History of the River Trent

Although the River Trent has been the subject of various Acts of Improvement since the 17th century, it has actually been used as a navigation since Roman times.

Running for around 95 miles from Shardlow to Trent Falls, where both it and the River Ouse empty their waters into the River Humber, the Trent is a waterway of substance which still carries a considerable amount of commercial traffic - especially in its lower reaches. Below Cromwell Lock, it becomes tidal and is subject to a periodic tidal bore similar to that seen on the River Severn, but to lesser effect. This is locally known as an 'aegir'.

The Trent links the waterways of the East Midlands with those of Yorkshire, providing access to canals such as the Trent & Mersey, Stainforth & Keadby, Erewash, Grand Union, Grantham, Chesterfield and Fossdyke. It was at one time suitable for navigation as far as Burton-upon-Trent, where a short cut joined it to the Trent & Mersey. However, the section of river from here to Shardlow had become virtually disused by the early 19th century, an early victim of competition from the canal.