Lock to Lock
Ilkeston - Green's to Potter's
w/e 31 May 2009
All this week's pictures were taken
with a Kodak DX6490
All of the distances between the "Locks on the Erewash Canal" are obviously
not of equal length and this third section on the northward route
from Hallam Fields towards Cotmanhay is one of the shorter sections.
It is also the only section passing Ilkeston where it is possible
to follow a path on both sides of the canal in its entirety from
one lock to the next. At Green's Lock the path on the western
side of the canal has been formed by footsteps treading alongside
the overflow channel and can be a little tortuous at times so
it is probably advisable to remain on the better surfaced towpath
on the eastern side of the canal.
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We noted in the previous section from Gallows Inn to Green's
Lock that the railway had crossed the River Erewash to form a
triangular piece of land on which the Furnace Road Industrial
Estate had developed but now the railway lines and canal come
very close together squeezing out any further progress northwards
of Furnace Road.
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On the opposite side of the canal the other footpath is now much
easier to walk along than the initial scramble at Green's Lock
and there are several access points to it from streets in the
Larklands area of Ilkeston. This image captured at the same position
of the previous one of the canal and the railway shows Sudbury
Avenue.
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Another access point to the path is via the Larklands Play Area
off Heathfield Avenue but previous experience has taught me that
the place where the people opposite are walking can become waterlogged
in wet weather - another good reason to remain on the eastern
towpath.
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And back on that eastern side opposite the Play Area is a barrier
and gate across the towpath. The reason for it escapes me unless
it was a futile effort to stop cyclists but it does mean there
is a break in the hedgerow that allows a view in the direction
of Cossall Village. The hedge running up the hill marks the position
of Mill Lane, a bridle road we followed during the Monk's Way
series whilst the hedge running across the hillside follows the
line of the Nottingham Canal. We can also see here a track crossing
the railway which only leads to a farm and is not for use by
the general public.
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 Just before
the end of this section (left) the Erewash meanders its way back
under the railway line to run alongside the canal and here we
have the meeting of the ways. A path has been forged through
the hedgerow from the towpath to join the farm track running
to the right and Mill Lane running ahead over the stone walled
bridge across the river. In the distance the monstrous footbridge
over the railway is now becoming less obtrusive blending in with
the surrounding greenery. The mill that once gave its name to
Ilkeston Mill Lock (now Potter's Lock after the owner of a former
farm that also stood nearby) was to the right by the river.
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But our route is to continue along the towpath to the bridge
at Potter's Lock. The overflow channel is on the left as is the
Larklands Play Area with the houses on Heathfield Avenue also
visible on the left.
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Crossing the bridge we can look back to where the alternative
route from Green's Lock joins the main path which leads up to
Monks Way in Ilkeston. It is now possible to continue along this
side of the canal from Potter's Lock as far as Station Road but
when we return in Part 4 we shall continue on the eastern side
passing under Station Road and onwards to Barker's Lock. In fact
there is a strong possibility that the next part may well stretch
to two parts as whilst this section has been one of the shortest,
the next is perhaps the longest.
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