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Underground canal re-discovered

27th Jan 2012

Volunteers clearing undergrowth beside the Chesterfield Canal have uncovered the entrance to an underground canal. The Hollingwood Common Canal is in a tunnel, which once led 2 miles underground straight into a coal mine.

The Chesterfield Canal Trust volunteers made the discovery on private land opposite the towpath in Hollingwood, Derbyshire. The canal is mostly silted up but the top part of the tunnel arch is still visible.

The underground canal ran underneath Hollingwood Estate and Ringwood Hall to Westwood. It was used to bring out coal but was not connected to the main canal – cargoes had to be unloaded and reloaded. It is thought to be 250 feet deep at the far end.

Hidden history

Rod Auton from the Chesterfield Canal Trust said: “I was really surprised, as I knew it was there, but I thought it had been completely buried.”

Rod explained that it is too dangerous to attempt further excavation of the tunnel, due to methane underground. “However, we want to keep the tunnel entrance clear so that people can see it from the towpath. It is near to the Trust’s base, so we plan to have interpretation panels to tell the story of the tunnel and the industrial history of the area.”

You can read more about the history of the Hollingwood Common Canal on the Chesterfield Canal Trust website.

Last updated: 27/01/2012

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