The Canal Society’s regular monthly meeting for March took place on 24th at the Wilmot Arms. After a few updates on progress Ian Morgan took the floor to talk to us about the Fossdyke. It is a navigation constructed by the Romans between the Rivers Trent and Witham almost two thousand years ago and lays claim to be Britain’s oldest canal. But those of us expecting a holiday guide were in for a surprise. Ian Morgan spends a lot of his time as a Guide at Bolsover Castle and is a very accomplished writer and speaker. He is a master at relating the tales of the area and some of them were quite macabre. Some of us definitely regretted the lights being turned low as we heard of Tom Otter’s Lane, named after a man who when forced into a shotgun marriage did away with his new wife on the way to Lincoln and left her for dead in a ditch. He may have been caught and hanged for the crime, but it’s said her ghost lingers on – so perhaps it’s a trip for bright sunny days only.
Next month on 28th April we will be getting an update on The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, which runs from the main line at Duffield to Wirksworth and has been restored to operation by a group of dedicated supporters. Hopefully the content should be a little less worrying!
Details of our society social meetings can be found on our Meetings Programme Page.