Archaeological dig on canal attracts 250 visitors

Chesterfield Canal attracted around 250 visitors to an archaeological dig on a disused the part of the waterway.

The intention of the dig was to investigate the remains of a Great Central railway bridge that was demolished many years ago together to also find out what is left of the Bellhouse canal basin at Staveley, Janet Friend reports.

So active

Of the many visitors at the dig earlier this month, were the volunteers of the Chesterfield Canal Trust, who had been so active in its continuing restoration.

The dig took four days to complete with eight volunteers taking part, and on the last day archaeologists led guided tours of the site for the visitors, with some remembering when the basin still held water.

This was part of its Staveley Town Deal project, with the Chesterfield Canal Trust commissioning York Archaeology to carry out the dig.