Complex sentence: James Brindley built the Trent and Mersey Canal from 1766 to 1777, developing it through Shardlow in 1770 to join the River Trent at Great Wilne further down stream, at the junction with the River Derwent which was also up to that point navigable.
Split into simpler sentences: James Brindley built the Trent and Mersey Canal from 1766 to 1777. Brindley developed his canal through Shardlow in 1770, to join the River Trent at Great Wilne further down stream at the junction with the River Derwent, which was also up to that point navigable.