Number 153
Autumn/Winter 2014/15
WATERWITCH MAGAZINE OF THE LANCASTER CANAL TRUST
1928 - A picture taken near Kendal on a quiet stretch of the Canal
The Lancaster Canal Trust (Registered Charity No.240957) Corporate Member the Inland Waterways Association http://www.lancastercanaltrust.org.uk/
Contents
Chairman's Report Hello to new Members Membership & Boat Operations Report Join our Trip Boat team Working Party Update Restoration Report IWA National Trail Boat Festival, 2015, Crooklands The Cheshire H Aldcliffe Road Triangle
Westmorland Show Crooklands 22 Carnforth Coke Ovens 23 Towpath Talk Peter Underwood 24 Working Boats 25 Country Fest 2014 25 Can I Canoe You Up the Canal? 26 C&RT Update 27 Canal Dipping 28 Catalyst Heritage Lottery 29 Members’ Correspondence 30 Trust Details 31/32
3 4 5 7 8 12 15 16 20
Editor’s Comments Welcome to all our members both old & new. This edition is deliberately shortened to take account of the enclosed Golden Jubilee supplement to this Magazine. Yes, it is 50 years ago that some stalwart people, incensed at the perceived high-handedness of the Government in proposing to effectively close what we now know as the Northern Reaches, banded together to put up some sterling resistance. Although having lost that initial fight and still today, for a variety of reasons, some way away from restoring the damage done it was felt by many that we should at least mark this anniversary. As editor I agreed that if outright celebrations were not yet due we should at lease salute those members who have carried the torch for the Trust for many, many years. Many are still with us; many are not. But members have never given up the fight, hard though it has been at times. The flame still burns. Perhaps we are too far north to attract sufficient members and sponsors to meet the ever increasing cost of bringing back the water. Economic ‘boom and bust’ continue to set us back. But phoenix like we rise again and this time at least some progress, however small, is being made. We thank all those currently involved. The supplement contains extracts from many of the old Waterwitches held in the Archives. I have tried to select articles which members both old & new will recognise if only for the location; that are of interest still today and about which many of our newer members will not be aware. I hope it is of interest. Regards ED 2
Chairman’s Report I’m writing this just after the Westmorland Show. What a brilliant day! The weather surpassed itself and attendance broke previous records. All of Westmorland was there, it seemed, and much of the rest of the North West region too. The Trust stand was located beside the merging streams of people from two entrances and attracted a lot of interest all day long. The three teams of volunteers staffing the stand, the trip boat and the canal-side entrance gate to the show itself were kept extremely busy. My impression was that there were fewer trivial enquirers and debunkers and more genuine well-wishers than at previous shows. The c onver sat ions I had (a nd overheard fr om colleagues around me) included several with people who had some valuable skills or equipment to offer. Some new members signed up on the spot and if just some of those who went away saying they intended to join actually do join, then the day may mark a significant boost to the Trust’s activities. We were able to show off very recent photos of the previous 3
weekend’s work at Stainton and the WRG camps in July & August, whe r e t he Fir st Fur long restoration project is now close to the point when we will run water into the new section. You can read more about this elsewhere in this edition. Our next visit to the Crooklands showground will be at Country Fest next May, when we will be hosting the national Trail Boat Festival. A team of Trust members is busy planning the event in conjunction with IWA a nd the Country Fe st management. C&RT have their part to play to ensure that the canal is ready for 30 or more visiting boats and of course we are anticipating that the visitors will be able to travel the extra Furlong at Stainton. We last hosted this annual event in 2006 and the signs are that next year’s festival will be even more successful by being run in conjunction with Country Fest. Watch out for more publicity nearer the time. On the canal between Preston and Tewitfield the list of hire boat operators continues to grow. Many of them are family-run (Continued on page 4)
Meanwhile, in case the 50th anniversary of the Trust might have slipped by unnoticed, this e dit ion of W ater witc h is accompanie d by a spec ial supplement to celebrate the work of countless dedicated volunteers who have ensured that the Lancaster Canal did not roll over and die despite being severed by the motorway. Richard Trevitt
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enterprises with just one or two boats and between them they provide plenty of opportunity for people to enjoy this canal. We don’t need to travel very far to start a canal boat holiday and we can support the businesses here on our doorstep and chill out on our own lovely canal. Members living further afield please forgive this presumption of location and do try and make the journey!
We give a very hearty welcome to the following new members
Linda Taylor Paul Modley Anita & Amouri Gonzalez Jason Ingledew Nic & Monica Tweddell Terry Greaves Ernest Griffiths Rev Christopher & Mrs E Jackson Fred Lythgoe John Dodwell Michael Gladwell Paul Cook Fiona Brundish Mr & Mrs J Bosson Andrew Carruthers The Ramblers Association Alan Pitts Dr C J Briar & Mr R Campbell Colin & Jane Hewitt Donald Holliday William Gill Leonne Hodgson Adrian Fenton Ronald Leckey Colin & Pat Peters Phillip Johns Jason Hettrick Robert Bazeley
Kendal Bolton le Sands Tewitfield Richmond, Yorks Kendal London Liverpool Preston Chorley London Nottingham Lancaster Lancaster Levens Milnthorpe Lancaster Branch Thornton in Lonsdale Lancaster Morecambe Windermere Grange over Sands Tebay Macclesfield Lancaster Barrow in Furness Sedbergh Lancaster Kendal. 4
MEMBERSHIP REPORT as at 19th August 2014 It is pleasing to report that after the winter lull I am receiving a flow of new memberships with an increasing proportion of family and life memberships. I offer thanks to the members who sent a donation with their membership subscriptions. There are still some overdue subscriptions and I urge these members to make use of the standing order facility, a form is inc luded in this iss ue of Waterwitch.
At the Annual General Meeting in July, 46 members attended. It was a pleasure to meet members old and new. The meeting concluded with a most interesting illustrated talk by Trust member Paul Shaw speaking about the Waterway Recovery Group, and the history of WRG, their work and what they are doing for The Lancaster Canal Trust. Alan Mather LCT Membership Secretary.
Boat Operation Manager’s Report The boat is running well and without problems except for we e d wh ich is a l wa ys troublesome at this time of the year. The dredging and tree clearance between bridges 166 and 167 is great help to smooth navigation and the boat is now able to turn at the Stable again resulting in the advertised trip time of 40 minutes being restored. Over the winter months it is expected that Canal and River Trust will dredge the
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canal at Peasey Beck Feeder which at present is too shallow for Waterwitch to navigate. This must be completed in time for the National Trail Boat Festival (see page 7). Other work at the same time will be the repair and improvements to Millness slipway and landing stage required for the launching of 30 or more boats for the Trailboat Festival next spring. THE IWA NATIONAL TRAILBOAT FESTIVAL 2015, will (Continued on page 6)
answering questions on the canal, promot ing int e res t a nd membership. We welcome to the team new boat clerk Diana Langstaff of Sedgwick. There have been 8 charters and there are bookings for 2 more in October including a School Trip
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be held on the Westmorland County Showground 30th and 31st of May and the morning of June 1st as part of Countryfest. The Trailboat Festival will be organised and run by LCT on behalf of IWA. Our trip boat ‘Waterwitch’ will be running from the Showground, the Trust's stand will be on site. Extra volunteers will be needed for setting up and on show days. This year’s season got off to a good start at Easter followed by some busy days and some wet ones; stormy weather caused one Sunday to be cancelled and a few rainy days involved an early finish. Our volunteer boat crews have worked hard to give our visitors a safe and enjoyable trip, promote the trust and obtain new memberships. There have been several return visits and it is a pleasure for a crew member to be remembered by name by a visitor from a previous year. Our clerks and off duty skippers are often busy talking to passers-by at the Stable and
from St Mark’s, Natland. They have asked for a trip to enhance their history project on canals and the coming of the railways. The phone number for boat trip enquiries and charters is 07504 710351. Alan Mather, LCT Boat Manager.
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JOIN OUR TRIPBOAT TEAM There is an opportunity for 2 or 3 Trust members aged 18 or over to join the volunteer tripboat team. They should be able to commit themselves to 5 or more dates, usually Sundays. Duties will include, boat skipper, passenger steward, landing stage, winter boat maintenance and occasionally setting up events. For public boat trip days 4 or 5 volunteers are on duty and for charters 2 or 3 volunteers. Our day starts at 10.30 am and usually ends between 4 and 5 pm. What you will need. Some experience as a narrow boat skipper, email availability, a mobile phone, RYA Helmsman's Certificate (or a higher qualification), Willingness to learn about our canal and speak clearly to our visitors; (it is normal for the Passenger Steward to offer a short commentary and answer questions whilst the boat is out on a trip.) To follow our procedures on Passenger Safety and to work as a team with the other volunteers on duty. The above may sound somewhat daunting but do not let it put you off; take a trip to Crooklands, take a ride on the boat, meet the volunteers on duty and see how we operate. Alan Mather LCT Boat Manager. alan.mather7@ntlworld.com
THE LANCASTER CANAL TRUST Registered Charity number 240957
STANDING ORDER FORM To the Manager………………………………………………..Bank Address………………………………………………………… ….. ………………………………………………Post code………….. Please pay to the Lancaster Canal Trust account no 29230373 at NatWest Bank, Eanam Branch, Blackburn, sort code 01-00-85 £…….. annually on the first of January commencing………………… until this order is amended or cancelled by me. Signature ………………………… Date………………………… Please insert the correct subscription amount, complete the form and send to your Bank or Building Society. Subscription Rates from January 2011 Individual £14, Family £20, Concession £10, Affiliate £14. AM NOV 2012
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Working Party Report
take water from the roadway. With help from Cumbria Cou nt y H ig h wa y s , who arranged to have a massive gully m a c h in e b r ou g h t f r o m
Keith Tassart In a busy Spring & Summer the following tasks have been carried out by our working parties in addition to progress made on restoration in conjunction with the Waterways Restoration Group. April. Dug out of part of the temporary bund at Stainton Bridge to clear buried king posts.
E g re mon t , ne a r Whitehaven, to clear the silt, which was now almost solid because it had been there that long. Investigation found no record of the gullies being cleared for many years, perhaps when Westmorland was merged into Cumbria. The gully chambers were eventually cleared and a section of the bank transformed. May. A telephone call to Lancaster Canal Trust Public Re la t ion s O ff ic e r , F r a nk
All soil taken up canal bed to Sellet Hall for re-use. Pontoon work clearing offside overgrown brash & trees in Preston Patrick from coal yard southwards. Erosion of the Lancaster Canal tow-path at Wakefield's Wharf, Crooklands, was causing concern. During wet weather a large area was covered with glutinous black silt oozing from the nearby roadway. Lancaster Canal Trust unearthed two large gully chambers that
(Continued on page 9)
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Sanderson, from a lady saying the canal towpath was blocked by a large tree, between Mattison’s Bridge 168 and Field End Bridge 169, resulted in Lancaster Canal Trust calling out their Work Party Organiser, Keith Tassart. The Canal and River Trust, are responsible for this sort of work , but be ing Saturday, and a complete blockage, it was left to the more local voluntary organisation to get into action. Keith came up from Lancaster with Peter
Livesley, a chain saw expert, and cleared away a large ash tree branch that had fallen during the night. It is surprising just how many people walk this quiet area
of the Lancaster, for around twenty people were escorted past the blockage by the time the towpath was finally cleared. (Continued on page 10)
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able to be seen/clamber out if in trouble. August. Cut down large windblown damaged trees on Andrew Galbraith’s land near Field End Bridge that had lain over
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Clearance of brash at both Crooklands & Stainton landing stages. June. Removed fence at Sellet Hall in preparation for re-lining by WRG. Clear all overgrown brash from Sellet Hall Bridge. July. Commenced 3 day dredging programme at Crooklands landing stage and remove false bank to Above & Below: Dredging & reforming the canal bank so allow boat to turn. Dredge that the Trip boat can turn more easily large Horse Tail weed bed adjacent to Stable’s landing stage. Dredge and reline offside at Crooklands with permission and thanks of Farmer Eddie Galbraith as this had slipped into canal and his cattle were getting into trouble. Obstruction under bridge 167 (Old Hall) removed and found to be a wagon load of stone. Cut down hedge at stables before autumn A newly created ‘patch’ for fishermen/safety use hedge laying as part of pending improve ments this his boundary for three years winter. Arranging with C&RT for the despite notification to C&RT. Five cutting away of sections of weed trained men and a supervisor, beds to allow access to canal and spent whole day on this. tow-path. This improves the September. Finished laying safety aspect: when the weed lining, temporarily stopped by growth is high boaters are not (Continued on page 11) 10
(Continued from page 10)
A family of Swans attracted to our newly cleared fisherman’s area
adverse weather conditions during the last WRG camp. Landscaping entire canal bed ready for re-watering; tidy site and remove all plant and equipment. Clean up site at Millness Depot and repair water supply. Clear away brash at bridge 167 in readiness for Westmorland Show. Future plans include proposals to make greater use of the Stables for PR purposes as, other than attendance at shows, boat operations offer the main direct contact we have with the public and potential members. The Stables area is becoming untidy and, whilst the restoration of the
Northern Reaches in regard to the re-watering at Sellet Hall is our ma in c oncer n, nevertheless we do need some attention action at the stables. Proposals include: Dig up, resurface and extend cobbles in front of Stables. Cut down and lay hedge to allow people using picnic area to view canal. Clear debris and repair paddock retaining wall, create gap in hedge and create steps to towpath. Remove and cart away Goat Willow tree and all brash. Cut the paddock grass, clear the path and apply weed killer. Repair existing steps from road down to the stable. Fit canopy to stables to allow opera t ions in inc le ment weather. O pera te a monthly maintenance team for paddock and canal bank.
Our diggers must bring up a few tasty morsels 11
Restoration Update Peter Jones The first activity was the clearance and inspection of the culvert passing under the canal from Sellet Hall. It is an original construction in circular stonework. The w o r k wa s d o ne b y c ont r a c t or s a t s o me considerable cost & very generously paid for by the Canal & River Trust (C&RT), and we must give them a big thank you. Clearance involved jetting out the considerable fill of stones with high pressure water. After the clearance a TV survey was carried out which showed that the stonework was in reasonable condition but that in the middle there was a trickle of water from the roof which mysteriously disappeared through the bottom. Our lining of the bed above the culvert should prevent this inflow. After an agreement was reached with the owners of Sellet Hall, a plan was drawn up to re-profile the off-bank so that it would lead smoothly into the boundary and not allow canal water to escape. This work was carried out by a contractor and after some final
Culvert cleaning
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The new towpath under construction; roots all gone
adjustments presents a much better appearance, even better when it becomes established. During this work the bund on the Kendal side of B172 (Stainton Crossing) was removed as changes to the re-watering plan make it redundant. The fortnight WRG camp was held in July/August. The main task was relining the
The new ‘Terraseal’ arrives on site
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The ‘Geoweb’ retaining system for the banking
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A good illustration of the layers involved
last 50m of canal before B173 was considered to be a leakage risk, the rest being presumed OK (subject to testing. This lined length includes the culvert.) The lining material was 'Terraseal' a geo-textile, coated with a special chemical), that swells up whe n wet to prov ide a waterproof layer and also closes any punctures in the material. This t he n ov e r la id wit h compacted stony sub-soil. On the banks a Geoweb system was used to retain the soil. Installation started on the face of the B173 dam (Sellet Hall) and the bed was progressively 13
covered with overlapping sheets of Terraseal, and overlaid with soil. Work continued in the first week. Unfortunately the middle Sunday was a washout with heavy rain all day preventing any work. When lining work resumed it proved virtually impossible to work efficiently & safely in the wet at the bottom of the canal. WRG decided to change the method and work just down the sides, avoiding the bed for the moment. They were then able to complete the lining of both banks (Continued on page 14)
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leaving 20m of bed to be finished. After the WRG camp we were left with a lot of water in the bed, s e ve ra l r e mo va l methods, (a syphon Towpath operations plus pumps), were used until we were left with a access ramp at B172 and do some thick layer of sludge on the pointing on the bridge side walls. original bed. Plans for re-watering have been An LCT working party finished drawn up and are under PJ the lining work over a weekend, discussion with C&RT. having to scrape the sludge back before laying more Terraseal. Other work carried out by WRG included re-laying the towpath with chippings and tidying up bridges B177 (Sedgwick Hill )and B180 (Larkrigg Ha ll) - re mov ing vegetation and repointing. The only remaining work on the First Cleaning /repairs to Sedgwick Hill Bridge 177 Furlong is to tidy up the
All done for now!
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IWA Trailboat Festival 2015 Lancaster Canal - 30th - 31st May 2015
IWA's 2015 National Trailboat Festival will take place at the Westmorland Show Ground, Crooklands, Cumbria, on the northern reaches of the Lancaster Canal over the weekend 30th - 31st May. and Monday 1st June which will be a boaters day with a trip to the Hincaster Tunnel for boaters and hopefully an opening ceremony for the new length. Here is a link to the IWA site about it.. https://www.waterways.org.uk/events_festivals/iwa_trailboat_festival_2015/ iwa_trailboat_festival_2015 (See also the Country Fest website http://www.westmorlandshow.co.uk/country_fest Sharing with Country Fest makes very good sense for the Trust since all the necessary amenities will already be on site for boaters and friends. The Showground people are very pleased to have us on site at this time; a mutual benefit to all parties. There will therefore be activities for the whole family, with a variety of food and drink providers, exhibitors, food demonstrations, trade stalls, music and dance, crafts and a beer festival all planned to entertain visitors over the weekend.
We thank Neil McGarry who is taking the lead on this matter and we will have much more concise info in the next Magazine DC 15
The Cheshire H By
Brian Crawley My sister and I spent much of our school holidays in the years after the of the magnificent Beeston Castle second world war in Cheshire as our before tying up to overnight below parents came originally from Crewe the staircase lock at Bunbury and most of our relatives were there. The following day we made good A lot of this time was spent fishing in progress visiting the Midway Boats the local canals. When a canal holiday showrooms at Barbridge Junction was being considered, just recently, where we took the left turn on to the basic nostalgic location was the link and crossed and followed the obvious but the choice of Shropshire valley of the River Weaver to Union, Trent and Mersey, and the Middlewich. Turning left again on to Llangollen canals was daunting. the Trent and Mersey we moored However, the normal routes were for the night in the town centre more than we wanted for a leisurely within walking distance of our church week's holiday and the Cheshire H for the Saturday evening service. A was conceived. With plenty of stop at the Anderton lift the choice of bases between Chester, following day to look at the visitor Nantwich, Sandbach and Preston centre was obligatory. My sister Pat Brook we could locate and visit all and her husband Den had, earlier in our old fishing sites and have four the year, visited the Falkirk Wheel variable turning points to allow us to and done the boat trip up and down control our length of voyage. the wheel so they had to do the trip A 45 foot narrow boat from Chas Hardern Boats at Beeston, Castle Wharf Anderton lift from the River Weaver on the Shropshire Union canal was chosen for the four adults plus a major c o n s i de r a t i o n b e i n g acceptance of our four small, very well behaved, dogs. The excellently prepared boat was taken over on Friday afternoon and we cruised past our first fishing location below the old (Continued on page 17) Beeston railway station and in sight 16
(Continued from page 16)
on the Anderton lift also. My wife and I drew the short straw and took the dogs for a walk to get some photographs of the lift from the lower level alongside the River Weaver. What a pity it now doesn’t work with counterbalanced Turning into the “Wardle” canal at tanks but they are individually Middlewich powered instead. Some more nostalgia that evening as we moored close to and walked down we were entering the shortest canal to the Acton swing bridge. The in the country. We thought that we bridge swings to allow bigger vessels used to live near to the shortest, on the Weaver to cross the A49 widest and deepest canal in England, trunk road on their voyage to ie the Ulverston canal, but perhaps Northwich and Winsford. this is only with all three superlatives Our great uncle used to be the together, as this first 100 yards or so bridge operator who we visited at of the link, called the Wardle canal, his house by the bridge during our seems to, quite rightly, make this childhood holidays. This night’s “shortest” claim. The next night was mooring became the turning point of spent just out of the town and a the top right corner of our H and lively fox entertained us in the field the next day we reversed our tracks on the opposite bank. More nostalgia was experienced when my sister and towards Middlewich. As we made the left turn back onto I walked over the hump backed the link in Middlewich we noted that bridge number 26 and recalled the many times we had crossed it in our father’s car on our journeys Men at work on the link to Barbridge to and from Crewe. There wasn’t a good main road route to Crewe in those days and our Dad knew all the back lanes. As we set off for Barbridge the next morning we were delayed briefly by the “men at work” on the canal with STOP/GO boards! A left turn at Barbridge started (Continued on page 18)
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the staircase lock at Bunbury where we met another narrow boat just about to enter the bottom Boats of the lock. A brief discussion passing in concluded with us also entering Bunbury the top lock and passing each lock other in the middle as Bunbury is double-width. As well as saving time and effort this procedure also saves water. On the last evening spent just above the Beeston locks our dog exercise walk led us to find us on the fourth leg of the H and a large family of ducklings stranded in immediately we recognised one of the lock. A quick open and close of our memorable fishing sites to which one gate freed them all and mother we both cycled and bussed many times. The entrance to the Llangollen branch was passed soon before arriving at the bustle of Nantwich. A walk into the town was obligatory to view the beautiful half -timbered Rescued ducklings buildings (and top-up on at supplies). Continuing south, a Beeston winding hole was reached shortly before Audlem and an overnight stop nearby was decided duck brought them all to our upon. This is a good choice for mooring where they were treated to turning as the flight of 15 locks some of our surplus bread. heading over the watershed out of A very short trip and only two locks the valley of the Weaver starts here. on the final day brought us back to This was also another location of Hardern’s where a most efficient one of our fishing memories. Audlem hand-back was achieved. A very with its superb hill-top church and e n j o ya b l e h o l i da y ha d b ee n canal-side pub and craft shop is completed with the reinforcing of another ‘must visit’. many old memories as well as the The final run back to Beeston took addition of many more. us past many now familiar places and Our only cousins, Joan and Geoff, interesting boat names like “Just used to live on the main road in Supposing” and brought us back to (Continued from page 17)
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Turning in the pound near Wheelock
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Barnton so a stop between the c a na l tunnels (frightening!) enabled us to go and find the house again. We were able to show Geoff the photograph when he visited us from St Ives later in the year. On again to Middlewich, walking the dogs on the towpath for
found we could turn in the pound above the first lock and we were soon on our way back to Middlewich yet again.
A Barnton tunnel (scary)
exercise at a brisk 4 mph, and mooring opposite a very good fish and chip shop, delicious. Then on the third leg of the H we headed for Sandbach but realised that we were not really close enough for a visit to the local market we used to attend. Anyway, we missed the winding hole and ended up at Wheelock where we found a very well stocked pet store where we topped up supplies for the animals. Until then we had negotiated only a reasonable quantity of locks, which is a good feature of this route, but a flight of six faced us before the next winding hole according to the guide book. However, fate smiled on us as we 19
The 100 Club is open to anyone and is one way that you may help the Trust that does not involve physical labour and there is always the possibility that you will be a winner! Cath Davenport on 01539567250 or cmadavenport@hotmail.com.
100 Club 1st
2nd
3rd
April
3
26
89
May
3
54
91
June
91
82
28
July
51
95
8
AGM
Blk Blk
69
Aug
31
53
77
Sept
34
51
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Aldcliffe Road Triangle by David Currington
Find out more at www.aldcliffetriangle.org.uk
into disrepair. It has been a local eyesore and an occasional source of antisocial and criminal behaviour. Local residents and city councillors have formed a Friends of the Triangle group with the hope of improving and transforming the land into public green space, and bringing the main building back into use. Having negotiated with the City Council and the Canal & River Trust we have now secured the lease to the land and planning permission for change of use has been applied for. Regular volunteer sessions are being
Aldcliffe Road Triangle is a small triangular shaped piece of land between Aldcliffe Rd and the Lancaster Canal, on the south side of Lancaster city centre. It is owned by the Canal & River Trust (formerly British Waterways), but was leased to Lancaster City Council for a period of 94 years in 1976. The land has a history of light industrial use, most recently as a boat maker's yard, but has been disused and neglected since 2004, and the three small buildings on the site have been vandalised and fallen
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held to tidy up the land and keep vegetation under control. Work to restore the workshop building is now complete. The Triangle was formed in the 179 0s by t he c o n s t ru c ti o n of t he Lancaster Canal, which turned a piece of land lying adjacent to Aldcliffe Road (then Aldcliffe Lane) into a wedge-shaped plot, having as its shorter third side the then newly built Basin Bridge. A ‘turnover’ bridge, it was designed by John Rennie of Lune Aqueduct fame.
Contacts: Dave Brookes: dave@aldclifferdtriangle.org.uk 07817 966949 Secretary To be added to - Peter our email Callingham: list and receivepeter@aldclifferdtriangle.org.uk news updates and notification of volunteer sessions and meetings, pleaseSwan: send an email with 'join' in the subject line to Website - Mike mike@aldclifferdtriangle.org.uk dave@aldclifferdtriangle.org.uk. Thewhatsoever Aldcliffe Rd Triangle is fundedofby:the site If you have any information aboutproject the history Jane Swan: janebswan@yahoo.co.uk 21
Westmorland Show Crooklands September 2014 Lancaster Canal Trust once again operated the canal towpath entry gate on behalf of the Westmorland Show. Substantially more entries were recorded at the Canal Gate this year so that the Trust had to draft in more volunteers to deal with the crowds. The boat 'Waterwitch', with its decorative livery of town and village historic Coats of Arms, r a n t r i p s o n t h e ca n a l continuously throughout the day. The Trust stand was almost over-run by well wishers and interested people, so that the canal trust volunteers were thankful, but exhausted, by the end of the day.
Below left: Boys and their Meccano! Below: Alan hard at it!
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Carnforth Coke Ovens
The conservation project of the beehive coke ovens on the nontowpath side of the canal just south of bridge number 127 at Carnforth is proceeding, slowly! Nick Smith, at Canal & River Trust, Wigan, has taken over control of the project The first operation will be a series of surveys which need to be unde rt ak en pr ior t o a ny conservation work taking place. These are: -Non-intrusive topographical survey - Photographic survey -Arboriculture report -Archaeological investigation -Ecological investigation Heritage Lottery Funding needs to be sought for the cost of these surveys and subsequent work. C&RT feel that partnership with a 23
local enthusiasts group would enhance their prospect of success with the application. A meeting was held in August at the site of the ovens to determine the level of interest in such a local group. Fourteen people attended and a number of others have expressed interest resulting in the go-ahead of the formation of the Friends of Carnforth Coke Ovens. Another meeting will be held soon, in Carnforth, to formalise this local group to work in partnership with CRT on this project. Any more LCT members who would be interested in helping in any way with this conservation can contact me on 07721007379. Brian Crawley September 2014
Towpath Talk - Peter & Heather Underwood A long running, four part at least, Lancaster Canal Trust, made the article was commissioned by Janet presentation of a very smart brass Richardson, Editor of Towpat h Talk, and P e t e r Underwood w a s dis patc he d with his w i f e Heather to Helen presenting Peter with brass plaque in honour of reaching Tewitfield circumnavigate the upper reaches plaque to Peter and Heather of the Ribble and the remote when they reached Tewitfield. Lancaster Canal. We met them Peter and Heather, with their at Guys Marina in Bilsborrow and boat Blackberry Way, were made arrangements to see them de lighte d with the love ly at Tewitfield on Wednesday 2nd Lancaster Canal and found it hard July for a presentation. to understand why it has been cut Helen Thomas, Vice Chair of off for so long. A video of the journey can be seen on the Towpath Talk website.
Keith Tassart, Heather, Peter and Helen at the presentation 24
WORKING BOATS Lancaster canal iron barges were 72 feet long, and 14 feet wide, with a carrying capacity of 55 tons. Main cargoes were coal and limestone, other cargoes were hay, straw, manure, fleeces, tar, tobacco and snuff, timber, building materials, machinery, and of course, gunpowder. First cargoes started late 1790s, diminishing in the 1930s, and ending in the early 1950s. Pulled by a horse & with a crew of two, a round trip, Preston to Kendal, took a week, crew sleeping aboard in the wooden cabin at the stern before returning to their canal side cottages. There were no narrow boats working the Lancaster Canal. AM 06/2014
COUNTRYFEST 2014 - Crooklands Showground More and more people are flocking to the Westmorland show ground’s Countryfest year by year. Guinness book of Record officials were there to record a world first giant Teddybear flying event and Inland Waterways officials there to announce and plan next years Trail Boat festival with the Lancaster Canal Trust.
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Can I Canoe you up the Canal! Canoe lessons on the Lancaster Canal make way for our 'Waterwitch' Trip Boat. Students from the Longrigg Residential Centre in Sedbergh, enjoyed a day on the Lancaster Canal. Starting from Millness slip they paddled up to Old Hall bridge thence to Stainton Crossing and return. The ir paddle coordinat ion was pretty good for their age and the youngsters certainly enjoyed themselves immensely. For more information contact t he pr inc ipa l a t longrigg@action4youth.org
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Canal & River Trust Update ... Update on the Lune Aqueduct project: The Lune Aqueduct restoration project is almost at an end now, with only a visitors’ survey to be completed. This survey was undertaken by Canal & River Trust consultants as a follow on t o a mid - pr oje c t s ur v ey undertaken in 2012. The survey is intended to find out visitor’s views of the site, how they feel it has developed and their thoughts on the continued evolution of the site. The new habitat area is beginning to flourish, with the wildflower meadow and the aquatic plants in the ponds coming along well. Our volunteers have been working on the site throughout the summer and will be following a landscape management regime in order to maintain the site. There was a successful two day arts, crafts and nature activities event at Lancaster Library and aboard the Kingfisher boat in the summer holidays. Over 100
people attended the events over the two days. Our Education Explorer team is beginning to work with schools in the Lancaster area, taking classes out onto the canal in the city, as well as running canal themed classroom sessions. F o r e n q u ir i e s r e g a r d i ng c onse rvat ion a nd towpat h taskforce volunteering, contact M a t t T a y l o r o n matthew.taylor@canalrivertrust.org. uk For enquiries regarding education explorer volunteering, contact Katie.jackson@canalrivertrust.org.uk David Hennessey Restoration Project Manager M 07500 606030
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Canal Dipping by Frank Sanderson As you are no doubt well aware Trust operates the trip boat 'Waterwitch' every Sunday and bank holidays from May to October. A good number of volunteers turn up to skipper the b oat , we lcome pr ospe cti ve passengers at the old stables, plain water beetles to most. To see them surfing the water tension and dive, trapping a tiny bubble of air as they go, is quite fascinating. Other, smaller life forms scurry away and hide as they sense these predators. Water Boatmen, tiny Minnows, and all manner of creatures live together as best they can, a bit like the world outside I suppose. Each one a unique organism. With all this life under water, no wonder we see ducks and swans with their tails in the air. I always thought they were feeding, but now I realise they are as interested in nature as we are. FS
record numbers, and generally promote the Canal by handing out pamphlets and selling books. One lady volunteer, a teacher, must be congratulated for her wildlife presentations. After setting up our stall on the Stables forecourt, she instructs her husband, or any of the standby skippers handy, to take out a bucket of canal water, clears any sediment, and places the clear water in a large glass dish. Then helps children identify what can be seen. The interest on their tiny faces is wonderful as they pick out ea ch creature. The canal water is teeming with life. Several species of Water Boatmen, Dytiscus or Notonecta to the scientific, or just 28
‘Catalyst’ Heritage Lottery Fund Update The Heritage Lottery Funded Catalyst Project is coming to its conclusion. Our consultant, Vicky Metcalf has carried out an extensive piece of research work over the summer months, contacting LCT members to ask their opinion of the Trust and what they feel we should be doing (many thanks to those of you who responded to the survey), local businesses and local community members. Vicky co-ordinated student researchers to stand on the towpath to ask canal users their opinion about the LCT, both whether they had heard of us, what they thought we did, and what they thought we should be doing. She also surveyed non-users of the canal to ask what would encourage people to use the canal and support the LCT. The findings of this survey were presented to the Executive, and a final report will be presented on 1st October. Members of the Executive also attended the first of two social media training sessions with Sarah Cooper of Black Zest. This excellent first session will be followed by a strategy discussion on how we can use sites like Twitter and Facebook to best communicate our activities and aspirations to local people. A full report on the catalyst project will be given in the next Waterwitch magazine. Claire Chapman Right: Family of Swans at the trip boat Landing Stage Below: Ditto of Ducks at the same location Refugee: Moorhen and two of her chicks wading in the mud at Stainton during the WGR visit! There were many more hiding in the grass.
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CORRESPONDENCE WITH MEMBERS
Some members of the Lancaster Canal Trust may be aware that we have sent e-mails about specific matters to those members of the Trust for whom we have e-mail addresses. As our magazine, Waterwitch, is now issued only twice a year it enables members to be informed of matters which may arise between issues. If you have an e-mail address and would like to be contacted in this way please let our membership secretary, Alan Mather have a note of your address on alan.mather7@ntlworld.com We will not, of course, be pestering you with frequent letters.
Espied at Crooklands!
Are they queuing for the first furlong opening day A new map, courtesy of Mike Valiant.
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LANCASTER CANAL TRUST Officers and Committee 2013/4 President C.H.Bagot J.P. F.R.I.C.S.,D.L Vice - Presidents John Gavan; David Slater Chairman Richard Trevitt 2 Fern Bank, Lancaster. LAI 4TT (01524) 846303 trevittr@hotmail.com Vice - Chairman Helen Thomas 7 Bay View, Over Kellet, Carnforth, LA6 1DR, (01524) 735504 helen@thepikes.co.uk Secretary Vacant Treasurer Peter Jones 14 Blencathra Gardens Kendal LA9 7HL (01539) 739105 peter@cpsj.me.uk Membership Secretary Alan Mather 15, Claughton Ave Bolton BL2 6US (01204) 521031 membership@lancastercanaltrust.org.uk Public Relations Officer Frank Sanderson, 015395 66967. M 0790 186 5353. pr@lancastercanaltrust.org.uk Waterwitch Editor David Currington 12 Sedbergh Road Kendal LA9 6AD (01539) 732599 dadcurrington@hotmail.com Working Party Organiser Keith Tassart vickylegal4life@gmail.com Grants Officer vacant
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS & OTHER TRUST OFFICERS
Sandra Henstock (L.C.B.C. Representative) (01253)764171
Alan Mather Boat Operations Manager (01204) 521031 tripboat@lancastercanaltrust.org.uk
Affiliated Members Beetham Parish Council Burton-in-Kendal Parish Council Lancaster Canal Boat Club Preston Patrick Parish Council Ramblers Association (Preston Area)
Ramblers Association (Lancaster) Westmorland & North Lancashire Long Distance Walkers Assoc. Wright & Butterfield Kendal
Waterwitch is copyright 2014, published by The Lancaster Canal Trust (Registered Charity No. 240957) c/o David Currington, 12 Sedbergh Road, Kendal, LA9 6AD The Lancaster Canal Trust may not agree with the opinions expressed in this magazine but encourages publication as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as policy, or an official announcement, unless so stated - otherwise the Trust accepts no liability for any matter in the magazine. The editor retains the right to edit any article or letter submitted for publication.
Visit LCT website at:
http://www.lancastercanaltrust.org.uk
The deadline for contributions to the next edition of Waterwitch will be 8th March 2015 Contributions may be e-mailed to dadcurrington@hotmail.com Or by post to David Currington 12 Sedbergh Road Kendal, Cumbria LA9 6AD Printed by Kent Valley Colour Printers, Kendal. (01539)741344
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