Transport in Little Eaton

This section provides a history of roads in Little Eaton from the first trails built by the Romans, through to the Saxon roads in the middle ages, the work of the "Knappers" of the 17th Century, onto the advent of tarmac roads and the present day.

The Little Eaton branch line was built in the 1850s and became competition to the canal, taking passengers and coal to and from Derby and up to Ripley. Read about its history and plans to resurrect a transport route for cyclists and walkers.

The first buses came to Little Eaton in the early 1900s as Thomas Barton set up what was to become a well known bus company. Various crashes, other companies and incidents are included in this section about the history of buses in the village.

The Little Eaton Canal was built in 1794 and the first coals were delivered to Derby in May 1795. Horses delivered the coals on wagons via a gangway designed by Benjamin Outram. Outram's Wharf, the clock house and a very short stretch of the canal can still be seen in the south of the village.