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Edward Waters was certainly the most prominent resident of Pye Bridge in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Not much is known about his early life but he was probably the Edward Waters who was baptised at Selston, Nottinghamshire on 12 July 1761, the son of George and Sarah Waters. There were many families with the surname Waters in Nottinghamshire in the 18th century but it is known that George Waters married Sarah Clee at Selston on 27 May 1751. They had several children before their son Edward was born ten years later.

Nothing more is known of Edward until 1796, when his name appears in the "Register of Duties Paid for Apprentices Indentures". The entry in the register states that Edward Waters, in the parish of Alfreton [which then included Pye Bridge] traded as a wheelwright. The apprentices name was John Jewsbury. Edward’s name also appears in the Derby Mercury published on 8 February 1798, when he is among a list of members of the South Wingfield Association [an association of gentlemen, businessmen and tradesmen who arranged the prosecution of murderers and felons, and offered rewards to witnesses for a successful conviction]. His place of residence at the time was given as Puy Bridge [sic].

In 1798 Edward was listed in the Land Tax Redemption Register as occupying land owned at the time by John Musters, of Beauvale, who is known to have held land at Pye Bridge. It is thought that Edward may have moved to Pye Bridge sometime after the opening of the Pinxton Branch of the Cromford Canal, around 1796. He had a large wood yard and sawmill on land near to the Pye Bridge wharf, probably the land mentioned in the Land Tax Redemption Register.

Most of the newspaper references to Edward Waters relate to the sale of land and property. Although not owned by Edward, his name appears often as the person who would “show the premises” to prospective clients and was obviously a well-known and respected gentleman throughout the area. 

Although in the Apprentices Register Edward is listed as a wheelwright it seems that he also built narrow boats to be used on the canal, and this may have been his main source of income. In the Trent Navigation Company Gauging Books there are a surprising number of boats listed that were built at Pye Bridge, most by Edward Waters. Below are couple, taken at random:

• Narrow Boat N36 was owned by E. Banks, of Butterley Park. It was No 5 in the fleet and W Anthony was the Master. The Gauging Book states that: “This boat was built by Edward Waters of Pye Bridge in the year 1801 for the present owner, who chiefly employs her in the coal trade to Derby etc.”
• Narrow Boat N59 was owned by D’Ewes Coke of Pinxton. No 2 in the fleet, Joshua Wesson was the Master. The Gauging Book states that “This boat was built by Edward Waters, of Pye Bridge in the year 1800 for the present owner, who has chiefly employed her in carrying coals to Cromford, and in bringing limestone back to Pinxton.”

As well as Edward, Thomas Hurst built three broad boats at Pye Bridge between 1800 and 1804, two of which were for Benjamin Outram & Co.; and George Flower built two narrow boats at Pye Bridge in 1836 for the Alfreton Iron Works and two in 1837 for John Taylor and Co., of Pye Bridge.  Although no information can be found for Thomas Hurst, George Flowers was listed as a Boatwright on the 1841 census return. He was living at Willington, Derby, aged 62 years. By 1851 he had moved to Bond Lane, Heage and was still described as a Boatbuilder. He was born at Stone in Staffordshire about 1779.

There are two other references to Edward Waters relating to the building of narrowboats. The first is from the Derby Mercury published on 12 April 1810: “To be sold by auction on Thurs. 19th April 1810 at the house of Mr. William Booth, the Dog and Doublet on the Cromford Canal. Two Narrow Boats in good repair and calculated to carry large burthens, being strongly built and each 80 feet long. One was built by Benj. Clifford of Shardlow in 1802, and the other by Edward Waters of Pye Bridge in the same year. Cromford Wharf, 7th April 1810.”

The other reference was published in the Leicester Journal of 26 April 1833 which read: “CAPITAL TRENT BOAT - TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION BY MR. BURKILL - On Thursday the 2nd day of May at three o'clock in the Afternoon, at the Red Lion Inn, Loughborough, subject to conditions then to be produced. A Capital fast sailing BOAT, built by Edward Waters, Pye Bridge, in very good trim, upwards of Forty Tons Burthen, now lying moored in the Loughborough Canal, near Mr. John Jennings's, the Ship Inn.”

Edward’s wife, Mary, died in 1828. The Nottingham Journal of 24 May 1828 carries a short notice “On the 15th inst. at Pye Bridge, Derbyshire, in her 74th year, Mary, the wife of Edward Waters—a much esteemed member of the Society of Friends.”

With the death of his wife, Edward seems to have taken the decision to close his business and sell all of his property at Pye Bridge. By then, it would appear that he had purchased the land and had a substantial footprint in the hamlet. The property was auctioned and the notice appeared in the Nottingham Journal published on 16 August 1828 and transcribed here in full: “BY MR. W. HOPKINSON - CAPITAL FREEHOLD HOUSES AND LAND, AT PYE BRIDGE, Derbyshire. To be SOLD by AUCTION, by Mr. HOPKINSON, On Friday the 29th Day of August, 1828, at Five o'clock in the Afternoon precisely, at the George Inn, Alfreton, LOT 1. A Convenient FAMILY RESIDENCE, in the occupation of Mr. Edward Waters, the Proprietor, who is declining business; also, a good Three-Stall Stable and Gig House, with Granary and Hay Chamber over the same, and a Stone-built Cottage, together with Cow House, Cart Shed, Piggery, and about five Acres of rich Meadow Land adjoining. LOT 2.—A substantial BRICK BUILDING, now used as a Carpenter's Shop, and two Brick-built Houses, with good Gardens attached, and about four Acres of rich Meadow land adjoining. The whole of the Buildings are newly-erected, and in complete repair, and the Land in high condition. The Premises are bounded on the West side by the Cromford Canal, and adjoin the Turnpike Road leading from Alfreton to Nottingham. This eligible Property is situated in a populous Neighbourhood, distant about three Miles from Alfreton, 14 from Derby, 13 from Nottingham, and 9 from Mansfield.”

After the sale it is believed that Edward left Pye Bridge, although exactly where he went and for how long he lived afterwards has not been discovered.

[Information from the Trent Navigation Company Gauging Books kindly supplied by Mr. Keith Fisher]