Sou'Wester January to April 2024

Sou’Wester

Official opening of Clydach Lock Phase One on the Swansea Canal.

See news pages. Photo courtesy Swansea Canal Society.

January - April, 2024 Issue 195 IWA South West and South Wales Region www.waterways.org.uk/ southwest

South West and South Wales Region Committees South West & South Wales Region Committee Chair: Hannah Rigley* Hon. Secretary: Andrew Strawson* Sou’Wester Editor: Sandy Wright* Navigation Committee Representative: Andrew Strawson*

Members:

Ray Alexander* Baz Juniper Roger Morgan* Tony Pugh*

Avon & Wiltshire Branch Committee Branch currently inactive. If you are interested in any committee positions for this branch, please contact Hannah Rigley

Gloucestershire & Herefordshire Branch Committee Chairman: Roger Morgan* Hon. Secretary: Tony Higgins* If you are interested in any other committee positions for this branch, please contact Roger Morgan or Tony Higgins.

South Wales Branch Committee Chairman: Tony Pugh* Hon. Secretary: Vacant Treasurer: Henry Brown Minutes Secretary: Vacant Membership Officer: Tony Pugh* Publicity Officer: Vacant Volunteer Co-ordinator: Vacant

Members: Mike Synan Chris JL Yewlett

West Country Branch Committee Chairman: Hon. Secretary: Hon. Treasurer: Volunteer Co-ordinator:

Ray Alexander* Phil Reilly* Mike Aldridge Mike Slade*

Members:

*Contact details for these appear inside the back cover.

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Julian Gibson Maurice Pinner Sandy Wright*

Region Chair Welcome to Sou'Wester No 195 and to the beginning of another year! The past few months have been quite incredible for me personally. I completed a six month tour of the English canals and rivers, starting at Droitwich Spa in March and finishing on the Peak Forest Canal in September, diverting via London in the process. I also got married, moved into a house and sold our boat. So, for now, I will continue to campaign for our inland waterways on dry land until our next boating adventure!

2023 has also been quite the eventful year for the inland waterways - with many of the most relevant topics for our region covered in this issue. Of course, I don’t have space to mention them all here, but of particular note we’ve had the launch of the Fund Britain’s Waterways campaign, a collaboration between IWA and other organisations to campaign for national and local government to act to protect the public benefit and natural capital of our waterways. And towards the end of the year, we have seen the very welcome resurgence of the Gloucestershire and Herefordshire Branch following a meeting in Gloucester that I attended in November.

There has been much change with IWA centrally. I do hope that you participated in the recent members’ survey which was circulated to gather ideas and feedback to assess where we are now - understanding our unique position relative to other waterway charities - and to plan our future direction and priorities. The results and way forward are due to be circulated to members in January 2024.

As we look forward to the spring and all of the potential challenges and opportunities that 2024 may bring, I wish you all the very best. And do get in touch if there’s anything I can help with.

Hannah Rigley

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Notices FORMAL NOTICE OF BRANCH AGMS Each branch will be holding its AGM in 2024.

Contact details for Branch Chairmen can be found on the inside back page.

Agenda (which is common to all branches) 1. Apologies for absence 2. Minutes of AGMs 3. Report of Chair 4. Treasurer’s Report and accounts 5. Election of Committee 6. Any other business (previously notified to the Chair before the meeting).

Immediately after the AGM, the new Committee will meet to appoint its Officers.

No further details are available but members of all branches will be notified when more is known.

IWA West Country Branch: Saturday 23rd March 2024, 11am, in the Events Room at the Admirals Landing, Bridgwater Docks.

IWA South Wales Branch: May, 2024. Details to be confirmed in the next issue of Sou’wester.

JIM WHITE The Region Committee was deeply saddened to hear of the sudden death of Cotswold Canals Trust Chair Jim White in October 2023. He was widely known, not just in the Region but in the wider waterways world, and will be very sadly missed. We will feature a tribute to Jim in the next issue of Sou’wester.

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EDITORIAL Hello, I’m Sandy Wright, your new Sou’Wester Editor. I’ve only recently become involved in the South West and South Wales inland waterways patch, so I'm looking forward to hearing lots more about it through my role on the newsletter.

I know my predecessor Joyce Potts did a great job and I have a lot to live up to, but I’m very fortunate in that she has been extremely generous with her handover support. Having worried that I’d be scratching around for material, it’s been heartening to receive many contributions for my first issue. Thank you.

I’m not a great one for talking about myself but guess you may be wondering where I’ve cropped up from. My interest in the inland waterways began as a child, boating with my family. My parents owned a narrowboat for many years in Northwich, Cheshire, and through the IWA National Rally there in 1979 I met the Editor of Canal & Riverboat magazine, who offered me a job. When he left, I took over from him and stayed until 1984.

I was prised away from boating for around 30 years; my late husband introduced me to motorsport instead! But latterly, I have been rekindling my first love: the waterways. Now living in Devon, I’m volunteering for our West Country Branch and South West and South Wales Region.

Anyway, enough of me. In this issue it’s good to include a range of positive news stories from around the region. Two projects in South Wales have marked significant on-the-ground progress. Our Gloucestershire and Herefordshire Branch is being rejuvenated, and the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust has agreed to progress the canal’s link with the River Severn. Meanwhile, a Route Map for the future of Exeter’s Ship Canal and Heritage Harbour has been published.

None of these would happen without the commitment of volunteers, both in IWA and local societies. Several contributors flag up the need for more help in their area and I hope that, if you don’t already volunteer, you will start this New Year with a resolution to get involved.

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News PHASE ONE CEREMONY AT CLYDACH LOCK Andy Ellis, Swansea Canal Society The official opening of Phase One of the Clydach Lock restoration was a two-part affair on October 6, 2023.

The first part was lifting a stop plank to allow water into the boat basin. Our Chairman Gordon Walker had come up with an ingenious mechanism that required some dexterous axe wielding by Gower MP Tonia Antoniazzi, which caused great amusement.

MP Tonia Antoniazzi uses an axe to release the stop plank mechanism.

The second was a ribbon cutting to declare open the basin and portage ramp. No gadgets here – just a pair of golden scissors for Gower’s Member of Senedd Rebecca Evans (see front cover photo).

The event attracted a long list of local dignatories; speeches were made by Rebecca, Tonia, Cllr. Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council, and Mark Evans, Director of Canal & River Trust (CRT) Wales & South Boats ready to be enjoyed in West. They were all kind enough to Clydach Basin. (Photos courtesy thank the society for its dedication Swansea Canal Society). to the restoration and maintenance of the canal in order to provide a community resource.

We displayed a model showing our vision for the lock, made by member Michelle Davidson. Following the opening, Gordon took some of our

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guests to Hebron Road where he outlined progress to date and plans for the Swansea Canal Centre.

With the continuing support of our friends, funders, contractors and volunteers, we have made a phenomenal start to this project but the best is yet to come. We cannot wait to get stuck in to the lock itself.

Front cover photo shows the opening of the portage ramp and basin with (from left to right) Tonia Antoniazzi MP; Gordon Walker, Chairman Swansea Canal Society; Rebecca Evans MS; Julie James MS; Mike Hedges MS; Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader; Jeremy Miles MS; Mark Evans, Director CRT Wales & South West.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE & HEREFORDSHIRE BRANCH REVITALISED Members are no doubt aware that the Gloucestershire and Herefordshire Branch has been dormant for some considerable time as there has been no committee to run it.

The good news is that two members - Roger Morgan and Tony Higgins have stepped forward to be Chair and Secretary, respectively. A members’ meeting was held in the Lock Keepers Pub at Over on November 13, with about 12 members present.

Andrew Strawson, the Regional Secretary, explained that it was more important than ever for IWA to campaign for the waterways to be funded and run properly. He said that conditions were deteriorating and, whatever reservations boaters may have about the performance of CRT and the Environment Agency, it was vital that the situation was reversed something that could only come through adequate funding. He added that local branches were part of the overall picture (with the multi-organisation Fund Britain’s Waterways campaign currently led by IWA).

Roger and Tony are thinking through ways in which the Branch can thrive and be a real force locally, including consideration of how best to communicate with members using all available means. In the meantime, they are happy to receive thoughts and comments from members and can be contacted by email: roger.morgan@waterways.org.uk and anthony.higgins@waterways.org.uk

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GLOUCESTER RALLY MADE ITSELF HEARD A protest rally of 70 boats made quite a spectacle in Gloucester Main Dock on September 30, 2023. Thirty took part in an eight-mile procession from Saul Junction to start the proceedings, watched by the assembled press, local MP and senior members of waterways organisations.

The procession was followed by a march from the National Waterways Museum to the North Quay. Many of the people potentially affected by funding cuts took part, including walkers, cyclists, people with disabilities, model boaters, paddleboarders and anglers.

At noon, prompted by the ringing of the historic Atlas Bell, all boaters made as much noise as possible. Even an air raid siren was heard. The organisers, Fund Gloucester’s Waterways (FGW), were keen to ensure Gloucester heard there was something going on! Even the sound system was set up carefully to ensure that as many people as possible heard the messages delivered by the speakers.

Colin Brooks, Chair of FGW, set the local scene, reminding those who attended that budget constraints had already closed the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal bridges on Tuesdays and limited hours on other days.

This, with the deterring information about lack of dredging, had significantly limited the number of boats visiting the canal and adversely affected related businesses including the National Waterways Museum.

The renowned ship repairers Neilsens, a major feature of Gloucester Docks, had lost business because of the shallow depths. Many present, who had been volunteering to restore and maintain the waterways for many years, remember the dilapidated conditions in the early 1960s and do not want to go back.

Les Etheridge, then Chair of IWA and Fund Britain’s Waterways, spoke about the national situation and the risks to many sections of the waterways if not maintained.

Ken Burgin, Trustee of Cotswold Canals Trust, spoke of the importance of the waterways for water transfer, the frustration about funding cuts and the fact that volunteers have spent decades restoring canals, only to find that they may link to a potentially closed network.

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Procession makes its way through Gloucester Docks.

(Photo Paul Nichols)

Adrian Main, representing Avon Navigation Trust, explained how the Trust has major flood challenges, gets no government funding and suffered reduced income in the last year because fewer boats are travelling through to Gloucester.

Richard Parry, Canal & River Trust (CRT) Chief Executive, explained the challenges even at current levels of funding, before the proposed reductions come in. Richard Graham, MP for Gloucester, thanked the organisers, said that Gloucester Docks were one of the main attractions to the city and pledged his support to keep them operating.

Following the speeches senior members of CRT’s regional team were available to answer questions and Richard Parry had detailed conversations with Neilsens.

As well as good coverage by the BBC, ITV and local press, there have been some positive moves since the Rally. The local CRT is willing to support the Docks 200 celebrations, and spot dredging has enabled the Bessie Ellen, a 1904 sailing ketch, to enter the docks, having been stuck outside during the rally.

Attendance at the rally would have been higher but a number of boats had been prevented from attending by a particularly strong Severn Bore.

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FUTURE OF EXETER SHIP CANAL A Route Map for the future of Exeter’s Ship Canal and Heritage Harbour has been published. Inspired by the Friends of Exeter Ship Canal, it was commissioned by Exeter Canal and Quay Trust (ECQT) and written by independent consultants Greenwood Projects.

Its aim is to establish common objectives and initiatives for the City Council, Harbour Board and ECQT to work towards a sustainable waterway and harbourside, providing benefits for the community, boat users, businesses and visitors.

Some of the Route Map’s initial priorities have begun: • a trial Harbour Festival took place in May 2023 and was followed by a second in September. These lively events, organised by ECQT, attracted hundreds of visitors • initiating relationships with owners of historic and traditional vessels, encouraging them to come to the canal as part of the development of a traditional restoration hub and wider use of the canal, its basin and the area.

The second Harbour Festival on September 23/24 celebrated the arrival of two traditional vessels at the canal basin. The historic fishing smack Britannia was delivered by low loader and craned in. It is expected to stay for eight months to complete its restoration. Snark, a newly-built 110 ft

Britannia is craned into Exeter Ship Canal basin. (Photo Mick Green)

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Sailing barge and floating restaurant Snark arrives in Exeter. (Photo Mick Green)

long sailing barge that operates as a floating restaurant in winter and offers sailing holidays in the summer, came up by sea from Plymouth and along the canal to the basin as a winter base.

To find out more about further stages of the Route Map, there’s a link to it on the Friends’ website www.friendsofexetershipcanal.co.uk While there has been positive progress on the Route Map, two major planning applications for land adjoining the canal are at odds with its aims. The Friends of Exeter Ship Canal say that the proposed redevelopments stand in direct contrast to aspirations for the revival and long-term future of the canal, its basin, and the surrounding waterside area. Both they and the IWA West Country Branch have submitted detailed objections to the plans.

EXTRA HANDS Mike Slade, Volunteer Co-ordinator, West Country Branch Two volunteer work parties in Somerset received welcome support from outside groups in November 2023.

Employees from Kier Construction joined a litter pick alongside the River Parrett in Langport on the 24th, making up a party of 15 volunteers. The Langport group holds regular litter picks on the last Friday of each month.

Kier Construction volunteers

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Members of Clevedon Canoe Club joined us on the 25th for our regular monthly litter pick and removal of rubbish from the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal. The canoeists were able to reach items trapped in places we can’t normally get to. This is the third time they have helped us and we are most grateful.

While the canoeists were doing their thing, other Bridgwater volunteers were litter picking along paths and in the docks area.

More volunteers are urgently required to help us keep the A canoeing volunteer gets stuck in! docks and canal as tidy as (Photo courtesy Mike Perrott) possible. We do around three hours every Tuesday and Saturday from 10am. For more information please call me on 07977 263840 or email somersetwaterwaysvolunteers@gmail.com

MINIBUS TOUR MARKS BICENTENARY Mike Moore, Bude Canal and Harbour Society To mark the bicentenary of the start of trading on the canal between Bude and Holsworthy, the Society organised a minibus tour on October 7, 2023.

We gathered at Bude’s Sea Lock in glorious weather and our Chairman Chris Jewell began by explaining the canal’s history, how it had changed the geography of Bude Bay and led to the development of the town we know today. A walk along the canal led us to Higher Wharf where we joined our Secretary Peter Daniel who had Looking towards Bude Bay from volunteered as minibus driver. the Sea Lock. (Photo Mike Moore)

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From Helebridge we walked down the towpath to Whalesborough Lock, one of the canal’s two inland locks. All other changes in level were achieved using inclined planes, six in total. In the Barge Workshop at Helebridge Basin we examined artefacts including a Bude Canal Tub Boat.

At Hobbacott, we explored the top of the inclined plane - the canal’s largest, lifting tub boats by 225ft.

Some remaining stonework identified the top of wells that had housed the plane’s propulsion system, i.e. water filled buckets propelling chains to which tub boats were attached. The other inclines had used large, underground waterwheels.

Stonework at Hobbacott. (Photo Mike Moore)

Visiting Lower Tamar Lake, built as the canal’s feeder reservoir, we found the bridge over the top of the weir closed due to rotten timber. Another bridge lower down gave access to the start of the feeder arm known as the canal’s Aqueduct Section. This runs to the Main Line at Pancrasweek. We made a quick visit to Virworthy Wharf on the Aqueduct Section before lunch.

Driving past the canal buildings at Stanbury Wharf, Holsworthy, we continued to Blagdonmoor Wharf where we had permission to visit the site of the original wharf building, now a private house.

At Chilsworthy, the canal ran to the right of the group. Pictured (l to r) are afternoon guide David Campbell with Society members Chris Ball, Mike Moore, Chris Jewell, Peter Daniel and Lesley Moores.

(Photo Sandy Wright)

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Another permission-only visit was at Chilsworthy where we explored an embankment and a stretch leading towards Stanbury Wharf. These visits were aided by local David Campbell who joined us for the afternoon.

The trip was a tremendous success, despite half the minibus seats not being taken (they don't realise what they missed!).

IMPROVEMENTS ON CRUMLIN ARM Tony Pugh, IWA South Wales Branch Newport City Council has secured £1.9m in funding from the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund to tackle the very long-standing problems on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal Crumlin Arm above the Fourteen Locks Centre at Newport.

The grant will allow the council to: • clear silt and vegetation from the currently blocked canal channel from Cwm Lane Bridge to the city boundary at Harry Roberts Bridge No 10 • reline it to make it watertight • restore Cefn Wharf Lock (Lock 21), at the top of the Fourteen Locks flight, to full working order.

The photo shows work to date, allowing better disabled access to the Canal Centre via a new bridge and modified ramps.

Improvements at Fourteen Locks. (Photo Tony Pugh)

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MEMBERS’ CRUISES ON RIVER PARRETT The West Country Branch team arranged two two-hour cruises for members aboard the Duchess of Cocklemoor on September 9, 2023.

Boarding at Cocklemoor, close to the centre of Langport, the Duchess gave members a tantalising taste of the Somerset Levels. Firstly, travelling upstream on the River Parrett to its junction with the River Yeo, then downstream to the sluice gates at Oath Lock before turning back.

The day was blessed with beautiful weather and it was wonderful to see how well used Langport’s waterfront has become following its improvement scheme.

Volunteer skippers led by Branch Secretary Phil Reilly had to skilfully steer the Duchess through numerous canoeists, paddle boarders and swimmers in the water, while the riverside paths and park were busy with pedestrians and cyclists.

Phil received several thank you messages following the cruises and one member particularly remarked on the Duchess’s electric power. Her batteries are charged primarily by her solar panelled canopy.

Above: Approaching the sluice gates of Oath Lock.

Below: Phil Reilly on watch for other river users at Langport. (Photos Sandy Wright)

Member David Walton said: “As a narrowboater, used to a diesel engine bellowing away below me and creating a lot of disturbance in the water even

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at very moderate speed, I was very impressed with not only the quietness but the lack of wash even at quite a brisk pace.

Altogether a great experience; thank you.”

The Duchess of Cocklemoor is a 115 yearold timber ferry boat that spent much of her life crossing the River Teign in Devon. Rescued in a sorry state from the River Dart in 2015, she was purchased by Langport The afternoon cruise aboard Duchess of resident Ian Mcnab who Cocklemoor. (Photo Gordon McKerrow) masterminded her restoration. She was launched as Langport’s Community Boat in 2017 and relies entirely on voluntary donations. www.duchessofcocklemoor.co.uk Phil Reilly has been researching the Duchess of Cocklemoor’s history and his article will follow in the next issue of Sou’wester.

PROGRESSING LEAK AND LINK Roger Morgan, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust Following the Trust’s open day at Malswick in September, when members could see the canal in water, further work has enabled the water corridor to be expanded. It looks like a leak that was causing issues has been found.

A proposal to reconnect the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal to the main waterways network via the River Severn at Over is getting under way. Our October board meeting agreed the creation of a sub-committee to manage the project.

The first part will be to reconstruct Over Lock. Very little is known about this 19th century lock, but several sources suggest it was 30ft deep,

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including David Bick’s book and the book Rowing Holiday by Canal in 1873. If we were to build such a lock now, it would be the deepest on the canal system, beating the current deepest - Tuel Lane on the Rochdale - by a whopping 10ft! However, other sources suggest that Over Lock was actually 13ft deep.

Our current idea is to replace the existing Bailey bridge at Over with a traditional humpback bridge capable of taking machinery to maintain and extend the canal beyond Vineyard Hill. This is consistent with the historic bridges on the canal, which are all made of stone. The lock beneath the bridge would enable 70ft narrowboats to pass from the Severn into Over basin.

Given the very large variation in river levels, we intend to build two floating pontoons between the lock and river, which will rise and fall with water levels. We will need to build the lock to such a height that boats can transfer through it for two hours either side of summer high tides. The

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window for using the lock will be longer the rest of the year as river levels increase.

The pontoons will also provide a safe haven for boats transiting the tidal Severn where river conditions can be unpredictable.

We need to undertake detailed engineering studies to decide the exact depth of the lock and determine whether we will, in fact, be challenging Tuel Lane for the record.

Illustrations courtesy of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust

We will do as much as we can using our band of volunteers, but inevitably the ground works and installing the pontoons may well need a professional team. We plan to make bids for funds from various agencies, but generally they look to help those who help themselves, so it’s important that we raise as much money as possible to support our project, a process known as match funding.

Hopefully, getting boats back onto the canal from the main system will provide a major push to enable all the existing restored bits to be joined together.

As with many such projects, to be successful, we will need a special combination of volunteers - not just the likes of digging and bricklaying but all those other essential skills: engineering, construction management, fundraising, artwork, lobbying local people and politicians, the list is endless!

To volunteer, please get in touch. I can be reached by email: over-link@h-g-canal.org.uk

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Features THE ROLLE CANAL - RESTORATION UPDATE (PART 2, CONTINUED FROM ISSUE 194) Ian Harrison, Rolle Canal Society Rosemoor The site of the Terminus Basin of the Rolle Canal is on the western side of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Rosemoor Garden in the wooded, steep sided valley of the River Torridge which runs alongside. As well as the canal basin there is a fine complex of lime kilns and the remains of a Tucking Mill. The canal was fed with water drawn from the River Torridge at Darkham Weir, some 2km to the south, via a leat (feeder channel) running into the basin.

The basin is located within the boundary of Rosemoor Garden but in an area not currently open to visitors. When the Rolle Canal Society started work on the site in 2015 the canal bed was completely obscured by dense vegetation and largely infilled with debris. Since then much of the canal basin has Above: Rosemoor Basin in 2015 been excavated and the masonry before work started. wall has been rebuilt and topped Below: Basin during restoration. off with concrete capping stones made to resemble the missing originals.

Adjacent to the canal is a large complex of five lime kilns; the production of lime being the main reason for the building of the canal.

The structure was partially dismantled soon after the canal

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Above: Rosemoor lime kilns circa 1880.

(Photo courtesy Barry Hughes) Below: Restoring the lime kilns.

Bottom: Investigating the tucking mill.

closed and though some deterioration has taken place since, the high quality of the original construction means that the majority of the building is intact. Work is being carried out to make the structure safe and prevent further deterioration, including the repair of two of the iconic arches.

The basin has been split in two by an earth bank constructed in recent times to gain access to the river beyond; work is currently in progress ‘upstream’ to excavate the bed of the canal and repair the walls.

Alongside the canal at this point work is also being carried out to excavate the remains of an interesting water-powered Tucking Mill, located beside the canal, above the river. Tucking (or fulling) was the process whereby woollen cloth is pounded in water to allow the surface to be felted, thereby achieving a degree of waterproofing. It is likely that the leat which fed the canal actually pre-dates it and, therefore, there was

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probably a mill at the site in earlier times, which was rebuilt when the canal was constructed. A number of interconnecting rooms have been discovered, at different levels falling towards the river, some with cobbled floors. There are numerous drainage features within the building, confirming that lots of water was involved in the tucking process.

Part of the water wheel gearing.

The mill would have been powered by a waterwheel. A large wheel pit has been found, and the fragments found of a gearwheel indicate that the waterwheel was approximately 4 metres in diameter.

The temporary bank between the two parts of the site is due to be removed and replaced with a simple bridge, and the canal towpath to be reinstated. At this point, hopefully in 2024, the whole site will be opened to the public by RHS Rosemoor as part of a new woodland walk.

Further reading Barry D Hughes: Rolle Canal & North Devon Limestone Trade 2006 Susan Scrutton: Lord Rolle's Canal 2006

Top right: Upper Basin at Rosemoor recently.

Below right: Impression of Rosemoor Basin on completion. (Photo courtesy Rolle Canal Society) (All photos by Ian Harrison unless otherwise stated)

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BUDE CANAL’S UNFINISHED BRANCH Peter Daniel, Bude Canal and Harbour Society Prior to the final approved scheme for the Bude Canal there had been several proposals, including a survey in 1793 for 75 miles of waterway.

Nothing came of these until James Green was commissioned to undertake a survey in 1817. His proposals had some similarity with the earlier scheme in that he envisaged several branches.1 In the event, the 1819 Bude Harbour and Canal Act authorised a scaled back version of Green’s 1817 plans. But the finished canal fell short even of the 1819 scheme. This article examines the unfinished part of the canal beyond Blagdonmoor Wharf, Holsworthy.

Blagdonmoor is the terminus of one of the tub boat branches of the canal, heading east for six miles from Vealand. The branch runs on the summit level above Vealand inclined plane and had been intended to continue for another contour-following four miles to Thornbury. The only substantial engineering works would have been a tunnel and its approach cuttings.

The proposed route of the final four miles can be determined on larger scale maps by following the 426ft (130m) contour, as shown in Fig 1.

Fig 1. Suggested line of the canal east of Blagdonmoor Wharf, following the 426ft (130m) contour (small dotted line, bottom left, represents the tunnel). 1903 Ordnance Survey map, 1/10560 scale, the first large scale map series with contours. (Courtesy National Library of Scotland)

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Fig 2. Blagdonmoor Wharf on the 1/2500 scale 1884 Ordnance Survey map. The tunnel’s western approach cutting runs north-eastwards from the end of the canal.

(Courtesy National Library of Scotland)

The east end of the tunnel would have been east of Vaglefield Farm, from where the canal would have looped north towards Brendon and Forda to cross small valleys. It would then have crossed the Holsworthy-Thornbury road and continued south of Woodacott to Bason Lane, about 600m east of Thornbury Church.

Bason Lane would have been convenient for roads reaching the farms around Bradford, Black Torrington and Shebbear, so would have been useful for the canal’s main trade: supplying sea sand to improve the area’s poor soil.

Canal construction was overseen by the Canal Company’s Inspector John Panchen whose journal from October 1820 to January 1822 still exists. It shows that work was proceeding at the same time at many points along the canal, and it includes several references to the tunnel and its approach cuttings:2 • November 4, 1820: ‘...another party [of men] at the eastern part of the Tunnel...’

• November 18, 1820: ‘...parties working in Pancrasweeke valley and the Tunnel’ • December 26, 1820: ‘...deep cutting each end of the Tunnel but not finished. Canal cut from west end of Tunnel say one mile or within 300 yds of the road near Stanbury Cross’.

On January 27, 1821 Panchen refers to 17 men working at the tunnel and another nine there digging clay for bricks. There does not seem to be any

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Fig 3. In the 1884 1/2500 scale Ordnance Survey map there’s an indication of a cutting at the east end of the tunnel in plot 587.

(Courtesy National Library of Scotland)

subsequent reference to work at the tunnel site. In May 1821 the Canal Committee, worried about costs, suspended work on the line to Thornbury.

The cutting west of the tunnel had been substantially completed. It can be seen as a marshy excavation on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map of 1884 (Fig 2). The cutting is still there, overgrown with trees. Its intended depth would have been about 20ft (6m).

Assuming that the eastern cutting was intended to be a similar depth, the tunnel’s length would have been just under half a mile (750m). Its maximum depth below ground level would have been about 50ft (15m).

It is intriguing to speculate whether any work was done on the tunnel itself; the references quoted above may refer to the cuttings or tunnel. If any work was started on the tunnel, it wouldn’t be the only unfinished canal tunnel in the South West; at Coleford on the Dorset & Somerset Canal tunnel construction was well under way when the project was abandoned.

Panchen’s journal shows the intention was to dig the tunnel from both ends. The eastern cutting is not so clear on old Ordnance Survey maps but is contained within plot 587 on the 1st edition 1/2500 map (Fig 3). The location of this end of the tunnel was determined by the valley of a small stream. On modern maps the excavations are marked by two small ponds

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and, on Google Maps, can be seen as a wooded depression. Joan Rendell, in 1979, described a deep overgrown pit and a short length of cutting.3 Further east, the field boundary of plot 609 (Fig 3) roughly follows the curve of the 130m contour whereas most field boundaries in the area are straight. Could this be a relic of further canal works?

Would the extension from Blagdonmoor to Thornbury have been worthwhile in business terms? It seems unlikely.

The costs of completing the tunnel and four miles of canal would have been substantial. While the terminus would have been more convenient for distribution of sea sand to the Thornbury area, the route by road was just three miles without steep gradients, so would not have deterred farmers from collecting their sand by horse and cart. On balance, it looks to have been a wise decision by the Canal Committee in 1821.

References 1. For more background, see Helen Harris & Monica Ellis, The Bude Canal, 1972, Chapter 1 2. Helen Harris & Monica Ellis, The Bude Canal, 1972, Chapter 2 3. Joan Rendell, Along the Bude Canal, 1979

Blagdonmoor Wharf in September 1987. The canal basin was to the left of the warehouse and the unfinished branch started beyond the warehouse. (Photo Peter Daniel)

Today, the Blagdonmoor Wharf basin lies in the garden of a private house. The unfinished branch would have extended beyond the bushes in the distance. (Photo Sandy Wright)

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CANAL QUIZ A to Z of Canal Junctions (Part 1 of 4) by Mike Potts Which waterways connect/connected at the following junctions? Answers on page 29. (I am sorry if I do not give the correct historic names for some of the waterways).

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Albion Aldersley Aston Autherley Avon Bank Dole Brades Hall Bramwith Birchill Braunston

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Barbridge Blowers Green Bordesley Brendon Moor Bulbourne Bulls Bridge Burscough Catshill Cooper Bridge Cowley Peachy

(Information taken from Edward W Paget-Tomlinson’s The Complete Book of Canal & River Navigations).

Branch Reports IWA SOUTH WALES BRANCH / CANGEN DE CYMRU REPORT Tony Pugh, Branch Chairman On November 24, 2023 I was invited to visit the Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Offices in Resolven for a presentation and discussion on the new Hydraulic Model to alleviate flooding in the area around Aberdulais and Tonna in the Neath Valley.

The restoration of Aberdulais Aqueduct and retention of the Neath and Tennant Canals are our primary concern.

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There is to be a meeting between NRW and local residents to explain the options, but there does not appear to be an easy way forward as, whatever is decided, there will be flooding to industry or housing. Unfortunately, that meeting in December will be too late for this issue’s deadline, but I will attend the meeting and report in the next edition of Sou’wester.

The Welsh Government does not appear, at this time, to have the funding to adequately resolve this problem. We will have to wait until definitive proposals are presented.

To find out more about the Aberdulais Aqueduct campaign see https:// waterways.org.uk/campaigns/listing/aberdulais-aqueduct On a lighter note We hope again to hold our AGM in May 2024, both in person and via Zoom. To South Wales members, I ask, what would be your preferred venue, date and time? (Please email me at tony.pugh@waterways.org.uk).

The details will be published in the next edition of Sou’wester.

Once again, to all members, I ask you to be vigilant and report any incidents or planning applications on or near our canals and navigable waterways.

For up to date information on the local South Wales waterway activities have a look at their websites or contact them using the details below.

Monmouthshire, Brecon & Abergavenny Canals Trust https:// mbact.org.uk Fourteen Locks Canal Centre https://mbact.org.uk/fourteen-lockscanal-centre Torfaen Canal Volunteers Contact: Hugh Woodford 01663 862481 heatherhugh@hotmail.com Cardiff Bay Harbour Authority https://www.cardiffharbour.com Neath & Tennant Canals Trust https://www.neath-tennantcanals.org.uk Tennant Canal Association https://tennantcanal.wales Ty Banc Canal Group (Neath Canal) https://www.tybanc.org.uk Swansea Canal Society https://www.swanseacanalsociety.com Swansea Marina http://www.swanseamarina.org.uk

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IWA WEST COUNTRY BRANCH Ray Alexander, Branch Chairman Bridgwater Docks The good news is that the Inland Waterways Association has been appointed as a stakeholder in the Bridgwater Regeneration Project, which is now being managed by Somerset Council following it becoming a unitary authority last April.

We were invited to a meeting with the project team in early September 2023 and were represented by myself, Mike Slade, Howard Worth (an IWA Hon. Consultant Engineer) and Ian Sesnan (Heritage Advisory Panel).

This gave us an opportunity to meet the project team, present some of our thoughts and ideas for the future of the Docks and to also have a tour of the Docks and their infrastructure.

In addition to the £4.2m award from the Government’s Towns Fund, an award of £1m has been made for a cycle lane at the Docks from the Active Travel Fund. These are being managed as a single project.

IWA has already had the opportunity to comment on the outline proposal for a cycle lane from the Bascule Bridge along the north west side of the Docks to Newtown Lock and then across a cycle bridge over the lock in order to gain access through to Anson Way. At the time of writing this report we are awaiting feedback on our comments.

Friends of Grand Western Canal The Friends of Grand Western Canal are a corporate member of IWA and have a number of emerging plans for the closed section of the canal in Somerset. These include a wildlife and heritage corridor which would link Taunton with Tiverton along the canal line; a potential off-road cycle and greenway from Wellington to Taunton, using much of the former towpath; and the Park ‘n Glide proposals for a canal reinstatement from Taunton to Norton Fitzwarren, with a replica boat lift at Silk Mills.

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There is considerable potential for reinvigorating the former canal from Lowdwells through to Taunton and ultimately to restore it to navigation.

However, at the AGM of the Friends in November it became clear that additional resources are needed to take these forward.

IWA members who are able to get involved with these and thus help the Friends achieve their objectives would be very welcome and should either contact myself or get in touch with Robert Hodgson, Chair of the Friends, info@friendsgrandwesterncanal.org.uk

CANAL QUIZ ANSWERS 1 Albion: BCN New Main Line / Gower Branch 2 Aldersley: Shropshire Union / Staffordshire & Worcestershire canals 3 Aston: BCN Birmingham & Fazeley Canal / Digbeth Branch 4 Autherley: Staffordshire & Worcestershire / Shropshire Union canals 5 Avon: Grand Union Canal Leicester Section / Welford Arm 6 Bank: Knottingley & Goole Canal / Aire & Calder Navigation 7 Brades: BCN Old Main Line / Gower Branch 8 Bramwith: River Don Navigation / New Junction Canal (Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation) 9 Birchill: BCN Wyrley & Essington Canal / Walsall branch 10 Braunston: Oxford / Grand Union canals 11 Barbridge: Shropshire Union (Chester Canal) / Middlewich Branch 12 Blowers Green: BCN Dudley No.1 / Dudley No.2 canals 13 Bordesley: Grand Union / Birmingham & Warwick Junction canals 14 Brendon Moor: Bude Canal, Aqueduct / Holsworthy branches 15 Bulbourne: Grand Union Canal / Grand Union Wendover Arm 16 Bulls Bridge: Grand Union Canal / Grand Union Paddington Arm 17 Burscough: Leeds & Liverpool Canal / Rufford Branch 18 Catshill: Daw End / Wyrley & Essington canals 19 Cooper Bridge: Calder & Hebble Navigation/ Huddersfield Broad Canal 20 Cowley Peachy: Grand Union Canal / Grand Union Slough Arm

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Waterways in the IWA South West and South Wales Region Avon and Wilts Branch Rivers Avon & Severn: Tidal navigation that is the responsibility of the Bristol Haven Conservancy, downstream of the second Severn crossing Avon Navigation: Hanham to Avonmouth, including River Avon and Bristol Docks Kennet & Avon Canal: Hanham Lock to Froxfield Bridge North Wilts Canal Somersetshire Coal Canal Wilts & Berks Canal: Kennet & Avon Canal to county boundary 1m west of Shrivenham Gloucestershire and Herefordshire Branch Coombe Hill Canal Gloucester & Sharpness Canal Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal Leominster Canal Lydney Canal River Severn: from Mythe Bridge, Tewkesbury to a point on the tidal navigation which is the seaward extent of responsibility of the Gloucester Harbour Trustees, downstream of the Second Severn Crossing Stroudwater Navigation Thames & Severn Canal River Wye: Hay-on-Wye to Severn Estuary South Wales Branch Brecon & Abergavenny Canal Glamorganshire and Aberdare Canals Monmouthshire Canal Neath & Tennant Canals Swansea Canal River Usk River Wye: Hay-on-Wye to source West Country Branch Bridgwater & Taunton Canal Bude Canal Chard Canal Exeter Ship Canal Grand Western Canal Liskeard & Looe Canal North Somerset Waterways River Parrett Rolle Canal Stover Canal Tavistock Canal River Tone

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Contacts Ray Alexander rayalexander01@gmail.com Hannah Rigley hannah.rigley@waterways.org.uk

Tony Higgins anthony.higgins@waterways.org.uk

Mike Slade mdslade8@gmail.com

Roger Morgan roger.morgan@waterways.org.uk Tony Pugh tony.pugh@waterways.org.uk

Andrew Strawson andrew.strawson@waterways.org. uk

Phil Reilly phil_reilly@hotmail.com

Sandy Wright sandy.wright@waterways.org.uk

Next Issue of Sou’Wester The next issue of Sou’Wester is due out in May 2024.

Please send all copy to the Editor at sandy.wright@waterways.org.uk by

Tuesday, 2nd April, 2024 The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of IWA. The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) is a non-profit distribution company limited by guarantee. Registered Office: Unit 16B, Chiltern Court, Asheridge Road, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 2PX. Tel. 01494 783453.

Registered in England, no. 612245. Registered as a Charity, no. 212343. www.waterways.org.uk

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