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P14-15 campaign update
The latest news on IWA’s campaign to fund our waterways
P16-18 Propeller challenge
Our guide to some of the Silver Propeller Challenge sites which are accessible by hire-boat
P20-21 Love your waterways
We talk to Howard Worth, an IWA honorary engineer who is retiring this year after a lifetime’s association with our waterways
P22-24 grand schemes
Jonathan Mosse explores some grandiose plans of bygone days to link the Bristol and English Channels
P28-30 summer camps
The valuable work carried out by volunteers on the Waterway Restoration Group summer camps
P32-33 Branch focus
S E v EN REASONS WHY YOUR MEMBERSHIP CONTRIBUTION IS v ITAL
1. Your voice is counted when IWA speaks up for all those who enjoy the country’s canals and rivers
2. IWA lobbies national and local government and works with other organisations to repair, improve and protect our waterways heritage
IWA Lancashire and Cumbria Branch 16 30 22 26
3. Restoration is kept high priority through IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group
4. IWA campaigns to defend the waterways from unwelcome development
5. IWA branch Canal Clean-ups keep many waterways clear of rubbish
6. Over 10,000 days of volunteering each year will be supported with the right training, tools and materials
7. IWA provides training in traditional and worksite skills for the waterway restoration sector
Welcome from the NATIONAL CHAIR, Mike wills
There should be fireworks on 5th of November, not only literally across our skies but also virtually from issues potentially arising in the USA Presidential Election. As the nights are drawing in, we could all benefit by stepping back from the world outside of the waterways and take a little time for the opportunity to contemplate on life and the year ahead. It is not a comforting thought, but the reality is that UK politics, if not USA politics, intrudes into our waterways. Here at IWA we are stepping up our efforts to influence our politicians at both national and local level.
You should hopefully now be aware that we have appointed Charlie Norman as our new Campaigns & Public Affairs Director. Charlie has a wealth of experience in communications and media management, collaborating with All Party Parliamentary Groups and being part of campaigns teams that have secured many successes. Charlie will lead a team of staff and volunteers, and I hope that we will all soon see positive results from our reinvigorated efforts in this area.
It is about two years now since we published our brochure Waterways for Today. It is still available on our
website and is still relevant to our future campaigns and indeed ambitions. The range of benefits that flow from wellfunded, well-maintained, and well-loved waterways are not just economic. Indeed, it is in our plans to expand the influence of IWA by increasing our environmental campaigning. Similarly, well-being, heritage, educational and health benefits are just part of the overall gains to society that we need to ensure are appreciated and supported by those who hold the purse strings. I will take a pause from writing about funding for the moment, but sadly it is likely to be a serious and continuing problem for the waterways and IWA has an important part to play in raising awareness and seeking every potential source of finance.
Let us turn our attention to restoration. To put it simply, it is obviously a good idea to invest a large amount of time, effort and money to bring canals back into use. Well it should be obvious, but can we be sure that the results of restoration projects will be maintained, and is there a risk that existing canals will continue to deteriorate because of limited resources being spread more thinly? I have recently seen and heard many debates
around this topic; it can be particularly distressing to think about the millions of volunteer hours that have been invested in restoration projects which could now be at risk. What should we do? At the very least we need to expand our guidance and assistance to restoration societies. We should campaign about the many outstanding projects that have been completed and we should promote what will be achieved in future. Can you help us to shout about our successes?
We are now seeking to reestablish and strengthen IWA’s influence, and together with the trustees, I look forward to the future with confidence.
Reservoir consultations for the Wilts & Berks Canal, Lincolnshire
and Fens
IWA has responded to three recent consultations about proposed reservoirs. Overall, IWA recognises the importance of these projects in the face of climate change, particularly in the Anglian region which has the lowest rainfall in the UK, though it believes the Cotswold Canals are a better option for supplying water to the South East. The reservoirs will facilitate recreational activities such as canoeing, paddle boarding, swimming, and sailing, enhancing local amenities and supporting sustainable growth.
In all these responses IWA strongly advocates the use of navigable Open Channel Transfer for raw water transfer, which aligns with environmental, recreational, and navigation benefits, and opposes the culverting of watercourses due to its adverse ecological impacts. Additionally, we highlighted the use of waterways freight to reduce the noise and pollution impact of the construction phase.
The Fens Reservoir could benefit navigation and enhance biodiversity by refurbishing historic watercourses, such as the section between Welches Dam Lock and Horseways Lock. The reservoir’s construction will likely necessitate additional bridges, and IWA seeks assurances that these will provide ample headroom for boats.
As part of the Boston to Peterborough Waterway Corridor, IWA has lobbied for the South Lincolnshire Reservoir to connect to the Black Sluice Navigation via navigable channels. However, IWA does have concerns about the transfer of water from the River Trent via the Fossdyke Navigation, Brayford Pool, and the River Witham. The existing Trent-WithamAncholme scheme has led to accelerated silting, and further transfers could exacerbate this issue, increasing maintenance costs and navigation hazards.
IWA has also responded to Thames Water’s South East Strategic Reservoir consultation. This is proposed to be built near Abingdon, and will impact on the restoration of the Wilts & Berks Canal as it will be right on top of the historic route.
Much of the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust’s recent restoration work has been at the western end of the canal, partly due to uncertainty about the proposed reservoir. However, plans for the reservoir now seem to be progressing, and Thames Water has issued an Interim Master Plan 2024, which provides for a diversion corridor for the canal.
However, in addition, and of critical importance, is a link from the reservoir site to the River Thames. Potentially this would allow boats from the Thames to navigate under the A34 round the reservoir to a marina by the diverted East Hanney to Steventon road just north of the Great Western Railway.
Unfortunately, instead of an open channel, Thames Water prefers an enlarged operational tunnel to take emergency flows. The tunnel would be slightly cheaper, but would offer nothing to the local community. On the other hand, an open channel would double as a canal and provide a pretty through route for walkers and cyclists from Wantage and Grove all the way to Abingdon. An open channel would also provide a connecting route for wildlife.
Greenes' House Service Day
On the final day of the 2024 summer term, Berkhamsted Boys’ School once again partnered with the IWA and the Canal & River Trust to deliver the annual Greenes’ House Service Day, time set aside from normal lessons to make a difference for good in the local community.
In 2023, 40 boys were involved in painting infrastructure along the Grand Union Canal, adjacent to the school’s Castle Campus in the centre of Berkhamsted. This year, plans were made to walk to the Grand Union Tring Summit Level at Cowroast, before using canoes to tackle floating pennywort growth, as well as managing vegetation along the towpath above Cowroast lock. Sadly, with a washout forecast, the difficult decision was taken to cancel the outdoor elements of the day. Instead, Al Camacho and Jack Prothero of the Canal & River Trust kindly agreed to visit the boys at school.
After a brief introduction to the history of the Grand Union Canal and the work of the Canal & River Trust, they delivered an interactive session on keeping safe around open water.
This included identifying risks of the canal-side environment and practising how to safely throw life ropes and lifebuoys. Undoubtedly, these were important life lessons for the boys, particularly ahead of the summer holiday and the possibility of spending more time around open water.
IWA signs the way at Reach Lode
In the 1970s, the banks of the lodes connecting Burwell and Reach were leaking due to the shrinkage of the Fens and flooding the land that they were constructed to drain. As the Swaffham Bulbeck and Bottisham lodes were also leaking, it was going to be expensive to repair. One proposal was to demolish the high level lodes and create a new low level system.
As this would have prevented navigation, the boating community and IWA campaigned to keep the lodes open. Eventually the navigations were saved.
IWA Cambridge Branch (now Great Ouse) adopted Reach as a focal point. Reach still has a pub and the village puts on a big annual fair on the first Bank Holiday in May. For many years the branch had a boating rally and BBQ while the fair was on. It also had a sales stalls at the event, mainly to promote IWA.
In 1984, two signs were erected on the Hythe showing the connection with the River Cam. Amazingly, both remained intact until 2023. Eventually one post snapped and the other was worse for wear so it was decided that new ones were required. Last winter, branch member Peter Webb made replacements and these were installed this summer.
IWA concern over Vazon Bridge opening
IWA wrote to Network Rail to express concern about the problems with the opening times of the Vazon bridge over the Stainforth and Keadby Canal. The sliding railway bridge opens to allow boats on the Stainforth and Keadby canal to pass, before returning to its original position, enabling trains to continue with their journey. The crossing connects trains between Doncaster, Scunthorpe and the Lincolnshire coast and is a busy rail freight route.
It is Britain’s only sliding railway bridge over a canal, with the original structure dating to the 1860s. Sensors on the structure alerted Network Rail to a mechanical fault requiring a new part which had to be specially made.
Prior to the maintenance work, the bridge was opened for boaters as required, but during the work the bridge was only opened once at 10pm each day. One daily opening was not only potentially dangerous due to the need to cruise in the dark but took no account of tides, further limiting navigation. The bridge was illuminated and signed to aid boaters but, while this was welcome, raised concerns that Network Rail was looking to make this one daily opening a permanent arrangement.
Navigation rights at the Vazon bridge precede the railway as the Stainforth & Keadby Canal was already in use when the rail line was built and are covered by an Act of Parliament. IWA sought assurance that normal service would be resumed for boaters when the repairs are completed,
Thanks are due to Celyn Winter and Callum Joinson, two members of the Try the Trent group, who helped boaters navigate through the rail bridge and the nearby road while night-time navigation was required.
Vazon Bridge reopened on 24th September.
Try the Trent members Callum Joinson and Celyn Winter who have been helping boaters navigate the canal. Vazon Bridge.
Many hands make light work
On Friday 5th July, volunteers from IWA Manchester Branch, WRG (North West), CRT and Tameside Canal Boat Trust took on the unusual job of helping to load, distribute then unload 153 bags of sand, each weighing 25kg.
This was carried out as part of the ‘heel test’ required by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency before tripboat StillWaters could be certified to continue carrying passengers from Portland Basin. The bags of sand were used to simulate a full complement of passengers with the boat then tested for stability.
The Tameside Canal Boat Trust operates the passenger narrowboat StillWaters from Heritage Wharf, Portland Basin, Ashton under Lyne for public trips and private hire.
Lighter restoration
Susan is the only surviving timber-built lighter from the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation. It was built in 1953 by R J Prior of Burnham on Crouch for Brown & Son timber merchants in Chelmsford to carry timber from Heybridge Basin to Chelmsford. Based on the design of the earlier horse-drawn lighters which from 1797 carried a variety of cargo between Chelmsford and the Blackwater Estuary, it was the only Chelmer & Blackwater lighter to be fitted with an inboard engine.
Susan is an important reminder of the navigation’s industrial heritage and operation and is included on the National Historic Ships register. Commercial traffic on the navigation ceased in 1972 and four years later the Chelmsford Branch of IWA stepped in to
save Susan from being broken up. In the years that followed the lighter was owned by the Chelmer Lighter Preservation Society, Passmore Edwards Museum and Chelmsford Borough Council Museums Service.
In 2002 major repairs were required and in 2005 The Susan Trust was formed to acquire the vessel and restore it to working condition for use as a trip boat on the navigation. Restoration commenced in 2010 at St Osyth Boatyard with work carried out as grant funding became available, together with help from volunteers. With the specialist boat building work now complete, Susan has been towed back to Heybridge Basin and the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation where the original Thorneycroft engine will be refitted.
Susan arrives at Heybridge Basin.
Lancaster Canal isolated from the sea
IWA is concerned that boaters have been unable to pass through Glasson Dock because of an on-going failure of the tidal gate that connects the dock to the sea. Boaters were stranded for several months because of a stand-o between the Port of Lancaster Commission, which owns the gate, and the Environment Agency.
Lack of funding for local navigation authorities has been aggravated by the failure of a gate at the tidal end of the Ribble Link and a breach at Hollowforth Aqueduct, both of which are major works that will take months to fix at great expense. The 38-year-old gate at Glasson Dock is currently stuck.
Although owned by the port, in 2001 the Environment Agency added an extension to the gate to make it a flood defence but no modifications were made to the supporting structure. Since then the port, which is not responsible for flood defences, has maintained and operated the gate with minimal contribution om the EA.
In recent years, the port has spent a fi h of its annual turnover maintaining the gate. Three years ago the port informed the EA that the gate was beyond repair and needed replacing and that the port could not a ord to carry out the work. The EA confirmed that replacement funds were available in its capital scheme budget. Before the EA used its legal powers to take control of the gate in September 2023 owing to flood defence concerns, the gate could be lowered fully, allowing vessels to access the inner dock and marina. However, when control of the gate was handed back to the port in early 2024, it was stuck in the upright position, blocking the entrance to the port and to the neighbouring marina in Glasson Basin, preventing access to the Glasson Branch of the Lancaster Canal. The basin is managed by Canal & River Trust and the marina by Aquavista. The gate obstruction is a ecting local businesses as well as boaters. Some boat owners say they have had to spend thousands of pounds to get their boats craned out. The port is capable of operating without the gate, allowing the dock (but not the basin) to dry out at low tide. However, the EA needs the gate as part of its local flood defences. The port says that its work boats are trapped, and it can only fulfil its duties by hiring third par contractors, which is unsustainable and the port is therefore facing a fight for survival.
In June 2024 the four a ected organisations (Port of Lancaster Commission, Environment Agency, Aquavista and Canal & River
Trust) issued a joint statement saying that the dock gate needed to be removed for inspection and repair, and that Lancaster Port Commission was leading on these removal works, which would be part funded by the Environment Agency. Once removed, navigation would be restored. The gate would be placed on the dockside for inspection by the EA to assess the full extent of the required repairs.
Further inspection and possible repairs were also required to the dock basin where the gate is located This can only be carried out in a dry working area, which requires a co erdam. The co erdam also acts to restore some level of protection against flooding, but prevents navigation while in place.
With a co erdam requiring time to design, fabricate and install, there would be a significant interval between removing the gate and erecting the co erdam. The parties are therefore considering what temporary flood defences can be put in place to maintain be er flood protection during this period, with the CRT working closely with the EA, as temporary flood defences may be required near the canal lock gate. Contractors have now removed the gate for inspection and repair. The co erdam is expected be in place by autumn 2025 and removed before spring 2026.
For much of the summer the Ribble Link was also closed to boaters, completely isolating the canal following an issue with the sea lock gate. Here too, the gate needed to be removed for repair – a tricky operation as the tide submerges the gate and lock twice a day.
To add further to the woes on the Lancaster Canal, at its southern end, the towpath and navigation were closed between Bridge 36, Moons Bridge and Bridge 39, Hepgreave Bridge on the canal due to a breach on the embankment next to Hollowforth Aqueduct (Bridge 38) on 21st July. CRT quickly secured dams either side of the a ected area and completed a fish rescue.
CRT says that the damage is extensive and a ects both the embankment and a section of the aqueduct’s structure, and have added that “the repairs required are substantial and will need significant funding. The works will have a material e ect on the Trust’s already limited resources.
A temporary co erdam allowed boats to pass the breach site and return to their moorings and work is now underway to repair both the sea gate and the breach.
Glasson Dock. DAVID FAULKNER
AGM 2024 Report
Our 65th Annual General Meeting was held on Saturday 28th September at De Montfort University in Leicester. IWA thanks all of the members who attended either in person or on Zoom, and is also incredibly grateful to the volunteers and staff who helped out during the event.
Before the formal AGM commenced, attendees watched a presentation about IWA’s campaigns by our Deputy National Chair, Sue O’Hare. The presentation detailed the progress made since 2023 from a campaigning perspective and provided an insight into the future of IWA campaigning including the Association’s Campaigns Strategy. The presentation also summarised the progress made by the Fund Britain’s Waterways group since its launch in May 2023 and detailed IWA’s involvement as a member of the FBW steering group. Attendees were encouraged to take action to help Fund Britain’s Waterways by signing the FBW petition, making a donation, lobbying their MP or engaging with the campaign on social media.
The campaign-focused presentation was followed by a talk on restoration by Waterway Recovery Group Chair Mike Palmer. His presentation explored some of the successes and challenges faced in the world of waterway restoration over the past year. It also provided a reminder of the many benefits that our waterways offer, as identified in our Waterways for Today report, while highlighting the considerable value that restoring unused waterways could provide.
After a short break for refreshments, the meeting began with members approving the minutes of last year’s AGM held on 23rd September 2023. Members also approved the appointments and reappointments of the following Trustees for terms of three years each: Robert Atkins, Christl Hughes, Colin Porter, Hannah Rigley, Ian Sesnan.
The formal AGM was followed by presentation of the Sustainable Boating Awards which were launched earlier this year through a collaboration between Towpath Talk and IWA’s Sustainable Boating Group (SBG). The purpose of this new award scheme is to celebrate people and organisations which have had an impact in the sustainable boating community, with separate prizes for commercial and noncommercial innovations. This was followed by presentation of the annual IWA National Awards.
The AGM was followed by an open discussion on residential boating which was facilitated by the Deputy Chair of Navigation Committee, Ivor Caplan. Attendees debated the impact residential boating has on cruising, the uptake of people buying boats in the search for affordable housing, and what IWA’s involvement should be in terms of campaigning for residential boating.
Attendees enjoyed a free lunch before departing for a guided walk with award-winning CRT Volunteer Rob Hetherington. The tour started at Castle Gardens on what has become known as the ‘Mile Straight’ of the Grand Union Canal Leicester Line, which is a canalised section of the River Soar. From there, attendees strolled along the navigation to Lime Kiln Lock where the IWA National Rally of Boats was held in 1967.
Thank you to everyone who came along to this year’s AGM, which was well-attended by members both in-person and online. We hope that the success of this year’s event will encourage even more members to join us at next year’s AGM!
CHAIR'S REPORT
At the end of our AGM in Stourport 12 months ago we found ourselves without a Chair, without a Chief Executive, without final audited accounts, but with a substantial financial deficit and with a desperate need to try to find an effective way forward for IWA.
I offered to coordinate a review group and after much hard work, with contributions from many enthusiastic and supportive trustees and others, we came up with an approach for the future.
Our first and the absolute priority was to secure the finances of IWA to enable it to meet its charitable objectives.
Second was to develop ways to make IWA much more relevant by concentrating on effective campaigning and increasing political influence.
Our third priority was to improve our restoration offering, particularly in collaboration with restoration societies, and develop our campaigns based upon restoration success.
The trustees supported this approach and as a result I felt comfortable with accepting the role of National Chair. That was just less than eight months ago, and I can assure you that it has been an interesting and illuminating period in my life. I have learnt a lot.
Finances
Our final 2023 audited accounts and annual report have been available on our website for some time. They show a major turnaround with substantial growth in net income and in investment returns. Group funds increased by around £128k and IWA Charitable funds increased by £16k during the year. This compares with an overall deficit of £419k in 2022. This is a remarkable improvement. We have taken many steps to try to secure this including, improved management accounting information, effective control of costs, a thorough review of our investments policies and a realistic approach to budgeting. As always there is more to do.
Campaigning and political influence
We have not had a permanent Chief Executive for many years now. Rather than risk repeating past difficulties we had a serious review of our prime requirements. We realised that the key paid role we required was someone to lead our campaigns. Recruitment proved difficult, and we had some interesting applicants; indeed it was only in late September that we finally employed the right person. Charlie Norman will be known by many of you, and I have to say that I am absolutely delighted that we now have a talented and experienced Campaigns & Public Affairs Director on our staff. You will all quickly see the difference that this appointment will make to the profile of IWA. We need to get our message out and influence politicians at all levels to try to achieve what is needed for the future of our inland waterways.
Restoration
For many of us, particularly a few years ago, the key reason for the existence of IWA was to support, encourage and actually do restoration. There have been so many successes, and we should be proud of what we have achieved. Looking forward, we can do much more and we should see our future developments in this area as part of our campaigns strategy. Many of the funds held by IWA come from legacies or similar and have a specific restriction or designation for some aspect of restoration. Our plans are to critically review these funds to try to use more of them to meet our charitable objectives. Many have been sat unused for too long. We are reinvigorating our work in this area and again I hope that you will start to see a difference.
NEW TRUSTEES
Christl Hughes
Christl Hughes moved into the voluntary sector after a career as a solicitor specialising in dispute resolution. She has served as Trustee and Secretary of the Gender Identity Research & Education Society, Trustee and Chair of The Solicitors’ Charity and is currently Secretary and past Chair of Leicester Medico-Legal Society, Committee member and past Chair of Association of Women Solicitors, London and Committee member and Past President of Leicestershire Law Society. Awarded the MBE in 2020 for services to Equality & Charity, she is also a Notable Graduate of Leicester University Law School and in 2024 received the Leicestershire Law Society President’s Award. Her hobbies are reading novels, Choral singing and walking, particularly on the stretch of the Grand Union Canal near her home.
Colin Porter
Colin became a member of IWA shortly after he bought a narrow-boat in 1996. He is a retired railway signal engineer, who has always had an interest in financial matters. He has been the treasurer of two engineering professional institutions as well as a number of canal-based societies over the years. He is a chartered engineer but most of his engineering these days is carried out on his boat keeping it working. He has attended two WRG Canal Camps and is a strong believer of the benefits of the waterways in the UK to society. He also likes sailing, but generally in the warmer waters of the Mediterranean. He is married to Claire and has two children and four grandchildren. He joined the finance committee in early 2024 and was co-opted as a trustee and deputy chair (finance) in August 2024.
Details of all Trustees are on our website www. waterways.org.uk/about-us/the-charity/trustees
Social media savvy volunteers required
IWA Sustainable Boating Group is looking for ways to make leisure boating sustainable. Increasingly, new boats are being built with electric drives which have the potential to become zero carbon. However, our large existing fleet is mainly diesel driven, most of which is unlikely to be converted to electric drive and which will be around (we hope!) for a long time. This fleet could use biodiesel. Unfortunately, the ‘FAME’ biodiesel currently being added to road diesel (B7) is unsuitable for marine use. It deteriorates if stored for long periods and suffers more than mineral diesel from ‘diesel bug’.
Fortunately, there is an alternative, hydrotreated vegetable oil. This is a second-generation biodiesel, certified by the government as sustainable. It has been proven in trials by IWA to be suitable for engines of all vintages and most other common diesel burning appliances.
HVO is more expensive than mineral diesel in spite of a government-managed subsidy. Its price is volatile and higher than most boaters are prepared to pay. This is exacerbated by the regulatory regime that surrounds it, managed by several government departments. Demand is low, suppliers are reluctant to stock it and it is not readily available to boaters.
IWA has formed a Joint Working Group with the RYA, the Cruising Association and British Marine to try to persuade government to adopt policies that will make HVO available to leisure boaters at a price they are prepared to pay. While this group has had some success, it recognises that until there is a demand from boaters the government will not respond, and suppliers will not stock it.
The Joint Working Group is seeking volunteers from their members who have the necessary skills and experience to manage a social media campaign to publicise the benefits of HVO and hopefully generate a demand for it from boaters.
It you think you can contribute and are interested in joining a small group to make this happen, please contact Bowman Bradley, Chair of the IWA Sustainable Boating Group, at bowman. bradley@waterways.org.uk
Bowman Bradley delivering his presentation on sustainable boating at the AGM.
Celebrating success at IWA's 2024 AGM
At the AGM at De Montfort University in Leicester on 28th September, we introduced the Sustainable Boating Awards, in partnership with Towpath Talk. These awards highlight individuals, organisations, and businesses making a positive impact on sustainable boating. Every year IWA invites nominations for its National Awards, to recognise members and other waterway campaigners who have contributed to the Association’s work and made the inland waterways a better place.
SUSTAINABLE BOATING AWARDS
Non-Commercial Award
Awarded to the individual, charity or community organisation that, in the opinion of the judges, has made the most valuable contribution to sustainable boating during the last 12 months.
WINNER: KAy AND PAUL SUMPNEr, ENB ‘Old Nick’
For their outstanding work promoting the online exchange of information about electric boating, including organising Electrika—the first inland waterways boat show for electric boats.
Commercial Award
For the business that has made the most valuable contribution to sustainable boating during the last 12 months.
WINNER: MoThErShIP MArINE
recognised for their innovative electric propulsion systems and sustainable boat fit-outs, featuring larger propellers and fitting large PV cell arrays. The judges were also impressed by their use of recycled materials in their fit-outs.
Commendation
WINNER: orToMArINE
For their work in developing monitoring technology for electric boating and their willingness to share information with others to allow electric drives to develop faster, including access to the data from their trials on the Severn, and for their support of Electrika.
IWA NATIONAL AWARDS
Richard Bird Medals
For members whose efforts and support are considered to have brought significant benefit to IWA over a sustained period.
PETE FLEMING
A key volunteer with the Waterway recovery Group (WrG), Pete’s contributions to IWA’s Canalway Cavalcade are invaluable, particularly his dedication to event planning and volunteer leadership. he takes on key planning roles for the event build up and is on site to lead the workcamp volunteers for the entire weekend. Pete is pivotal in ensuring everything runs smoothly and is invaluable to the team and organisation. Pete was unable to attend as he was at a Waterway recovery Group Weekend Camp.
EMMA GrEENALL
A long-standing WrG volunteer, Emma has played strategic roles behind the scenes, ensuring the success of Canalway Cavalcade. Emma has confidently stepped into several strategic roles for IWA Canalway Cavalcade both behind the scenes and on the ground during the weekend event. She has been key to ensuring Cavalcade runs successfully and is a great asset to the team and organisation. Emma was unable to attend so alternative arrangements will be made to present the award.
PETEr hILL
recognised for his 18 years of outstanding service as editor of Aegre, the East Midlands news magazine, championing incorporation of IWA corporate image and brand identity to enhance the Association’s profile.
Rob Howdle and Caroline Badger from Ortomarine.
Caroline Badger accepts The Sustainable Boat Award (non-commercial) from National Chair Mike Wills on behalf of winners K&P Sumpner.
Peter Knox accepts the Commercial Award for Mothership Marine.
David Pullen accepting the Richard Bird Medal on behalf of winner Peter Hill.
Bernard Morton
acknowledged for his inspirational leadership of the northampton Branch, bringing out the best in his team. none of northampton Branch’s achievements would have been possible without his exemplary leadership skills, along with his support and encouragement of the Committee.
Christopher Power Prize
For a person, society or trust who has made the most significant contribution to the restoration of an inland waterway.
there is a cash prize associated with this award, which is given to the waterway restoration group associated with the winner, where the winner is a named individual. the aims and objectives of the group must be consistent with those of IWa.
winner: alI BottoMley ali’s dedication to the WrG annual training Weekend has been extraordinary, having an amazing impact on both WrG and other canal restoration volunteers and societies.
Branch Achievement Award
For the IWa branch which, in the opinion of a panel consisting of the national chair, deputy national chairs and chief executive, has made the greatest progress and achievement in promoting the association’s aims and objectives during the past year. all branches are considered, without need for nomination. the award consists of a silver salver, donated to IWa by former national chair david Stevenson in 1998.
Winner: northaMpton BranCh
Celebrated for their exceptional work on the northampton arm, transforming it into a thriving space for boaters and walkers, while supporting local schools, artists and community groups. With its 17 locks, the arm is one of the longest adopted stretches of Crt managed waterways. Working closely with local partners, schools, artists and corporates, the branch has ensured the waterway has benefitted from painted and ceramic murals, a mosaic trail, new benches, towpath resurfacing, and the installation and maintenance of defibrillators.
Cyril Styring Trophy
this is IWa’s premier award for a member who has, in the opinion of trustees, made an outstanding contribution in furthering the association’s campaign. winner: Ray Alexander ray’s decades of service have transformed waterways across the Southwest and nationwide. his tireless commitment, knowledge, and leadership have earned him the association’s highest honour. ray demonstrates that in fighting for the waterways there must be a blend of hard work, patience, knowledge, loyalty, being with the right people at the right time, and producing technical and promotional documentation to a high standard. the waterways have benefitted enormously from ray’s long involvement. he has been a consistently influential and reliable champion and a highly respected representative of the association.
IWa is incredibly proud to recognise these champions for their vital contributions to our matchless waterways.
Richard Bird Medal winner Bernie Morton.
Cyril Styring award being received on behalf of Ray Alexander by Ian Sesnan.Cyril Styring Trophy winner Ray Alexander.
Christoper Power Prize winner Ali Bottomley.
CAMPAIGNING WITH YOU
Here are some recent issues we’ve been campaigning on with your help
Fund Britain’s Waterways
IWA and its partners in the Fund Britain’s Waterways group have submi ed a joint representation to the Government Spending Review on the more general issues of waterways funding. Our request to government is that:
• the importance of our inland waterways as a unique national asset and part of the national in astructure is recognised;
• the deterioration in condition that is already happening is acknowledged; and
• a comprehensive review of government funding for all our inland waterways should be carried out as a ma er of urgency, with the aim of defining a sustainable funding solution which will enable the current benefits of our canals and rivers to be maintained and enhanced for future generations.
To fund our inland waterways properly would cost a small (in government terms) investment measured in millions, not billions, of pounds. In return, the country would continue to obtain billions of pounds of benefits for health, economic and environmental benefits, much of those benefits being enjoyed in less-well-o areas.
We are already seeing the waterways deteriorating and businesses su ering. Without urgent action the inland waterway network will be in serious jeopardy. If the condition of waterways continues to deteriorate, waterways will ultimately have to be closed, businesses will be harmed, communities placed at risk, the benefits lost, and millions of hours of volunteer e ort wasted.
Write to your new MP
We encourage all waterways supporters to write to their newly elected Parliamentary representative about the importance of waterways funding.
All candidates were sent a copy of our Election Statement and Fund Britain’s Waterways issued a press release ahead of the 4th July General Election. While we are contacting MPs directly, a le er om a local constituent carries much more weight than om a national o ce. To assist you in writing to your MP, we have updated the Parliamentary Directory of constituencies with navigations and restorations within the newly drawn boundaries, which you can find on our website at waterways.org.uk/lobbymp
The directory and link to where to find the full geographic area covered by your MP’s constituency on our website are at waterways.org.uk/lobbymp
Salter’s Lode Lock onto tidal Great Ouse.
Soham Lode.
Haines Branch, BCN.
KEVIN MOORE
TREVOR LITTLEWOOD
CHRIS HOWES
Sustainable Boating Group
Additionally, the Sustainable Boating Group has submitted its own, focusing on the need to review the supply and taxation of HVO biodiesel. IWA’s Freight Group has also submitted a representation.
New craft are increasingly being built using electric propulsion. However, the existing leisure fleet, mainly using mineral diesel, will last many decades. Conversion of most of it to electric propulsion is unlikely and the scrapping of so many serviceable diesel engines would be environmentally undesirable.
The FAME biodiesel currently being used in B7 road diesel is unsuitable in a marine environment (even at 7%) because it causes expensive engine failures which, in some instances, result in safety issues.
The only practical way of decarbonising the existing leisure fleet is for it to use Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO) as a fuel. Because of price volatility and complex government regulations, HVO is not readily available for leisure boaters to use at a price they are prepared to pay.
Leisure boating supports many jobs and provides a significant contribution to the national economy.
IWA has therefore asked that the upcoming budget and spending review includes a holistic approach to the supply of HVO to leisure boaters that will simplify the regulatory regime, allow HVO to be sold on the inland waterways at a relatively stable and acceptable price and hence allow the economic value of the sector to be protected and the existing fleet to be largely and rapidly decarbonised. Based on our estimates, we believe that the cost to the Treasury will be very small.
Kennet & Avon Canal, tree damage 2018.
Partons Bridge, Oulton on the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals.
Exploring our waterways
Enjoyng
the far-flung reaches of the network is now even more rewarding
A guide to Propeller challenge locations by hire-boat
James Anelay om Roam & Roost suggests some of the more easy-to-access Silver Propeller locations for hire-boats
IWA’s Silver Propeller challenge aims to encourage cruising to locations which are very interesting or picturesque but are less visited because they are not usually part of a popular route. You’ll need a boat, canoe or paddle board to get involved, but you don’t need to complete the challenge all on the same cra . One option is to visit some of these on a canal-boat holiday. There are plen of choices, om small extensions to popular ring routes, short and weekly out-and-back routes and some longer holiday routes.
Silver Propeller locations as part of a ring route
One of the most popular ways to explore the canals on an extended holiday is on a ring route. There are multiple rings where there is a Silver Propeller location a relatively short distance away. Ring routes are great but one of the a ractions of canal-boat holidays is that you can choose your own route, so why not customise your holiday a li le and visit one of the nearby Silver Propeller locations? You may discover a hidden gem.
The 97-mile Cheshire Ring could be extended to include the Runcorn section of the Bridgewater Canal, adding just 8 miles (4 miles each way) and no extra locks.
The Black Country Ring runs through Birmingham, and has a whopping seven Silver Propeller locations. So why not take two weeks and see what you can discover?
The Warwickshire Ring has two extension options, either into Coventry Basin or just beyond Bridge 62 on the Ashby Canal. This is a great option if you have extra time and would like to add some cruising to the route but are not keen on more locks.
If you want to do the Ashby Canal Silver Propeller Challenge, the winding at this location should be possible for boats up to 50 , so if you want to do this you’ll need a smaller boat such as one of Union Canal Carriers’ three Barney Boats.
The Thames Ring is another popular holiday route, one that will take at least 2½ weeks and includes a river plus both narrow and broad canals. If you have the time, two Silver Propeller locations could be added to this cruise: Inglesham on the River Thames and the Wendover Arm (although sadly at the time of writing, it’s closed).
Multiple hire-bases serve each of these rings and, except for the Silver Propeller location on the Ashby where there is a size limit (see above), there should be no issues visiting any of these locations.
You don’t always have to extend the ring to reach a Silver Propeller location. The South Pennine Ring has two Silver Propeller locations on its route and is a perfect example of a less popular place that is well worth a visit.
The Rochdale Canal, for example, quickly became one of our favourite sections of the canal, especially the stretch om Li leborough to Todmorden, which includes the Silver Propeller location at the summit. The scenery here is simply stunning, even more so if you take a short hike up the nearby hills along one of the many public footpaths. The other Silver Propeller location on this ring is one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways, Standedge Tunnel.
Why not a empt to complete the South Pennine Ring over two weeks and pass through Standedge Tunnel? There are a lot of locks on this ring, so be prepared for some physical work. Shire Cruisers is the only overnight hire-base on this ring.
If you don’t have lots of time, you can still visit a Silver Propeller location on a short break. Although a great option, most rings will take a week or more to complete. If you are short on time or budget there are still a handful of options where you can take in a Silver Propeller location on
Tunnel End, Marsden, at the eastern side of Standedge Tunnel.
a three- or four-night short break. The Wendover Arms makes for a nice turning point for a short break from IWA member Wyvern Shipping.
The Middle Level Navigations, specifically starting at IWA member Fox Narrowboats, offer a few more short-break options. Holme is the closest and can be reached on a weekend break and all of Fox Narrowboats’ hire-boats can turn there. Another option that can be completed over a weekend is Horseway Lock. Fox Narrowboats tells me that the channel to Horseway Lock is now so overgrown that you will need to wind at Sixteen Foot Corner, underlining the importance of cruising these lesser-used locations while we still can.
The Llangollen Canal in north Wales, a popular holiday destination, is the gateway to the Montgomery Canal. An incredibly peaceful place, this canal is the perfect antidote to the busy Llangollen Canal. The passage down Frankton Locks must be prebooked and access is limited to 12 boats per day, with a minimum of a one-night stay and a maximum of 14 nights, making it a less busy and quite relaxing canal.
In south Wales you could do a route on the Monmouthshire Canal, cruising south to Five Locks Basin, a Silver Propeller destination which can be a relaxed lock-free route. Sally at Road House Narrowboats informs me there is a boater’s book at the Open Hearth pub. Any boater who passes is encouraged to go in and sign it and there is a dedicated group working to promote this section of the canal.
Another lock-free route is the Lancaster Canal which has a Silver Propeller location at both ends of the navigable section. It is the longest lock-free canal in England, making it a good option for those looking for a less physical route.
Scotland also has a few options that can be reached on a short break: Lochrin Basin on the Edinburgh & Glasgow Union Canal and Port Dundas in Glasgow. If you do head west to Glasgow, be sure to allow time to visit the world-famous Falkirk Wheel just beside the Falkirk base, the world’s one and only rotating boat lift. Three hire companies have narrowboats in Scotland, including IWA member ABC Leisure Group.
Finally, another short visit option is Runcorn on the Bridgewater Canal. There are multiple start bases in and around Nantwich that could work, but a route from IWA member Andersen Boats in Middlewich would make for a good short break, passing by the Anderton Boat Lift, Saltworks Museum and Marbury Park on the way.
Horseway Channel taken from Horseway Lock - with boat in distance.
The Locks at 5 Locks Basin.
One week or 10-11 night hire
If you are looking for a longer holiday, there are a few options that will be better done on a one-week hire or longer.
A trip up the Caldon Canal offers up to two Silver Propeller locations, depending on how active you’d like your cruise to be. You can visit Uttoxeter Basin, Froghall, and the Leek Branch. Although it contains two Silver Propeller locations, the canal itself is quite a popular canal holiday route. If you would like to make it to the terminus at each Silver Propeller location, do let your hire-base or agent know and they can advise on the best boat. IWA member the Canal Cruising Co would be a good starting point for this varied route, combining gorgeous scenery with the industrial heritage of the potteries.
The Anderton Boat Lift is one of the wonders that attracts lots of visitors every year. However, after descending the lift, it seems a shame to go straight back up without undertaking at least a little exploration of the river. If you cruise to Winsford Bridge you’ll be visiting yet another Silver Propeller location.
Another option for a week-long hire is the Chesterfield Canal and access from the main system requires passage on the River Trent. There is, however, a hire-base on the Chesterfield Canal itself with the Chesterfield Canal Boat Co. From here you can explore the canal to the Silver Propeller location of Cascade Winding Hole at Kiveton Park.
In Scotland a route to Bowling Basin can be completed on a week-long hire. You could also combine the two short routes to Glasgow and Edinburgh mentioned earlier into a week-long hire, ticking off two Silver Propeller locations in the process, potentially also visiting Bowling Basin and making it three. If you do head west, be sure to allow time to visit the world-famous Falkirk Wheel just beside the Falkirk hire-base. Birmingham merits special mention, with seven Silver Propeller locations within a relatively small area. With a bit of pre-planning, you could visit a few or even all of them on a there-and-back route from one of the hire-bases around the city.
The Basingstoke Canal is another option for a week-long hire. Galleon Marine hirebase is only 1½ miles from King John’s Castle which makes a great stop for your final night of either a week or short-break trip. It also has accessible hire options and there is an accessible mooring at King John’s Castle. Two sections of the Basingstoke Canal itself are now designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
For something a little different you could start your hire on the Middle Level Navigations, part of the Fenland waterways network, heading along the River Great Ouse and then the River Little Ouse to Brandon. Or from the same hire-base for a 10- or 11-plus-night hire option to Kempston Mill on the Great Ouse.
Extended cruises
The canals and rivers of North Yorkshire are without doubt some of the most beautiful on the network. It can be a little challenging to get to the Silver Propeller locations in this area due to a lack of local hire bases. In the case of Pocklington and Ripon, there is also the small matter of a tidal section that needs to be navigated to reach these lovely locations. That doesn’t have to stop you, though. From a hire-base such as the Boat Co North in Leeds, you can have a skipper accompany you for a small extra fee on the tidal section and have a real adventure exploring sections of the inland waterways that not many hirers have the opportunity to discover. To reach the Silver Propeller locations, this will need to be an extended holiday of at least two weeks.
Hire-base holidays
If you do plan a holiday to any of these locations, I would recommend letting your hire-base know your intended route, and checking that it should be possible. This will allow them to inform you of any closures and check that your boat is of a suitable length. Hopefully, this guide has shown that you don’t necessarily need to go too far off the beaten track to visit one of the Silver Propeller locations – helping to keep canals alive and getting one step closer to earning the IWA’s Silver Propeller Challenge plaque. Even if you can’t get to a Silver Propeller location, canal-boat holidays are an important part of keeping the canals alive. But if you do make it to a Silver Propeller location, please tag your images on X, Instagram, Threads, Facebook and other social media with #silverpropeller
Hire-bases
IWA member hire-bases from which at least one of the above locations could be visited:
• Andersen Boats (Middlewich)
• Chas Hardern Narrowboats (Tarporley)
• Canal Cruising (Stone)
• Fox Narrowboats (Ely)
• Kate Boats (Stockton)
• The Shelby Narrowboat Co (Stoke)
• Wyvern Shipping (Leighton Buzzard)
• ABC Leisure Group
Lochrin Basin, Edinburgh, April 2019.
The restored Uttoxeter Basin at Froghall.
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•Membership
A full book on our waterways
Ross Stokes talks to IWA honorary engineer Howard Worth who is due to retire at Christmas
Howard Worth has an extensive, if not encyclopaedic, knowledge of our inland waterways. Having read virtually every historical publication on the subject since he first became fascinated with our canals aged 15, he has spent much of his adult life boating or working voluntarily on them. For more than a decade, he has been an honorary engineer with IWA, freely sharing his considerable engineering expertise and donating his technical input to help secure the future of our navigation system.
Howard intends to retire from his IWA role when he turns 76 at Christmas but you get the feeling that his involvement with our waterways won’t end then. For a start, he still likes to join his old student mates from Manchester University, Bernard Hales and Bruce Oelman, on Bernard’s restored ‘supertug’ Enterprise No1. Built by one of the biggest canal hauliers in the Black Country, the tug was capable of towing barges loaded with 400 tonnes of coal.
The three uni mates go back a long time, enjoying their first canal boating holiday in the summer of 68 when they spent a week cruising the Shropshire Ring on a hired narrow boat. Their optimism in those carefree days on the water is not shared today.
Howard says it is getting increasingly difficult for the deephulled Enterprise No1 to negotiate the canals. “It’s a struggle to get along in a lot of places, and actually it is getting tiresome, with so many things going wrong,” he says. Like many associated with our waterways, he is frustrated with their current state and personally believes the Canal & River Trust is partly to blame, along with lack of funding. “I believe that handing the administration of the canals over to a charity in the form of CRT has failed. They only do emergency repairs and the backlog is mounting.”
“Our early engineers built these remarkable structures which are still here today, a quarter of a millennium later. They are beautiful to look at, and great fun to navigate and operate”
Howard also blames a lack of experience and expertise. “British Waterways got lots of criticism in its time - probably rightly so - but they did at least know what they were doing even if they were rather slow.” He believes it will probably be up to people like him assisting CRT to keep the present canal system open.
As to the funding crisis, Howard traces it back to the financial collapse of 2008. The outbreak of Covid led to further stagnation. Other factors too have had a detrimental effect on the state of our waterways.
Modern health and safety requirements mean additional administration. “Waterway Recovery Group officers spend much of their time filling out all these damn forms to satisfy some bureaucrats somewhere,” Howard complains. PPE and special training courses have also made repair and maintenance work much more expensive.
Howard describes himself as one of the baby boomer generation who had it good and decided to give something back. As a student at Manchester University, he spent most Saturdays as a volunteer, helping to restore eight of the 16 locks at Marple. He recalls the highly esteemed Doctor Cyril Boucher offering his cellar as a lunchroom, even providing a gas cooker to keep their chips warm.
Upon graduation, Howard spent time working with VSO in Malawi, supervising a team of 200 labourers building a new bridge, with another 150 men working in a quarry. All at the tender age of 21. After various engineering jobs working on projects in South Africa, Peru and the Middle East, Howard returned to the UK where he spent five years as Curator of Technology at The Ironbridge Gorge museum, where he was involved with overseeing the maintenance and restoration of archaeological sites, building Blists Hill Museum and restoring the last Severn trow, Spry.
After a stint of self employment and working with Air Products, Howard retired in 2012. But it wasn’t long before an advertisement for the position of honorary engineer with IWA caught his eye. This required someone to work on canal restoration projects.
Howard and his wife Gill cruising at Abingdon on Enterprise No1
Howard has spent the past 13 years working on more than 35 projects, including Manchester, Bolton and Bury, Grantham, Ashby and Derby canals, all requiring different levels of input: some needing just a day or two of his time, others requiring highly detailed reports which commercially costed would amount to hundreds of thousands of pounds. Like his other IWA honorary engineer colleagues, Howard has been happy to help out for the cost of his expenses.
So, after a lifetime’s involvement, what is it about our waterways that Howard still finds so appealing? “It’s another British first, in spite of what they say about the Chinese and Leonardo. Our early engineers built these remarkable structures which are still here today, a quarter of a millennium later. They are beautiful to look at, and great fun to navigate and operate. They are simple and basically unbreakable – as long as you not too stupid!”
Some of the 35 projects Howard has worked on as an IWA Honorary Engineer, including Derby Canal Junction Lock (below), Swansea Canal (below right) and Geldeston Lock (main picture).
Schemes & dreams for the Bristol Channel
Over the past 375 years, there have been a number of schemes to link the Bristol Channel – or ideally, the River Avon – with the English Channel, to save shipping the
perilous journey around Land’s End. Jonathan Mosse explores them
Any grand scheme to connect across the south-west peninsular would, sensibly, utilise as many natural watercourses as possible along the way, just so long as they were flowing in more or less the right direction.
A quick glance at a map shows that, in practical terms, these amount to the rivers Parrett, Tone, Exe, Culm, Clyst, Otter and Axe. By 1638, the rivers Parrett and Tone had already been made navigable to Ham Mills – a point on the River Tone just 3 miles short of Taunton.
Until 1717, when the Tone Conservators set about completing the final link into the town, the upkeep of the navigation remained in the hands of one John Mallet and his heirs. By 1724 there was a continuous towing path throughout the length of the navigation and the central piece of the Bristol to English Channels Concern jigsaw puzzle was now in place. Forty-four years later a group of ‘Taunton Men’ proposed the Exeter
& Uphill Canal, running via Taunton, Bridgwater and Axbridge to Uphill on the Bristol Channel, just south of WestonSuper-Mare. Axbridge would connect with the various mining interests in the area surrounding the Mendip Hills. This was a route that was surveyed by James Brindley and Robert Whitworth and, as such, came laced with considerable kudos. While engaged in this survey, Whitworth conducted a further exercise, and a year later presented a route from Langport – on the Parrett, east of its junction with the Tone – almost due south to Seaton on the Axe Estuary with the English Channel. The distance between translating theory (the survey) into practice was, like the route in question, never going to be a short one and matters languished for a full quarter of a century until a more extensive line between Axminster (again on the Axe Estuary) and Uphill – via collieries at Nailsea, south of Bristol – was surveyed by one Joseph Easton.
Two years earlier, Whitworth’s surveyor’s staff had again been active in the West Country when, on 1st October 1792, the inaugural meeting of the Grand Western Canal Co was held to present a scheme for a navigation linking Topsham with Taunton. Yet more jigsaw pieces, to complete the picture for the southern section of the Bristol to English Channel Concern, joined those already littering the proposer’s table.
In December of the same year, there was also an attempt to fully complete the northern section of the puzzle, with a new proposal – surveyed by Messrs Longbotham and White – known as the Bristol & Western Canal, running from Morgan’s Pill, near the mouth of the Bristol Avon, to Taunton. This would, of course, be directly complementary to the ideas of the Grand Western Canal promoters, launched only two months earlier, thereby completing the link in just two hops.
As a further component in this flurry of renewed interest, in 1793 Whitworth
Photo, taken in 1988, shows an aqueduct on the Grand Western Canal over the River Tone. Gerry HollInGton
received a second call to attend his various masters in the West Country, whereupon he was asked to re-survey his earlier Langport to Seaton line to be revived in the form of the first Chard Canal. Pausing once again to draw breath, after such a bout of renewed activity, observers were rewarded in 1810 when work actually commenced at Holcombe Regis, on the Grand Western Canal – which had been authorised in 1796 – under the supervision of John Rennie. A year later, Whitworth’s first Chard Canal plan was revived, going under the grandiose title of the English & Bristol Channels Canal, with additional input from Messrs W. Bond and J. Dean.
In 1811 the Bristol & Taunton Canal (previously known as the Bristol & Western Canal) obtained its Act, now under the guiding hand of John Rennie who was, of course, the current surveyor for the Grand Western. Perhaps guided by Rennie’s grasp of the larger economic picture, plans for this waterway’s main line south to Topsham had been quietly dropped and instead the branch to Tiverton took on this mantle.
Three years later, an 11-mile stretch of the Grand Western Canal, linking Tiverton with the remote, limestone-rich, Lowdwells to the north, finally opened to traffic on 25th August 1814. Apart from the much earlier activity on the Parrett and Tone, this canal represented the first actual construction in almost 200 years of grandiose deliberation.
However, despite a lack of further activity on the ground, the Bristol & Taunton Canal Co was (over a four-year period) quietly buying up all the shares in the River Tone – a navigation that would be in direct competition with the southern-most section of their proposed waterway. Following his recent success with the completion of the relatively low-key Bude Canal, James Green was invited to report on an English & Bristol Channels Canal in 1821 and, predictably,
his recommendation was for a tub-boat navigation. Three years later, this proposal had bloated out of all recognition into the form of a ship canal – taking 200-ton vessels – following consultation with no less a man than Thomas Telford.
Meanwhile, firmly grounded in the realms of reality, work had commenced on the Bridgwater to Taunton section of the Bristol & Taunton Canal, under the supervision of James Hollinsworth. This was opened to a connection with the River Parrett, just east of Bridgwater, on 3rd January 1827, having taken three years to construct. While this represented another piece of the jigsaw, in completing the picture of the central section of a channel-to-channel link, in reality it merely replaced a longstanding, albeit circuitous, navigation made up from two somewhat unreliable rivers.
Undaunted by Telford‘s highjacking of his tub-boat proposal for the Chard Canal, James Green bounced back in 1830
LEfT: Scraper dredger Bertha from the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal at the former Exeter Maritime Museum. Bertha worked at Bridgwater Docks from the 1840s to the 1960s, then ended up at the Exeter Maritime Museum until that closed, then went to Eyemouth, which in turn closed. Bertha is now back in Bristol and there are proposals to restore it, but significant funding will be required.
with a survey for a 13½-mile waterway connecting the northern extremity of the Grand Western Canal, with the Bridgwater to Taunton section of navigation, at its southern terminus on the River Tone. As one of the first examples of practical, joined-up thinking in West Country canal construction, this must have come as something of a relief to those already financially burdened by investment in isolated stretches of unfinished waterway. And, yes – true to form – this was to be a tub-boat canal, with one inclined plane, seven boat-lifts and, as something of an afterthought, a single pound lock.
A year later on 13th June, work commenced on this project – one that was to have an unhappy outcome for Green, who failed to complete the inclined plane at Wellisford, following a spate of problems with the construction of the lifts as well. He was replaced by retired Royal Navy Captain John Twisden and the canal finally opened on 28th June 1838. In the meantime, an Act had been obtained to take the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal the additional mile into new docks in Bridgwater, with connecting locks into the River Parrett, supervised by Thomas Maddicks. This was completed four years later in 1841. There was now no reference to a northern River Avon terminus and vessels were left to make their way to Bristol via the Parrett and Bristol Channel.
An aqueduct over the former Tiverton Branch railway at East Manley on the Grand Western Canal. Roy Westl
In 1834, while James Green was battling with the engineering challenges of his design for the Grand Western extension to Taunton, the 21-year-old Sydney Hall was getting to grips with constructing the Chard Canal. Ironically, it would appear that Telford’s ship canal had sunk without trace and the scheme had reverted, almost in its entirety, to Green’s tub-boat/inclined-plane conception – but without the boat-lifts.
Eight years later the Chard Canal was completed throughout and crowded along its 13½-mile length were three tunnels and three inclined planes. An extract from a piece in Woolmer’s Exeter & Plymouth Gazette records the final opening on 24th May: “This anxiously looked-for event took place, quite accidentally, on the Queen’s birthday. We say accidentally because, with the uncertain machinery at the inclined plane, and the celebrated frail rope, it was deemed a moral impossibility to say on what precise day any cargo could be brought to the wharfs.”
The writing on the waterway wall was clearly not writ large enough for the rheumy West Country eyesight of the day. By the time the Chard Canal – with all its complexities – was finally completed in 1842, railway mania had firmly supplanted its fluvial predecessor and the navigation was, in effect, already pretty much redundant. Despite the deployment of a wide range of eminent waterway engineers (and their protégées) few of the schemes ever saw anywhere near half of their intended mileage realised, and can only be relegated to the realm of wild dreams (or nightmares for those unwise enough to have staked a financial interest).
In all there was an almost 200-year span of planned waterway improvement and construction in the South West, in pursuit of the English and Bristol Channels Concern. Often these amounted to competing and overlapping schemes, of almost fantasy proportions, when viewed against the backdrop of large tracts of comparatively under-populated, rural countryside, with few established industries. So, the relatively limited goods that were to travel end to end, coast to coast, could never in themselves be expected to sustain more than a small part of such extravagant, large-scale undertakings.
Had it not been for IWA, all these waterways would likely have disappeared to become just archaeological remains. Campaigns began in the 1970s, and today you can boat along the Bridgwater & Taunton and part of the Grand Western Canal, but the Chard Canal had long demised before IWA arrived on the scene – and so far there have been no serious restoration proposals.
Sampford Peverell on the Grand Western Canal.
Albert Street Cutting, Bridgwater, Bridgwater & Taunton Canal.
IWA Campaign Cruise at Maunsel Lock on the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal on 16th May 1982.
Christmas Cards - new for 2024
Code X152 Marple, Peak Forest Photo by Nicola Turner
Code X150 New Mills, Peak Forest Photo by Victor Gibbons
Code X146 Bridge 75, Milton Keynes Photo by Roger Agnew
Code X155 Crookham Swing Bridge Photo by Roger Cansdale
Code X156 Oakridge Park Photo by Roger Agnew
Code X145 Winter Cruising (Audlem) Original painting by Dave Gardham
Code X151 Fulbourne, Stre on Photo by Tim Lewis
Code X107 Packet House Original painting by Dave Gardham
WATERWAY RECOVERY GROUP
SUMMER CANAL CAMP REPORT
The 2024 summer season of Waterway Recovery Group Canal Camps has now ended with six successful projects
Wey & Arun Canal
First up was the first two weeks on the Wey & Arun Canal, which saw intensive machinery operations laying 1km of new public towpath and bridleway at the Bonfire Hunger. This plant-intensive camp wouldn’t have been possible without the joint e orts of WRG, Newbury Working Par Group, Kent and East Sussex Branch and Wey & Arun Canal Trust.
THE REASON: The Wey & Arun Canal Trust has just acquired a length of canal and towpath, which leads on om the restored Loxwood Link length, and it wanted to bring the towpath up to scratch to match the existing sections.
THE RESTORATION: The Wey & Arun Canal Trust aims to reopen the entire through route om the River Wey Navigation above Guildford to the River Arun and the South Coast. Several significant lengths have been completed, including the Loxwood Link length of around 3 miles and five locks, plus shorter sections om Malham to Newbridge, on the summit at Dunsfold, and elsewhere. The projects supported by 2024 canal camps have helped to close the gaps between these existing restored sections.
A er a busy first weekend preparing and levelling the ground to widen the towpath, the first sections of stone were laid over ma ing and then rolled. Several dumper trucks moved stones om the yard to the site at an impressive pace that reached peaks of more than 30 loads a day. The upper layer of wearing course was added and rolled a erwards to complete the section.
Cromford Canal
Our second project entailed work on the Cromford Canal to create a flood storage compensation area before the main canal and locks can be built.
The reason: The original route of the canal has been lost under the A610 main road, so a new route will be created, crossing the road via an old railway bridge. Because this new canal route will run across what is designated as floodplain, there is a requirement to create an alternative area for floodwater to go – hence the reason for excavating the compensation area. The spoil excavated from this area will be used to build up the embankment for the new canal channel.
The restoration: The Cromford Canal once stretched for 14 miles from the top of the Erewash Canal at Langley Mill to Cromford. The Friends of the Cromford Canal eventually aim to reopen it all the way through, but there will be several difficult lengths to restore: where the canal is blocked by road and railway crossings, at a collapsed tunnel, and at sections which have been lost to opencast coal mining. Initially, restoration work has been concentrated on the better preserved sections including the Cromford end and sections at Ironville and near Ambergate, even though these will remain isolated lengths for some years to come. More recently planning permission has been obtained for the current Beggarlee project to reopen the first length from Langley Mill, which will allow visiting boats from the rest of the waterways network to continue northwards via two new locks which will be built in the coming years. When the initial length is open, the aim is to continue northwards towards Ironville.
600mm headwalls and pipes were fitted into position and backfilled – a job which had to be abandoned last November because of bad weather and machinery breakdowns. The pond was cleared of topsoil and then the main excavation started, with four diggers working together for a while to speed up the process. The WRG team continued to open up the floodplain extension and backfill the area around the 600mm inspection chamber with the aid of a large compactor. Excavators and dumpers were intensively used to take the spoil away to dump in the hole at the other end, which was being spread by a big digger and ride-on roller.
A handful of volunteers stayed on after the camp to make ensure some outstanding tasks were completed, while the Friends of the Cromford Canal continued carrying on work finalising the remaining jobs.
This was a significant achievement for the group of volunteers, that has enabled FCC to start the building of the canal.
Lichfield Canal
The third Canal Camp project was carried out over two weeks at Darnford Moors Ecology Park, working on brickwork and steel piling channel walls near Fosseway Heath.
The reason: The brickwork wall is a historic towpath wall which has decayed and needs repairing, while the steel piling on the offside is needed to support a steep earth bank above the canal.
The restoration: The work on this stretch extends a section already restored, including a WRG worksite of a few years ago at Fosseway Heath and the restored Lock 18. There is the possibility to open up a significant length of canal to connect the Coventry Canal to Lichfield and beyond, because of the future reopening of the route to the Wyrley & Essington Canal at Ogley Junction.
Despite some delivery delays causing an initial lack of materials, noticeable progress was made by the WRG team of volunteers, without missing kayaking nights and a visit to Darnford Ecological Park, where the group worked last year. Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust was extremely grateful for the work by our volunteers
Louth Navigation
The project on the Louth Navigation was to continue the repair and restoration of the walls of Ticklepenny Lock following on from the successful WRG Canal Camp in 2023.
The reason: The historic lock, built to an unusual pattern with scalloped walls, had deteriorated to the point where it was in danger of collapse. WRG work will prevent further deterioration and preserve it for possible future reopening.
The restoration: The Louth Navigation was partly built as a riverbased navigation which follows the River Lud downstream from Louth town, then as an artificial canal heading north to Tetney Haven at the mouth of the Humber. It survived as a drainage channel but the locks fell into dereliction. However, since 1986 the Louth Navigation Trust has been dedicated to preserving the waterway and encouraging regeneration of the canal corridor. It has renovated the historic warehouse at Canal Head and holds events there, has published walk leaflets covering the waterway, and ultimately hopes to restore the locks and reopen the waterway to navigation.
The team of Waterway Recovery Group volunteers was thanked by the Louth Navigation Trust for the huge difference they have made at Ticklepenny Lock.
Lapal Canal
At Lapal – Dudley No 2 - Canal, the WRG team of volunteers successfully completed the work started last year to build an all-abilities access ramp connecting an original brick bridge to the towpath.
The reason: To provide public access from the popular Selly Oak Park to the towpath of a length of canal which the Lapal Canal Trust is currently working to reopen as a short branch off the Worcester & Birmingham Canal leading into the park.
The restoration: The Lapal Canal is the name given by canal restorers to the abandoned length of the Dudley No 2 Canal, which was built as a bypass route around Birmingham, but suffered from mining subsidence affecting the very long Lapal Tunnel, which eventually collapsed, closing the route.
The Trust’s long-term aim is to reopen it via a new route with locks climbing over the hill rather than repair the tunnel. However, in the shorter term the goal is to open the east end as a local amenity and an attractive detour off the Worcester & Birmingham Canal - starting with the current project at Selly Oak Park – and build on their restoration of nearby Whitehouse Wharf.
The Lapal Canal Trust was delighted to welcome back a small team of WRG volunteers, which included four students working towards their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.
Last year’s camp built an upper slope down to a mid-point landing/rest area at 1,200mm above the towpath. This structure had concrete block walls and the void was filled using industrial-grade large polystyrene blocks –perhaps a first for a WRG Canal Camp. It shouldn’t have been a surprise to see that paving slabs on the surface of the rest area still looked like they had a concrete fill below them.
The appearance of the lower slope had to be a little different from the upper and involved digging many deep holes for the posts to support the boards that would form the sides of the ramp.
Some excellent bramble bashing and edge of towpath tidying took place alongside the digging of these post holes, which had to penetrate previously excavated spoil of soil and lumps of stone. Petrol-engined post-hole borers only did a little of the job. Electric breaker drills helped but most of the work was done with handtools and even bare hands to scoop out loosened material.
Once the posts and boards were firmly in place, the ramp was created to a gentle gradient by using spoil under Type 1 MOT aggregate, which required well-co-ordinated barrowing of the loose material around its compacting. Instruction for using a Wackerplate alongside tuition to use hole-borers, breaker drills and smaller power tools gave the DoE volunteers valuable experience. The posts were then trimmed to size along with fitting timber rails to complete the task.
Cotswold Canals
The summer season ended with another major project carried out over two weeks: building a concrete channel to carry the canal over a culvert by the rebuilt Weymoor Bridge, on the Thames and Severn Canal restoration, including formwork and the reinforcement and casting of the concrete. The reason: The stream crosses the canal via a channel cut through the canal bed. Before the canal can be reopened, this stream needs diverting to run in the new culvert.
The restoration: Cotswold Canals Trust aims to reopen the route from the Thames at Inglesham to the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal at Saul, with a phased approach. Phase 1a from Stonehouse to Brimscombe is largely complete; work is in hand on Phase 1b to re-connect this to the canal system at Saul. Phase 2 will restore the eastern end from Inglesham to the Cotswold Water Park (including Weymoor Bridge). Finally, Phase 3 will tackle the difficult central section from the Water Park to Brimscombe.
A considerable effort was put into this project, which ended with the reinforcing steel rods for the channel walls being constructed.
Grateful thanks
WRG is grateful to the various canal restoration societies which hosted our camps and worked alongside us. There were 140 WRG volunteers, 19 of whom were Duke of Edinburgh candidates who successfully completed the residential section of their Gold Award. WRG also welcomed volunteers from the French organisation REMPART, which is also dedicated to heritage restoration.
Next Camps
The next WRG Canal Camp will be in Halesowen working with the Coombeswood Canal Trust from 19th to 26th October, this time to clear 100 metres of trees and dense scrub from the bed of the abandoned length of another part of the Dudley No 2 Canal beyond Hawne Basin. Once the vegetation has been cleared an assessment will be made on the next steps to restore this next section of canal.
The WRG Forestry Team, which includes professionally qualified chainsaw operators and tree fellers, will be working on the Wey and Arun Canal to clear diseased, dead and fallen trees. There will also be the usual Christmas to New Year Camp.
Lancashire And Cumbria Branch BRANCH FOCUS
IWA Lancashire and Cumbria Branch cover a wide area in the northwest of England. They are an active group who are involved in supporting the restoration of the Lancashire Canal. Recently they have been monitoring the ongoing situation at Glasson Dock
Towpath update
Lancashire & Cumbria Branch is part of the Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership, along with the Canal & River Trust, Kendal Town Council, Lancashire Coun Council, Lancaster Canal Trust, Lancaster Ci Council and Westmorland & Furness Council. Recently the partnership has awarded the contract for the towpath improvements for the Kendal to Lancaster Towpath Trail. Work should be finished in November.
Wildflower meadow
Biodiversi is an important part of the plans for the Kendal to Lancaster towpath trail. Cumbria Wildlife Trust will be creating a wildflower meadow by the towpath at Burton Road junction, Kendal. To clear the site, a two-day scything course has been organised for volunteers. A er that, raking and seeding will be required, hopefully involving youngsters. Maintaining the towpath trail will be an ongoing task. Weeds, grass and brambles encroach om both sides, reducing the width significantly if allowed to grow unchecked. Volunteers will be encouraged to adopt a stretch.
Unveiling of the Tram Road plaque
The blue plaque is located in Garden Street just o Winckley Square in Preston. It commemorates the last remaining abutment of the Old Tram Road that ran om Walton Summit to the basin in the centre of Preston (now under Aldi’s car park). It replaces a previous plaque that probably went missing years ago during repair works. Funds for the plaque have been raised with contributions om our branch of IWA, Lancaster Canal Trust, Friends of Winckley Square, Friends of the Old Tram Road, Preston Historical Socie and individual donations. It was unveiled by the Mayor of Preston, Councillor Phil Crowe. In addition to words om the mayor, there were short speeches om Glen Cookson who has been closely involved in the replacement of the old tram road-bridge.
SS Daniel Adamson trip
Lancashire & Cumbria members joined IWA members om across the NW Region on the SS Daniel Adamson on 16th August. Region chair Sir Robert Atkins presented Colin Greenall with the Tetlow Trophy to mark his contribution to the IWA and the waterways over many years. Colin has recently retired as chair of the Sankey Canal Restoration Socie . Before and a er lunch we were able to explore the Danny. Later the general public joined members for a twohour family cruise to Marsh Lock and back. Sailing on the Danny is very quiet and smooth as the boat just seemed to glide along, its two powerful engines originally designed to pull a long string of barges, just ticking over. The fine weather meant passengers spent much of the time on deck, rather than in the fascinating lounges.
Circular walks
The partnership’s new website (lancastercanaltowpathtrail.co.uk) includes 10 circular walks of varying lengths plus information for cyclists and paddle boarders. As part of the communi involvement a mural will be created by Sedgewick Cubs. Two Paddle and Pie events were held at Country Fest and at the Holme Festival of Sport (in the rain!). The first a racted 50 participants, the second 25, not helped by the poor weather.
Show presence
Branch members spent two days at the Fylde Steam & Farm Show, with the IWA gazebo and Lancaster Canal displays kindly lent to us by the Lancaster Canal Trust. The weather was cloudy with the odd light shower, so overall attendance was probably down. Fortunately it kept dry for taking down the gazebo. They sold items of IWA merchandise but the objective was to speak to people about the current state of the waterways and the threats for the future. People were interested in the large map of the waterways and many spoke about places they had visited or intended to visit.
FBW event
The branch held an event on the towpath as part of the Fund Britain’s Waterways Weekend of Action on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at Johnson’s Hillock. Conversations with people proved to be both enlightening and informative. All involved felt that it was a valuable event, focused on education, and it reminded them of why they love the waterways and how important it is to get the message out there. The spirit of the IWA members present was warm and welcoming despite the weather.
next neeting
The branch meets at St Bede’s Parish Centre, Preston Rd, Clayton Green, PR6 7EB on the third Tuesday of the month from 7.30pm. At the 19th November meeting, guest speaker Ian McCarthy will present a talk on the Rochdale Canal .
