Sir Nigel Gresley's Canal (also known later in its life as Robert Heathcote's Canal) was a 3 mi private canal between Apedale and Newcastle-under-Lyme both in Staffordshire, England.

History

The canal was used to transport coal from Sir Nigel Gresley's mines. It**** opened**** in**** 1776**** after being approved**** by**** an**** act of**** Parliament****,**** the **** (15 Geo.**** 3.**** c.**** 16****), in**** 1775****.**** The act placed controls on the price at which coal transported via the canal to Newcastle could be sold for the following 42 years. The canal was transferred to the ownership of Robert Edensor Heathcote in 1827. It closed around 1857. The canal joined the Newcastle-under-Lyme Junction Canal at a mill in Cross Heath, a site now occupied by a motorbike shop in Swift House on the A34 Liverpool Road. It then ran northwest to Milehouse, Chesterton and the Apedale mines. The Junction**** Canal was planned in**** turn**** to**** connect to**** the Newcastle-under-Lyme**** Canal via an**** inclined**** plane,**** but although**** approved**** in**** the **** this**** was not built due to**** lack**** of**** money,**** thus**** the Sir Nigel Gresley's Canal remained**** severed from**** the main**** inland**** network and the Junction**** Canal became**** no**** more**** than**** an**** extension of**** the Gresley's Canal.****