at a cost of £2,800 in 1838–1839, to increase its capacity to 230. Shardlow and Great Wilne had been included in the parish of Aston-on-Trent until 1838. But with the formation of the poor union, the combined parishes agreed to fund a parish church for the town, resulting in the opening of St James's Church designed by H.I. Stevens, so that in the following year Shardlow became a parish in its own right. In 1905, the workhouse started its conversion to a hospital, with new buildings to its south. Post World War II under the National Health Service it formally became "The Grove" hospital, which was closed in 2005 and subsequently demolished in 2007. Present The last grain-carrying narrow boat delivered its cargo to Shardlow in the early 1950s. In 1957 the stable block which had housed over 100 towing horses was demolished, latterly followed by some of the smaller warehouses and buildings over the next twenty years. A campaign led by the newly-formed Trent & Mersey Canal Society resulted in the designation in 1975 of the Shardlow Wharf Conservation Area, which today encompasses over 50 Grade II listed buildings. During the 1970s, the men-only "Pavilion Club" flourished in the old cricket club. Then uniquely owned and operated by its gay members, it burnt down in the late 1980s. The subsequent insurance payout went into a local trust, which supported LGBT causes in the area for many years. Today, the relatively small village is considered Britain's most complete surviving example of a canal village. Most of the warehouses and other port buildings have been converted to other commercial uses, or as private dwellings. Notable people Dave Brailsford, British cycling coach, was born in the village Charles Ingram, convicted of cheating on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in 2001 Hugh Trevor Lambrick, archaeologist, historian and administrator W. A. Robotham of Rolls-Royce was born in the village Elizabeth Scott, Duchess of Buccleuch, Scottish noblewoman, was born in the village Robert de Shardlow (1200-c.1257), Crown official, Sheriff and judge, was born in the village and took his name from it See also Listed buildings in Shardlow and Great Wilne References External links Shardlow Heritage Centre Villages in Derbyshire Trent and Mersey Canal River Trent Former ports and harbours of England Tourist attractions in Derbyshire South Derbyshire District