The ‘Trent Lock’ was originally called the Trent Navigation Inn (to distinguish it from the nearby Erewash Navigation). In the late 20th century, it was just known as The Navigation. The name was changed to ‘Trent Lock’ in the early 21st century.
The building is late 18th century. Originally the low-lying area in front of the pub was a shallow part of the Trent, allowing boats to be tied up near the pub (there are still ponds either side of the pub garden). When the Erewash Canal was built, the Trent towpath was moved to its current route, cutting the ponds off from the river.
The first names we’ve found associated with the Navigation are William and Martha Ironmonger, who were running it in 1851. William was also a butcher and 1855 he’d moved on to the Nags Head and been replaced at the Navigation by James Wall.
In 1861 the landlord was George Gadsby. He’d been born in America and was also a railway stationary engine driver.
By 1871 It was Percival Bosworth. He’d previously lived on Back Street and worked as a boatman
In the early 1880s it was Thomas Walters. In 1884 his licence was temporarily adjourned after a conviction. From the late 1880s to the early 1900s it was George Grant Davis.
In 1911 Betsey Fisher was in charge – three Sawley pubs had a female licensee at the time. By 1921 it was George White, a farmer. He was 73 in 1924 when he fell while repairing the pigeon cote and died.
We’re not sure who was there for the next 13 years. In 1937 a proper road, suitable for motor cars and cycles, was laid from Lock Lane to Trent Lock, replacing the very rough track that had previously served the area. For the next 34 years the landlord was Norman De Johns. In 1971 he left to become the northern regional manager for the National Federation of Licensed Victuallers.
He was succeeded by Harry & Olga Barratt.
And in the early 1990s it was Jule & Tricia Fedun.
