Situated just south of High Peak Junction and Leawood Aqueduct is Aqueduct Cottage, possibly the most photographed location on the canal. Originally built for the lock keeper at the entrance to the Leawood Arm, it became a rural idyll for generations of families, but it became derelict after the last inhabitant left in the 1960s. The place has always had a magical charm that stirs the hearts of all who come across it, and with good reason. As a result, following a recent fund-raising campaign, the derelict ruin has been brought back to life by enthusiastic volunteers of Friends of Aqueduct Cottage, a part of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.
Its idyllic location, on the fringe of the ancient Lea Wood, was once part of the Nightingale estate and Florence Nightingale is thought to have visited when she lived at the Lea Hurst. Its construction was part of the early 19th century industrial development of the Lower Derwent Valley, now a UNESCO designated world heritage site.
