Bugsworth Basin

Bugsworth Basin is a canal terminus at the end of the Peak Forest Canal featuring three connected basins with stone construction, loading wharves, and tramway tracks. These structures define the site and reveal the basic layout of an industrial facility from the 1700s.

The site was built in 1796 to move limestone from nearby quarries by canal and tramway to Manchester. This transportation route remained in use until canals lost importance around 1927.

The site shows how people managed the movement and storage of materials during industrial times. The preserved structures give visitors a sense of how workers operated here and what role the place held for surrounding communities.

The basin is accessible from the B6062 New Road near Whaley Bridge, with signs from the main A6 route. The location allows visitors to walk around the site and view the different historical structures clearly.

The site preserves a rare combination of canal and tramway infrastructure that operated together as one system. This dual operation is hardly found anywhere else in Britain and makes the place particularly important for industrial history.

Location: Whaley Bridge

Part of: Peak Forest Canal, Peak Forest Tramway, Bugsworth canal basin, tramway, quarry and limekilns

GPS coordinates: 53.33490,-1.96843

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:54