camp report Burslem Port First WRG Canal Camp at Burslem Port: a three-day mini-camp creating a towpath on this restoration project in the Staffordshire Potteries Burslem Port Mini-Canal Camp
in one corner poking a box on the wall with an umbrella and explained that it was the switch for the outside lights. She wasn’t sure if one or two taps were required to turn the outside lights ‘on’, ‘off’, or ‘on timed’ and we wouldn’t find out until 10pm. If the lights were still on they were on, but if they went
As described in the last issue of Navvies, the plan was that the camp would be laying a towpath along the line of the Burslem Arm of the Severn Trent Canal as part of the Footprint project funded by Stoke city council. Ask yourself the question “Does Murphy’s Law apply to canal camps?” The Length: 1/2 mile Locks: none Date closed: 1963 answer is a definite The Canal Camp project: YES. Creating a section of towpath along the Mikk went to Trent & Mersey Canal’s Burslem Arm. Tom’s to collect the van and trailer then Why? As part of a plan to open up a path travel to Stoke-onalong the route, in advance of rebuilding Trent where he had and reopening the canal. arranged to meet Roger (the local contact The wider picture: Since the Arm was from Burslem Port Trust) closed in the early 1960s as a result of a between 4pm and 5pm. breach, much of the industry on the The trouble started when he banks of the canal and in the surrounding didn’t get to Tom’s until 3pm part of the Staffordshire Potteries conurand Roger was asking where he bation has closed down, buildings have was. Then after transferring food been demolished, and the whole area is in and personal kit, including his need of regeneration. The Burslem Port bike, from car to van, struggling Project was conceived 20 years ago as a with the wheel clamp on the trailer vision of how that could be achieved with and getting it stowed away and a restored canal arm as a centrepiece. hitching the trailer to the van... would With regeneration work getting under believe it? The van had a flat battery! way in recent years, now is the time to Phone calls and texts followed, then car push for the canal to be restored. movements, finding the hidden battery on Re-creating the towpath opens up the the van and connecting the jump leads, the route and helps make the case for it. van was started. During this process he had a phone call about a bulk waste collection at home that was dealt with. The van eventually rolled away from Tom’s at 4pm. Roger had been informed. Camp volunteers were due to arrive at the accommodation at 6pm, estimated time of arrival of van and trailer was 6.30pm. To find out (and Van and trailer were manoeuvred into more about the Uttoxeter position in the car park ready for unloading, Burslem Port one day) while Mikk and Roger went to meet the hall project see our steward. The hall was a church community hub; on arrival in the hall, the Reverend was feature in issue 309
fact file Burslem Port
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