Navigation Inn, Little Haywood

Probably built at the same time as the adjoining Trent & Mersey Canal c1770. The first positively identified licensee is William Sproston who took over the pub and attached farm in the early 1860s. He was killed on 16 Mar 1896 when the waggon loaded with sacks of grain was struck by a runaway horse & cart belonging to the local butcher. William's waggon was overturned and he was crushed beneath the load. The pub was taken over by his son James with James' younger brothers Herbert & William as partners. In 1909 an agreement between Rt Hon Thomas Francis, third Earl of Lichfield, and James, Herbert & William Sproston, for the pub, outbuildings & 100 acres of land was for £202 15s a year rent. However this was reduced as the Sproston brothers allowing the Earl "sporting rights" over other land they owned. In 1912 renewal of the licence was refused by the Licensing Committee and refered to the Compensation Committee. The pub closed on the 28 December 1912 but James continued to run the farm for some years. The building was eventually converted into residential use, eventually divided into several properties, now Canal Cottages.

There are records that in the late 19th century the beer was delivered by train on the Trent Valley Line. At Colwich Station the waggon containing the beer was shunted onto the Knotty line and the casks were rolled down the embankment into the adjoining pub yard. Earlier beer may have been delivered by canal.