The company obtained its Act of Parliament in 1793 to build a canal from the River Trent at Swarkston Bridge to Little Eaton and to join the Erewash Canal near Sandiacre. The Act also provided for the building of railways to connect the surrounding coal mines to the canal and is one of the very few pieces to have this part of the Act printed on the certificate. A single span cast iron aqueduct was built as part of the route and was the first of its kind. In financial difficulties due to competition from the railways by the 1850’s but struggled on until 1964 when permission was granted for the canal to be closed altogether.