20th November 2023: Sheet Stores Junction, a talk by Ian Mitchell

This name will be familiar to those with an interest in railways, especially MR or LMS, as it forms part of the triangle at Trent Junction where the lines to Derby and Nottingham diverge together with the Erewash Valley line, avoiding both to Chesterfield and Sheffield. The strange name relates to the adjacent collection of buildings surrounding a basin off the Erewash Canal, which was the central production and repair facility for all the tarpaulins (sheets) used on the Midland’s open wagons. The facility opened in the 1860s and was to continue in this role until closure by BR in 1963 when changes in freight traffic made sheeted wagons redundant. Ian, a long time resident of nearby Long Eaton, spoke of the early history of the buildings, which were originally built for storing the coke used in firing the early locos of the Midland Counties Railway. Coke, made from coal at nearby mines, was brought down by narrow boat along the Erewash Canal and stored at this Trent Junction railway hub. Developments in the design of locomotive fireboxes during the following years made the burning process more efficient, and as its burning qualities became better understood, coal became the norm for powering locomotives. By the 1860s coke traffic had ceased and the use of the buildings was switched to tarpaulin manufacturing. Gradually the site expanded to deal with the complete fabrication, waterproofing and repair of sheets, including sack making for the railway, and development continued with many buildings being added into the twentieth century.

The site was sold by BR in 1969 and it is now a small private industrial estate. Although none of the buildings were considered by worthy of Listing by English Heritage, despite the efforts of the speaker, it is fortunate that the site was not flattened and redeveloped, and retains many original buildings. It does, however, enjoy a special planning status by the Local Planning Authority so hopefully the buildings will be preserved. Being next to the canal, and with the original basin retained as a small marina, the site is worthy of a visit for those interested in industrial archaeology.