Bugsworth Basin 

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Bugsworth Basin is listed as an ancient monument which is reputed to be Britain's largest inland port  in its hey-day.
Nowadays the basin is used for leisure purposes by local villagers and visitors who come from far and wide. 

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A brief history of Bugsworth Basin.

Work on both the Peak Forest Canal and the tramlines from Doveholes was completed in the late 1700's.This enabled limestone to be transported from the quarries by horse drawn waggons, and either be transferred as limestone to canal barges, or burnt into lime in kilns at the basin, and then shipped out.

Once Britain's largest inland port the basin became dis-used in 1927 as a result of the dominance of the railways.

Thanks to the efforts of the Inland Waterways Protection Society and financial assistance from local councils and the EEC, the basin was re-opened on 3rd August 1999. Bugsworth Basin is classed as an ancient monument.

Bugsworth Basin retained its name when the village was re-named Buxworth from Bugsworth in the early 1900s. 

Bugsworth de-bugged

In the early 1900s the population of Bugsworth became embarrassed by the village's name, some villagers wouldn't get off at the local railway Station and carried on to Chinley - they then walked back to Bugsworth. A campaign was launched by the local vicar and the local head teacher to have the name changed to Buxworth. There was a referendum in 1929, the name was changed to Buxworth but the argument has never gone away. In May 1999 another referendum was held and the villagers voted  three to two in favour of keeping Buxworth. Straw polls indicate that people who were born and brought in the village were more likely to want to the name to remain as Buxworth than their neighbours who have moved into the village. When the name of the village changed the basin retained its original name and is affectionately known in the area as Buggie Basin. Ironically the village is still referred to as 'Buggie'.

Murder in the basin

John Cotton was the last man to be hanged in Derby jail, in 1898. An elderly captain with a very young wife, he murdered her on his boat which was moored in Bugsworth Basin.

Click here for the full story

Odessa

Local veterans returning from the Crimean war (1854-56) nicknamed the area Odessa, because the steps leading down to the basin reminded them of the famous Pontemican steps at the port of Odessa.
The name is still used by older villagers today.

Accommodation | The Bar | The Restaurant | Home Page | How to get here | Bugsworth Basin | Buxworth History | Well Dressing | Events