Hear about the Chesterfield Canal

THE Chesterfield Canal Trust has enabled people to learn about the canal by an Audio Post installed at its Hollingwood Hub centre on the Chesterfield Canal.

By turning a handle a few times visitors to the canal are able to hear a choice of eight messages concerning the canal, Trust and local history.

Local knowledge

Wherever possible, the recordings were made by people who did the work or have detailed local knowledge. For example, Dave France is a member of the Chesterfield Canal Trust Work Party and he tells the story of installing the massive Date Stone by the lock. Walt Jones used to work in the Metal Spun Plant at Staveley Works, which was just across the road from the Hub. He describes graphically the skill and danger of working with molten metal.

Other recordings include Sandra Struggles talking about the history of Staveley Works and Don Cambridge on the underground canal, which emerges only two hundred yards from the Hub.

Grant

The Trust was able to purchase the audio post thanks to a grant from Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation.

The Charitable Foundation is just one of the ways the Society gives something back to the communities where its members and colleagues live and work.

Chesterfield Canal Trust Secretary, Bev Hunt, praised:

"We are very grateful to the Charitable Foundation for awarding us the money for this splendid audio post. We are sure that it will increase the public's enjoyment and knowledge of the canal and the amazing history of the immediate locality."

After a brief ceremony, attended by the people who made the recordings, representatives of the Yorkshire Building Society, the Trust and Derbyshire County Council (which owns the canal), shown in the picture, there was a trip aboard Madeline—the Eckington School boat. The Trust runs cruises aboard Madeline from Hollingwood Hub every Saturday from April to October.