenance that subsequently formed the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation Company. This amalgamated the Stainforth & Keadby, the New Junction Canal (which links to the Aire & Calder Navigation), the Dearne and Dove Canal, the River Don Navigation and the Sheffield & Tinsley Canal; therefore taking them out of railway company ownership. During 1896, modernising Sheffield Basin created a new warehouse straddling the basin. Sheffield Basin or Victoria Quays is the terminus of the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal with a rare example of a Straddle Warehouse.
Photo: Sheffield Basin by John Lower.
