 Once the canal was opened, all trade was transferred to it, and the river navigation was effectively abandoned.The lock gates on the river sections had been removed by 1782, and it was completely unused by 1801, although the wharf at Gathurst remained accessible by a side lock at Dean, and the side lock was still shown with gates on the 1928 Ordnance Survey map.In 1805, Sollom lock on the Rufford branch was abandoned, and a new tide lock was built further downstream at Tarleton.