John Revell on his boat Olive Emily

Waterways campaigner and mooring customer John Revell is sharing some of his previous script on other restored waterways that he has visited as he looks forward to the Old Bedford river campaign cruise on 19th to 22nd August 2018.

Descending the Devizes flight

I spent some time in my youth visiting parts of the derelict Kennet and Avon canal. Re-opening the canal to boats seemed almost impossible then although I do remember helping clean out one of the locks on the Widcombe flight in Bath one bitterly cold day. But the impossible happened and I attended the formal reopening of the whole canal by the Queen many years later in 1990.

The next year, 1991, I took my boat along the newly restored canal from Reading to Bristol. Use of the Caen Hill locks at Devizes was very restricted because of problems with water supply but I was lucky to be allowed to descend part of the flight with another narrow boat after the annual general meeting of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust.

As I locked down I noticed an elderly man and his wife looking very intently at my progress. I invited them on board and offered him the tiller. He steered the boat straight as a die into the locks so I thought he must have done some boating at some stage.

We talked a bit and after a while I discovered that this modest, unassuming man was John Gould, who I knew had done as much as anyone to keep alive the dream of a restored  Kennet and Avon Canal. I asked him when he had last done the flight. The answer was 1947.

Kenneth Clew’s fascinating book “The Kennet and Avon Canal” notes that it took 4 weeks for John Gould to complete the journey in 1947 from Saltford to Wargrave and that for most of the way to Devizes two canal gangs of 12 or 14 men were used to bow haul the 2 boats. Things were worse above the flight where a canal gang of 12, a platoon of 11 soldiers, the crew and block and tackle double rigged were needed.

John Gould and another pioneer John Knill were the last commercial traders on the canal. He took court action in 1955 and 1956 to try and stop the canal being abandoned. He provided trips in a pleasure launch on the tiny isolated 3 ¾ mile stretch in Newbury and very much more. Without people like him the waterways network we can now use would be very much reduced.

The second account documents a trip on the South Pennine ring in 2003. Please note that British Waterways in now the Canal and Rivers Trust.

South Pennine ring.

A new cruising ring, the South Pennine Ring, was established when the final link, the Rochdale canal, was reopened to navigation during 2002. I travelled along the ring  in  “Olive Emily” in spring 2003 and found it fascinating. It is certainly a complete contrast to our home waters.

It is heavily locked. My unofficial tally was 197 locks in 69 miles (which is roughly the distance between Denver and Bedford via Ely). Some locks are brand new, some old, some stiff, some short  (the upper Calder and Hebble and Huddersfield Broad canal locks are 57′ 6” long) and some very narrow (6′ 10” according to British Waterways for the locks on the Huddersfield Narrow canal).

British Waterways have produced separate navigation guides to the Rochdale and  the Huddersfield Narrow canals, which are useful and free. You need to prebook passages through locks  66 – 83 (Manchester Dulcie Street to Failsworth) on the Rochdale canal and Standedge Tunnel (and the last 6 or so locks on either side of the tunnel) on the Huddersfield Narrow canal. You also need to ring the lock keepers to pass through Tuel Lane lock (Sowerby Bridge – this is new and claims to be the deepest lock in Britain) and to cross the summit on the Rochdale canal.

If you do not fancy all the locks you can travel through Standedge tunnel on BW’s trip boat or walk or cycle along the well used tow paths eg. the Rochdale canal towpath between Littleborough and Hebden Bridge including the summit. If you wanted to hire a narrow boat Shire Cruisers at Sowerby Bridge are probably best placed with Banks Hire Cruisers at  Selby another possibility.

The route crosses the Pennines twice so there are some splendid  views. There are also urban and industrial areas, a tunnel under an Asda supermarket, the new Manchester City FC ground etc so there is plenty of variety. For the record  we never felt in any way at risk and indeed we moored overnight in the centre of Manchester without any problems whatsoever.

The most memorable stretches for me were the 2 summits. Standedge tunnel is the longest canal tunnel in Britain, more than 3 miles. It is also the highest navigable pound in Britain (640′ above sea level) and passes deep under the surrounding hills, passing close to a separate rail tunnel. You are not allowed to steer your own boat through the tunnel. Instead BW tow boats in convoys using an electric tug with crews travelling in a separate passenger boat. The view inside the tunnel is amazing because much of the tunnel is unlined with bare rock that has been hewn or blasted out.

The short summit level on the Rochdale canal crosses a pass in the Pennines (about 600′ above sea level) with the Pennine Way using the towpath. The scenery on either side of the canal is distinctly mountainous and, if you are as lucky as I was with the weather, this is probably one of the best views anywhere on our canal system.

I have read that the last working boat to cross the full length of  the Rochdale canal was in 1937,  the Huddersfield Narrow canal was abandoned in 1944 and the Peak Forest and Ashton canals were closed between 1961 and 1974. To have restored these waterways to navigation is a fantastic achievement for all concerned.  British Waterways, IWA, the Huddersfield and Rochdale Canal Restoration Societies, the fund raisers and those who carried out the restoration work  are to be congratulated on what they have done to create the South Pennine Ring.

DROITWICH CANAL RE-OPENING 1 -3 JULY 2011

The highlight of my recent canal trip was reaching Droitwich Spa during the celebrations for the re-opening of the Droitwich canals. I have to confess that prior to my journey I had no real idea where Droitwich was. Now I can say it is near Worcester and close to the bottom of the famous Tardebigge flight of narrow locks. I can recommend it.

The Droitwich Barge and Junction canals were officially closed in 1939 and Droitwich Canals Trust was formed in 1973 to re-open them. It has been a long haul with money, labour and sheer doggedness from many private and public bodies.

One of the volunteers told me that when they seemed to be going nowhere they would organise a working party and 200 volunteers would turn up. No-one could then say there was no demand for the re-opening of the canals.

There were lots of other stories. One man living by the canal had bought a tiny narrowboat some years earlier and had used this ever since to go to the shops a few miles down a short stretch of navigable canal. Another told me how part of the canal had looked like an open sewer in the past. Another man had been walking the another section for 20 years. He had known it completely covered over, with an impassable lock without gates (or water). He said it was brilliant to see it fully restored.

As we arrived and passed the Droitwich Barge lock the church bells rang – definitely a first. We were told later that the vicar had offered to ring the bells in celebration that morning. There were thousands of people enjoying the sunshine, walking along the canal and looking at all the boats. The press were there in force, a band was playing and the food and beer tents were in full swing. It was a great occasion.

The fourth account is of the Chesterfield canal. As published in June 2015 in “Hereward”, the Magazine of the Peterborough Branch of the Inland Waterways Association.

Chesterfield Canal

I spent nine days in April 2015 visiting the Chesterfield canal. It is an early contour canal designed by Brindley and completed in 1777. The canal declined over the years and most of the mining and heavy industry has long disappeared. This means that most of the canal is surprisingly rural.

There are not many boats, a few friendly boat clubs (eg the Retford and Worksop Boat Club) and some good pubs (eg the Brewers Arms in Clayworth). Those venturing beyond Shireoaks can enjoy what I think is one of the finest flights of locks in the country.

The visitor guide produced by the Chesterfield Canal Trust states that since 1989 twelve miles of canal have been restored along with 36 locks, 11 major bridges and 2

entering the Old Bedford river

marinas.

This should give heart to all of us working to restore to full navigation Horseways Channel, Welches Dam Lock and the Old Bedford River.

We wish John and his fellow boaters good luck for the campaign cruise in August and sign off with a photo of boaters heading to the IWA festival in Ely back in 1973 at the Old Bedford sluice.

Old Bedford Sluice 27 July 1973

The post John Revell’s inspiration ahead of the next Old Bedford river Campaign Cruise! appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

sunset on the Middle Level Navigation

Before reading this article further it is worth thinking back to 1984 when John Revell first visited the Middle Level Navigations.  In those days entry by boat to the system was restricted to boats of 49 feet in length because of the short locks at Stanground, Ashline and Marmont Priory. Fortunately during the 1990’s thanks to campaigning the locks were lengthened to take full length narrowboats. Before that in the 1970’s our first holiday hire narrowboats transited the Old Bedford river to access the Great Ouse river system at Denver, the reason being Well Creek was not navigable.  Thanks to the East Anglian Waterways Association, the Inland Waterways Association (Peterborough Branch) and the Well Creek Trust along with their campaigning members the waterways have been opened up for navigation, recreation and fishing to all. Their campaigning would have been fruitless without the willingness of the Middle Level Commissioners, the fourth largest and perhaps least well know navigation authority in the country.

Although I try and visit the main canal system in spring I usually leave my boat on the Middle Level for the summer and winter months. Not everyone is a fan of the Fens but I am.

On my first visit to the Middle Level in June 1984 I moored near a bridge and saw a narrow road leading towards what looked like a pub. I was right as I had arrived at the Three Horseshoes pub in Turves which was heaving with people on a Saturday night. My long journey had started at Bunbury near Chester and I was heading for the Fish and Duck near Ely. Both the pub locals and we were amazed that my journey had led me to Turves.

Sunrise on the Middle Level Navigation

We returned to the Middle Level in August that year and visited some of the remoter parts. As we struggled along one somewhat weedy stretch a farmer came out to say hallo. He said he only ever saw weed boats there and added that he wished there were a few more boats passing as he was looking for a wife.

Away from the “Link Route” the Middle Level is little used, even in the height of summer. On a day’s journey from Holme to Floods Ferry this summer I met one moving narrow boat, passed 2 friendly fishermen when I went up to Ramsey basin for lunch and saw 5 kingfishers. If you want a good sunset or sunrise , lots of wildlife and peace and quiet this is the place to be.

Fox Narrowboats at March, Bill Fen Marina at Ramsey and Peterborough Boating Centre (just the other side of Stanground lock) provide most boating services. Whittlesey, Ramsey and March have a good range of shops and pubs, Upwell and Outwell provide a smaller choice of shops but convenient short term moorings plus 2 butchers, 2 fish and chip shops , the Globe PH, the Crown PH and the Crown Lodge Hotel and an amazing display of daffodils each year.

Sunset on the Middle Level Navigation

Away from the bright lights there are several pubs that have managed to survive, the Golden Lion at Stonea, the George at Ramsey Forty Foot, the Five Alls at Benwick, the Lion at Ramsey St Marys, the Admiral Wells at Holme and the Three Horseshoes at Turves. The shop at Three Holes next to the public landing stage (paid for by the Peterborough Branch of the Inland Waterways Association and built by the Middle Level Commissioners) has recently been renovated with a café and the Village shop at Ramsey St Marys is just before the Lion PH.

Now, if only we can restore Horseways Channel, Welches Dam lock and the Old Bedford to full navigation.

This is a guest blog by John Revell waterways campaigner and mooring customer here at Fox Narrowboats.

The post The Middle Level Navigations – one boater’s view appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

John Revell steers his boat Olive Emily through the lock
into the Old Bedford River at the latest attempt made in
November.

In September 2015 Lois and Roy Parker entered the Old Bedford River in their cruiser Marie II via the tidal doors at Salters Lode. They cruised for about a mile before being stopped by a combination of floating reeds and impenetrable cott weed. On that occasion I was unable to get my narrowboat into the Old Bedford “on the level” so another attempt was made in November with David Venn as the “volunteer” crew. We made good progress from the normal lock at Salters Lode into the narrow, shallow and muddy tidal stretch which leads to the tidal doors of the Old Bedford sluice. The Middle Level lock keeper (who operates the sluice on the Environment Agency’s behalf) was there to open the tidal doors which worked well so that once the guillotine gate was open I could enter the Old Bedford “on the level” quite easily. This was apparently the first narrowboat to get into the Old Bedford in 2015. There was enough depth to collect more crew (Jeff Walters and Mike Daines) and we set off hoping to reach the Lamb and Flag at Welney. The next part of the trip was relatively straightforward with about 4 feet depth in the centre of the river. However, after about a mile the river became shallower, the propeller began to collect cott weed and the boat came to a complete standstill. We were able to move forwards a short way clearing the propeller as best we could but it was obvious we would not get much further. We turned round using poles and slowly made our way back to the Old Bedford sluice. By then the tidal river was too high to leave “on the level” so the crew left by car to look at Welches Dam lock (or more likely the Lamb and Flag) while I removed the cott weed from the prop. This short trip showed that it was still possible to get into the Old Bedford in a narrowboat but that it will remain difficult to reach Welney or Welches Dam lock until the Environment Agency takes action to make this river fully navigable again. It is not rocket science. They could increase the depth of water in the river and they could dredge the river and they could remove the cott weed. The Environment Agency may plead poverty but how is it that the Middle Level Commissioners manage their waterways without any income whatsoever from boat licences and boaters?

This article was published in the IWA Peterborough Branch magazine Hereward Winter 2015/16 and is reproduced here with permission of the author John Revell.  An alliance between IWA Peterborough Branch and the East Anglian Waterways Association has set up Project Hereward to campaign for the re opening of this waterway.

The post Old Bedford River John Revell makes further progress appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

licenced shutterstock

With under a week to go until the IWA Northampton Festival of Water Peterborough Branch member, our mooring customer and local waterways campaigner John Revell reminisces about the Kennet and Avon canal.  An inland waterways restoration success.

Descending the Devizes flight

 I spent some time in my youth visiting parts of the derelict Kennet and Avon canal. Re-opening the canal to boats seemed almost impossible then although I do remember helping clean out one of the locks on the Widcombe flight in Bath one bitterly cold day. But the impossible happened and I attended the formal reopening of the whole canal by the Queen many years later in 1990.

The next year, 1991, I took my boat along the newly restored canal from Reading to Bristol. Use of the Caen Hill locks at Devizes was very restricted because of problems with water supply but I was lucky to be allowed to descend part of the flight with another narrow boat after the annual general meeting of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust.

As I locked down I noticed an elderly man and his wife looking very intently at my progress. I invited them on board and offered him the tiller. He steered the boat straight as a die into the locks so I thought he must have done some boating at some stage.

We talked a bit and after a while I discovered that this modest, unassuming man was John Gould, who I knew had done as much as anyone to keep alive the dream of a restored Kennet and Avon Canal. I asked him when he had last done the flight. The answer was 1947.

Kenneth Clew’s fascinating book “The Kennet and Avon Canal” notes that it took 4 weeks for John Gould to complete the journey in 1947 from Saltford to Wargrave and that for most of the way to Devizes two canal gangs of 12 or 14 men were used to bow haul the 2 boats. Things were worse above the flight where a canal gang of 12, a platoon of 11 soldiers, the crew and block and tackle double rigged were needed.

John Gould and another pioneer John Knill were the last commercial traders on the canal. He took court action in 1955 and 1956 to try and stop the canal being abandoned. He provided trips in a pleasure launch on the tiny isolated 3 ¾ mile stretch in Newbury and very much more. Without people like him the waterways network we can now use would be very much reduced.

[originally published in “Hereward”, the magazine of the Peterborough Branch of the Inland Waterways Association.]

The post More thoughts from John Revell on the waterways. appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.