The Past

When it comes to waterways transportation, Sheffield has always been somewhat 'land locked', and to an extent remains so today apart from the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation, linking the City Centre to the River Don, via Tinsley.  The final stage of the journey, prior to the Sheffield Canal being built was terminated at Tinsley.  Goods were then transported by cart into Sheffield.  This was not ideal, especially when one reflects that the only bulk cargo carriers of the day were working boats. 

The first plans to link Sheffield to the outside world - by water, were drawn up in 1697, but it wasn't until nearly 120 years later that these plans, promoted by the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire, were fulfilled by the creation of the Sheffield Canal Company, by Act of Parliament on the 7th June 1815.

On 22nd February 1819 - less than 4 years from the Company being formed, the canal, all 3.9 miles between Tinsley and the new Sheffield Basin was opened.  Such was the magnitude of the opening that a General Holiday was announced and a crowd of 60,000 locals turned up to celebrate.

Less than 30 years later on the 22nd July 1848, after the canal had seen quite unprecedented success, the Company was aquired, ironically, by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway. 

1895 saw the end of the Sheffield Canal as an independent navigation when it was merged with the River Don Navigation and the Stainforth & Keadby canal to become what to this day is known as the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

The railways and more recently, motorways meant the waterways were seen as slow and uneconomical.  The waterways network carried less cargo, unable to compete.  By the 1970s most of the Inland Waterways network were in total decline.  Unwelcoming, derelict and often dangerous.  Locks fell into disrepair, entire pounds were left untended, many stretches were filled in and built on by property developers.  The glory days of waterway transport were over.

The Sheffield Canal Basin became effectively forgotten and abandoned - seen by many as an unsightly embarrassment.

The Present

Modern day Sheffield, the 4th largest city in the UK is thriving, cosmopolitan, clean and welcoming.  Although the 1980s saw the decimation of the Steel and coal mining industries, Sheffield and the county of South Yorkshire has seen mass regeneration. 

Toward the end of the 1980s plans were initiated to regenerate the Sheffield Canal and Canal Basin.  With the aid of European Funding, the Basin (now renamed Victoria Quays) was completely rebuilt, providing a new focus in the heart of the City.  Being a short stroll from the main shopping areas, railway station and public transport interchange, Victoria Quays has become a popular local resource and ideal destination for boaters to take a longer break.

The Basin is now home to a number of boaters and businesses, including many bars and cafes, a gift shop and chandlery, trip, restaurant and hotel boats and the sponsor of this site, Sheffield Narrowboats, a narrowboat holiday hire company.  The canal itself is now enjoyed by many individuals and local groups, including boaters, walkers, and photographers.  It is possible to walk the entire towpath out past Rotherham, providing both a unique insight into the past industrial heritage of Sheffield and a vital sanctuary for local wildlife.

During the 180 odd years following the original Act of Parliament, the Sheffield Canal Company underwent may changes, both of ownership and purpose.  Many dissolutions and re-incorporations were seen before the Company was finally dissolved in the early 2000s - the new Millennium apparently seeing the end of a tradition.

Initially for no other reason than to retain the 'name' for posterity, and as a mark of the past and contribution the Company had made to the growth of Sheffield as the industrial heart of the UK the current owners purchased the Sheffield Canal Company Limited in 2006.  This site is the only presence of 'The Company', Registered in England as a Non Trading Company.

The Future

The Inland Waterways have historically faced a number of challenges, and this remains as true today as ever.

Basically put, canals and towpaths need a lot of maintenance and in order to justify the expense, it needs to be shown that there are tangible benefits for individuals and groups within local communities.

The Sheffield Canal Company, or more correctly, 'this site', aims to provide an environment whereby local alliances may be formed, collectively sharing in our varied interests relating to the Sheffield Canal and collaboratively working with others, including Statutory authorities such as Sheffield City Council and British Waterways to proactively promote and showcase the broad range of economic and social benefits the canal and associated local resources bring to our community.

To focus the site - and the Company, it is intended to start building toward a series of celebrations, the first of which will be the 200th Anniversary of the forming of the Sheffield Canal Company, by Act of Parliament in 1815.  This leaves (at the time of writing) around 7 years to plan something :-)

The next, main celebration will be the 200th Anniversary of the Canal opening.  We have about 11 years to pull this together, and who knows, maybe with the right co-ordination and promotion, Sheffield City Council may feel it fitting to call a General Holiday.

We're sure that there will be lots of other events and activities along the way - and hope that the Company (alright, this site!) can help to promote and support allied activities.