Cropwell Lock (10-10-21)

The Grantham Canal opened in 1797. Without the Canal, the history of Cropwell Bishop would be very different – less industry, less commerce, less interesting.
You only have to browse articles on the history of Cropwell Bishop Streets (click the Heritage tab) to appreciate why: start with Kinoulton Road and Nottingham Road.
The Canal starts on the River Trent and Cropwell Bishop is at a higher level than the Trent. That means that locks had to be built between the Trent and Cropwell Bishop.
Cropwell Bishop Lock was the tenth of those in the first 6 miles but would be the last until Woolsthorpe, 20 miles further south.
The Canal was closed in 1929. These days, almost 100 years later, most stretches of the Canal still contain water and some even have boats on them.
However, at Cropwell Bishop the ground is very porous and only after long and heavy rains does water collect along its bed.
In this walk, you will walk alongside the (dry) Canal and visit the remains of Cropwell Lock. You will also reach the north edge of Cropwell Butler before returning home.
Tony Jarrow




I sometimes wonder if "toe path" would be a better name now that horses no longer tug barges along the canal.











It leads right across the middle of the field to its far corner.
Just after its start, it drops into a large hollow in the ground that looks out of place. You may ask if it is natural or man-made.
During the Second World War, some bombs were dropped on the Cropwells: could it be a bomb crater, I wonder.













You have to wonder how many tens of thousands of its inhabitants have walked this path over at the last two thousand years. You have now been added to that list.


What wanders here at mid-night, you may wonder: don't ask me to find out!


You may think that horses should be banned from this path but, in fact, this is not a footpath but a bridleway: horses are allowed.
The problem is that the landowner has allowed the hedges to grow way beyond the original fence. Both the Parish and County Councils have signalled the need for it to be cut but, to date, the only response has been words, not action.



Well, maybe a little look can't be resisted: there are some lovely gardens and they enjoy wonderful views. Not many Cropwell homes can see Belvoir Castle.



