Bugsworth Basin Restoration and Museum Project
Upper Basin c1900
The Inland Waterways Protection Society Limited
Bugsworth Canal Basin, the head of navigation of the Peak Forest Canal, was the largest and busiest inland port on Britain's narrow canal system and the only one to survive intact.
Famous canal and tramway engineer, Benjamin Outram, built the 14 mile long Peak Forest Canal from Dukinfield to Bugsworth, although plans to extend to Chapel Milton via Whitehough were never realised. Construction of the six-mile Peak Forest Tramway in 1795-96 linked Bugsworth Basin to the limestone and gritstone quarries in Derbyshire, and the canal linked Bugsworth to Manchester and the trans-Pennine canal network.
With these transport systems in place Bugsworth thrived commercially. However, as early as 1804, experiments using steam locomotives to haul iron were underway in Wales. The ensuing unstoppable advancement in railway technology would, inevitably, lead to the decline and ultimate demise of the canal system.
Bugsworth Canal Basin is a Scheduled Ancient Monument (County Monument No. 242), and is thus protected by law under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act of 1979. Not only does this make it an offence to deface or injure the monument, all intended works, whether archaeological or otherwise, must first receive consent from the Secretary of State for National Heritage; a process administered by the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England (English Heritage)
Saving a Unique Site
Volunteers of the Inland Waterways Protection Society (IWPS) have restored the site over three decades. They bring knowledge, dedication and the sheer determination to bring the site back to life. Although restoration of navigation has been achieved, improvements and development will continue.
From Dukinfield to Bugsworth Basin - an Illustrated Guide to the Peak Forest Canal. 
