Shardlow festival goes from strength to strength

SO SUCCESSFUL was last year’s first Shardlow Inland Port Festival that even larger crowds attended this year’s two-day event.

Designed to celebrate the village as the best example of an 18th century inland port, the weekend enjoyed fine weather and glimpses of the sun on both days.

A large field was opened to accommodate the flow of cars into the village while a small car park, close to the canal, catered for disabled visitors.

The village, based at the eastern end of the Trent & Mersey Ca n a l , was once a bustling transshipment port where cargoes were transferred between narrowboats and the larger Trent vessels.

A population of 200 in 1780 grew to 1300 by 1841 as warehouses, wharves, homes, fly boats and ancillary businesses transformed the village. Many of the buildings still exist.

Festival organisers asked for a one-minute silence on both days as a mark of respect for the Queen who had died earlier in the week. Although the church tower of St James was open to visitors it was decided that the bells should remain silent, again as a mark of respect.

At least 13 trading boats and seven working boats took part in the festival which included attractions such as a fun dog show, heritage exhibitions, boat trips, face painting, craft fair, Morris dancers, classic cars and a photographic competition.

Live entertainment was provided at Shardlow Marina and the Shakespeare Inn while various attractions were staged at the village hall.

After such a successful event, organisers now have the problem of trying to make it even better for the third celebration next year.

Working boats moored abreast outside two warehouses, one built in 1780 and one in 1820, which once had their own basin, now filled in.

A floating trader outside the well-known Clock Warehouse, built in 1780 and now a popular eating place.

Welcominglcoming visitors to Shardlow.

Decorated boats outside a salt warehouse, built in 1777 and now home to Shardlow Heritage Centre.

Crowds packed on to the narrow towpath by the traders’ boats.

A ropework trading boat.

A brisk trade along the towpath.

Queues at the Clock Warehouse basin for the trip boats which took visitors through the village between Shardlow Lock and Derwent Mouth Lock.

Working tug Sultan, built in 1949 for the Birmingham network, moored outside an old salt warehouse, the oldest in the port, dating from the early 1700s.

A trading boat full of wares.

Left: A popular trip boat on the move.

Junkyard Angels provide entertainment at the Shakespeare Inn after the dog show.

A warehouse built in 1820 which later became a corn mill and is now office accommodation.

Trading boats with the old Iron Warehouse, built in the 1790s, in the background.