Geograph - photograph every grid square

The Ashby Canal was originally built to provide transport for the limeworks and coal mines around Ashby de la Zouch but it only became profitable when a new colliery at Moira was opened in 1804. The canal was purchased by the Midland Railway in 1845 but coal traffic continued to thrive until the end of the 19th century; after that the northern end of the canal began to suffer serious damage from mining subsidence and eight miles of waterway eventually had to be abandoned. Nevertheless, the last commercial load was carried as late as 1970. Nowadays, the canal is an important leisure waterway offering 22 lock-free miles from its southern end at Marston Junction to the terminus just north of Snarestone.