Record-breaking numbers attend Shardlow's Inland Port Festival
Over 8,000 visitors attended the Inland Port Festival in Shardlow on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September. This was the third Inland Port festival to celebrate Shardlow, a small canal village situated in South Derbyshire, England in achieving Heritage Inland Port status. The attendance makes it one of the village’s biggest events in recent history.
With a population of just over 1,150 people, Shardlow had visitors from Derby city and beyond to celebrate the Inland Port Festival.
Sue Hampson, Chair of the Shardlow Inland Port Steering Ground said: “Congratulations to all Shardlow residents on achieving Heritage Inland Port status as recognised by Maritime Heritage Trust, National Historic Ships and Historic England as being a location with historic Maritime significance.”
The historic inland waterway port of Shardlow is part of the Trent and Mersey Canal which opened in 1777. Shardlow’s port, known as the Shardlow Basin, was completed in 1770. The Trent and Mersey Canal links the River Trent at Derwent Mouth, Derbyshire to the River Mersey.
With origins back to the bronze age, Shardlow originated as a river port and developed greatly with the opening of the Trent and Mersey Canal.
The festival encompassed a number of independent activities throughout the village of Shardlow. Historic and Working Narrowboats gathered around the picturesque London Wharf at the Clock Warehouse, one of the village’s six pubs. Live Music and Morris Dancers featured at The Boathouse along with fairground attractions, food, market stalls, and a vintage car, bike, and trike truck showdown. The Trent and Mersey canal also featured a Floating Market of narrowboats including crystals, jewellery, sustainable clothing, rope work, fairy houses, cheese, and canal art.
After this year’s success, plans are already in place to run the festival for a fourth year in 2024.
“What an amazing weekend it was for the Shardlow Inland Port Festival,” said Sally Eccles, Chair of Shardlow Village Hall Management Committee. “The sun shone and the crowds came out in their 1000's. The inclusion of Arthur's Here There Railway was a real bonus this year as was the entertainment provided by Derby A Cappella group.
“We are really pleased to be involved in this event and showcase what a great community spirit there is in Shardlow.”
George James, Architectural Assistant at Lathams Derby, said: “It was great to see such a vibrant representation of both village life and the life of the waterways. With boats and stalls that catered for everyone, it was easy to see why the inland port festival draws large crowds to an otherwise quiet village.”
