Maybe you imagine yourself cruising past wildflower meadows, pulling up beside waterside pubs, or exploring hidden corners of the Fens. But then the questions creep in…

What if I’ve never handled a boat before? What do I need to pack? What’s actually fun to do on a canal boat holiday?

You’re not alone. And you’re exactly who this blog is written for. So let us share, why the most savvy boaters subscribe to this blog before booking a holiday.

Discover the Fun of Canal Boating: One Post at a Time

At Fox Narrowboats, we don’t just hire boats; we live and breathe boating life. This blog is where we share the little gems that don’t always make it into the brochures. Think:

• Quirky canal slang (Want to know your windlass from your weed hatch?)
• Local recommendations (Like where to moor up for the best fish and chips!)
• Packing tips, pub guides and peaceful routes
• Real stories from people who’ve tried boating for the first time, and loved it

Whether you’re planning your very first trip or returning for another go, our blog is like having a friendly boater in your pocket, giving you tips and ideas with each new post.

Who Writes It?

Peggy Melmoth is a freelance writer specialising in narrowboat life. She lived on canal boats for 13 years, has written for Towpath Talk and Waterways World, and blogged for many canal-based businesses. She has been writing for Fox Narrowboats since 2014. Her personal blog, The Real Life of a Narrowboat Wife, describes three years of living aboard a narrowboat with her young family.

Alice Elgie is a wandering writer with an appreciation for time spent in nature. She writes with a focus on nature, yoga, slow living and travel. She also writes the monthly column “Characters of the Cut” for Towpath Talk. She travels between a narrowboat on the canals of England, a cottage in rural France, and a tiny camper on the open road.

alice elgie family narrowboater

Follow her musings at Slow into the Seasons.

There are also guest post articles on this blog, from local historians, authors, waterways experts, narrowboat bloggers, Fox boat owners and holiday customers.

Chris Howes

Chris Howes was a mooring customer here at Fox Narrowboats and has written a few articles for our blog. He was a waterways campaigner who held several roles in the Inland Waterways Association. He wrote about literature, Fenland history and the Fenland Waterways and is author of the Imray guides, The River Great Ouse and its Tributaries, and Fenland Waterways. His list of the “Seven Most Wonderful Places to Boat” is an updated alternative to Robert Aickman’s “Seven Wonders of the Waterways”, written in 1955. (Robert Aickman was a co-founder of the Inland Waterways Association.)

John Revell is a boater, waterways campaigner and IWA member who writes about his personal boating journey, which began in 1984. He is a mooring customer at Fox Boat’s marina and has shared, on our blog, excerpts of articles he wrote for Hereward, the magazine of the Peterborough Branch of the Inland Waterways Association. He also shares some first-hand experiences of visiting derelict canals, such as the Kennet and Avon, before its restoration.

John Revell on his boat Olive Emily

There are also guest posts introducing the Fox Boats family and team: Paula and Tracey are the daughters of renowned boat builder Charlie Fox. It was in 1973 that Charlie built his first canal boat, and in 1980 he built our marina, to the west of March.

Paula & Gerald

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Alice Elgie is a nature-loving writer who shares words about her wandering lifestyle through hold-in-the-hand letters and recorded reflections. aliceelgie.com

The post Don’t Book a Narrowboat Holiday – Before Trying this One-Minute Hack appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

Approaching Denver lock where several cruisers are waiting – cc John Revell

This was my first time entering Salters Lode lock from the tidal Ouse and I was grateful to receive good advice from the Denver lock keeper about how to do this on an in-coming tide.

A fine converted mill at Nordelph. This has been extended but remains very distinct. John Revell

The familiar view as you approach the centre of Nordelph. The Chequers pub on the right closed in 2005.

The journey along Well Creek was uneventful though I recall being intrigued by a simple swing bridge across the river to a small cottage near Nordelph. I learnt later that this belonged to Gladys Dack and her name lives on with the Gladys Dack mooring constructed by the Well Creek Trust on the opposite side of the river. The cottage is now derelict having been badly damaged by a gas explosion which fortunately did not injure Miss Dack.

Glady Dack’s cottage and simple swing bridge. The house was badly damaged by a gas explosion and is now derelict.

After Well Creek and Marmont Priory lock we headed down Pophams Eau and moored near the junction of the Sixteen Foot and Forty Foot rivers. The following day we attempted to reach Horseways lock but gave up when we discovered there was nowhere to turn at the lock. We had to reverse to the junction with the Forty Foot which was something I have done many times since. On one occasion in 2010 this was part of a campaign cruise undertaken by the local branch of the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) which was broadcast on BBC Look East. Alastair Chambers, then Chairman of the Peterborough Borough Branch of the IWA, spoke to the camera while I just had to do the reversing.

I failed to boat the full length of the Forty Foot when I visited the Middle Level in April 1984 {see part 1} and it was a relief to get under the very low Ramsey Hollow bridge without mishap or injuring myself this time. Note that this bridge has since been raised by the Royal Engineers partly with funds raised by the local IWA at events held at Bill Fen marina [courtesy of John and Lynne Shotbolt].

Ramsey basin. Gang plank for access to town but nowhere to turn a 48′ boat round.

That evening was spent at the George Inn at Ramsey Forty Foot where we again added our name to the boater’s log book kept behind the bar before continuing the next day to Ramsey town. My notes record that this was easy boating with a good mooring at the end but nowhere to turn a 48‘ boat like mine.

We explored the town, ate fish and chips and visited the Jolly Sailor, a pub which has changed very little since then and which I last visited in September 2023.

My notes from 1984 state “Jolly Sailor. 6/10. Choice of rooms. Landlord ex RAF. Lots of brasses and locals. Beer by (Watney) Manns.

The moorings at Ramsey deteriorated over the years but have now been completely rebuilt to a high standard. There are also recently built houses on both sides. A turning point has also been provided and I have seen a 60’ narrow-boat turn there.

Plenty of help and onlookers at Lodes End lock

There was no turning point in 1984 so the following morning we therefore had to reverse all the way which took 90 mins. We then went through Lodes End lock and headed for Yaxley. Unfortunately, and not for the only time, we could not get under Exhibition Bridge which was too low to get under so we proceeded to Monk’s Lode where we moored overnight at the end of navigation.

At the end of Monk’s Lode

Our view that this was a very quiet spot was confirmed by a conversation the next day with a local man. He said that the only boats he saw these days were weed boats but this was a shame as he was looking for a wife (presumably to drift past and into his arms). This conversation took place in August when some waterways elsewhere would have been very busy. I reversed a short way and turned near an old pumping station. Monks Lode remains entirely unspoilt but the turning point is overgrown so reversing is needed for most boats.

After another quiet day we paid our second visit to C & T Fox boat yard. My notes say

“Helpful and business like. Diesel £1.20 a gallon. Mooring £6.62 per week”

We also visited the Horse and Jockey pub which was a short distance from the boatyard but has since been demolished before spending the evening in the Red Hart at Three Holes (an Elgoods pub which is also now closed).

Approaching Outwell before the church. A familiar scene still today.

We made our way to Salters Lode the next day, stopping for fish and chips at J R Stott Outwell (still there) and a drink at the Red Lion at Outwell (a splendid looking building on the busy main road, still there but no longer a pub – the prominent Bullards brewery sign  remains) and the Chequers at Nordelph (another closed pub).

Just before Outwell basin and the former junction with the Wisbech canal.

We had chosen to return via the tidal Hundred Foot (New Bedford). We went through Salters Lode at low water and waited outside for the big spring tide to arrive. We set off with the tide and reached the Riverside Inn at Earith by lunchtime. I have used this tidal route many times since then all without difficulty.

[photos]

All Photos Copyright John Revell

The post Middle Level Then And Now August 1984 With John Revell Part 2 appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

I particularly enjoy boating on the Middle Level beyond Lodes End Lock. This is very different from the “Link Route” both in feel and in the number of boats that use it. Probably the least visited stretch is between Exhibition Bridge and Yaxley mainly because Exhibition Bridge itself is very low.

The river level is kept lower during winter months and there is then sufficient clearance for me to get under Exhibition bridge in my Fox built narrowboat and easily reach the mainline railway bridge just before Yaxley. In recent times the Middle Level Commissioners have created a rural mooring at the head of navigation half a mile further on and close to 2 pubs and a shop. Middle Level Commissioners have dredged part of this river and carried out weed clearance, so I am planning to take my boat there later this year.

During September Mike Daines, Nik Daines and myself had a very enjoyable canoe trip to Yaxley, this time from Bevill’s Leam pumping station at Pondersbridge. This took a little under 2 hours each way.  Mike and John are both active members of the Middle Level Watermans Club

We shall look forward to hearing about John’s trip.  Do you have a story to tell about boating on the Middle Level Navigation?  Please feel free to submit it for possible publication.

Photo credits. Mike Daines.

The post A lesser known area of the Middle Level Navigation appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

The waterways campaigners presenting their picture to The Lamb and Flag Welney.

On Thursday 14th March Pat Fox and Paula were invited to a luncheon at the Lamb & Flag in Welney where waterways campaigner John Revell was to make a presentation to the landlords.  Following an excellent lunch John invited Gina and Denis to join the assembled group whilst John said a few words.

John has now cruised on the Old Bedford numerous times campaigning to get the lock at Welches Dam re opened and the Horseway channel cleared for navigation.

Thank you all for coming. A particular thanks to Mike Daines for taking the 2 recent photographs and arranging for the framing and to Peter and Charlotte Cox who provided the 3rd photograph taken by the late Patrick Barry in March 1997.

The boating picture presented to The Lamb and Flag, Welney

Boats have been navigating the Old Bedford river since 1637, a mere 382 years. It is therefore one of the earliest, artificially built, navigable waterways in the UK.

This ancient waterway was in frequent use in the past including by the hire fleet run by Pat and Charlie Fox. Pat tells me that 46 boats used this route on a single day in 1973.

I first came here by boat on 5 November 2005 accompanied by Pat & Charlie Fox in their boat, Bill Badger. We were helped by Roger Mungham and Lois and Roy Parker who are still very much involved. To reach Welney we came along Horseway Channel (about 2 miles long and currently unnnavigable) and Welches Dam lock which the Environment Agency made impassable in 2006 when they piled the entrance to the lock with interlocked steel piles.

The Inland Waterways Association and others have been campaigning ever since to get this single lock and Horseway channel re-opened. During this time there have been several attempts to reach Welney and Welches Dam lock from the Salters Lode end. This is difficult but the 5 successful cruises to Welney and Welches Dam in the past 2 years show that it can be done by determined canal boaters.

On each of these 5 occasions we have received a very warm welcome from Gina and her team at the excellent Lamb & Flag.

Welney is now one of the destinations listed in IWA’s Silver Propellor Challenge together with Welches Dam lock and I hope that the national publicity created in recent times will encourage more boaters to visit the Lamb & Flag and put Welney back on the navigable waterways map.

The post Old Bedford river campaign to re-open. appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

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.

When Charlie and Pat Fox set up business in West End March in the 1960’s navigation on the Middle Level was very different from today. Stanground Lock was only 49′ long and Briggate bend at Whittlesey was so sharp that even boats shorter than 49′ struggled to get round. Well Creek through Upwell and Outwell was derelict and unnavigable.

In the mid 1970’s the Well Creek Trust were still restoring Well Creek . There were only two ways to take a boat from the Nene to the Ouse or vice versa, across the Wash from Sutton Bridge to Kings Lynn or take the route created by the Dutchman Cornelius Vermuyden in 1637 along the Old Bedford River.

Guest Log book from Three Tuns Welney showing Fox Narrowboats boat March Rambler using the Old Bedford River 1976

It is now possible for full length narrowboats to use the Nene to Ouse Link route. Well Creek was restored to navigation by an amazing band of volunteers, local contractors and the Middle Level Commissioners but sadly part of Vermuyden’s ancient route is now unnavigable. The entrance to Welches Dam lock was piled by the Environment Agency in 2006 and remains unusable a staggering 12 years later. The two mile stretch of Horseway Channel between Welches Dam lock and Horseway lock is also unnavigable, neglected and clogged up.

Modernising and lengthening a single lock and restoring a short stretch of river to full navigation is not rocket science. If, for example,  we have been able to re-open two derelict canals that cross the Pennines (the Rochdale and the Huddersfield Narrow canal) we must surely be able to re-open this route.

This old photo taken by Alan Faulkner in 1973 shows 16 boats waiting to lock out of the Old Bedford river and Pat Fox recalls over 40 boats using that same route that same year.

Old Bedford Sluice 27 July 1973

Are you interested in joining the campaign cruise?

The mouth of Old Bedford River July 2008

Between 19th & 22nd August 2018 Peterborough Branch  will be undertaking a campaign cruise from the tidal Ouse, along the Old Bedford River, to Welches Dam Lock, ahead of the IWA’s Festival of Water in St Neots, over the August bank holiday weekend. Full details can be found at  IWA Campaign Cruise.

Along with John Revell IWA Eastern Region Chair Chris Howes will be taking part with his 45 foot narrow boat. They are not only looking for other powered boats to join them – narrowboats and cruisers – but also small (self propelled) boats such as canoes, as well as walkers. It may prove difficult to get boats over 50 foot onto the (OBR) Old Bedford River, and larger boats are being encouraged to meet the flotilla at Horseway Lock, which is at the other end of the ‘blockage’.

Chris says “I was fortunate to make passage (along with two other boats) along the OBR in April 2017. Back in the mid 17th Century digging the OBR was the first stage of Cornelius Vermuden’s Herculean task of draining the Fens. Unlike other navigable Fenland drains, the OBR is not bordered on its west side by a high bank and the views across the Fen are truly rewarding. (Sunsets are particularly magnificent.)

During our 2017 trip I particularly remember the look of curiosity on the faces of a flock of black faced sheep, who had clearly never seen a boat before, and the wit of a couple of teenagers in Welney who observed “You wait all your life to see a barge, and then three come along at once!”

The neighbouring Ouse Washes are a nature reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. We will be passing Welney Wildlife and Wetlands Centre. Twitchers don’t forget to bring your binoculars !

The post Old Bedford Campaign Cruise Aug 19-22 2018 appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

‘Olive Emily’ built by Fox Narrowboats and the Old Bedford River

In 2006 the Environment Agency (EA) piled the entrance to Welches Dam Lock near Chatteris. John Revell, owner of ‘Olive Emily, (built by Fox Narrowboats and moored at Foxes Marina) describes the latest campaigning cruise to draw attention to its continuous closure 11 years later and to reinstate a historic route to the Middle Level and beyond.

In November 2017 ‘Olive Emily’ managed to navigate the Old Bedford River from the tidal sluice at Salters Lode to the current head of navigation at Welches Dam lock. Although the Old Bedford is　a statutory navigation first opened in 1637 it remains difficult to access and little used. The only way into the Old Bedford now is via a tricky tidal channel.

A successful trip along the Old Bedford took place in April involving 3 narrowboats, ‘Lily May’ (also built by Foxes and owned by Chris Howes), ‘Ever After’ (Jeff Walters) and myself in ‘Olive Emily’. EA advised us beforehand that it would have been better to make the trip in May.

A second successful trip was made in July by 2 boats (cruiser ‘Marie II’ and ‘Olive Emily’) but on this occasion　 EA strongly advised us to either cancel it or postpone it for 4 months until the scheduled weed cut had taken place in　October.　Therefore I notified EA in October that I wished to navigate the Old Bedford during November. The dates of 13 and 14 November 2017 were confirmed and Chris Howes (‘Lily May’) and Jeff Walters (‘Ever After’) offered to join me in their boats.

On 13 November all three boats locked out of the Middle Level lock at Salters Lode into the tidal Great Ouse. I then attempted to enter the narrow tidal channel leading to the Old Bedford sluice. This looked hopeless because it had not been dredged and was badly silted up. To make matters worse, there was a sand bar right at the entrance with only 3″ of water covering it. Ducks might have been able to enter the Old Bedford ‘on the level’ but I couldn’t.

I therefore turned the boat round and started to dig a channel to the Old Bedford sluice using the propellor in reverse gear. This was repetitive and time consuming but worked and I was able to enter the non tidal river still in reverse just after the tide turned. Chris and Jeff were less fortunate and were unable to follow me which was very disappointing for all concerned including the many onlookers.

Amongst those watching was David Mercer from Project Hereward

We then set off for Welney and moored overnight outside the Lamb and Flag, a short distance from the single guillotine gate which had been raised by EA for this journey. The Lamb and Flag is a great pub with local Elgoods beer, excellent food, fine old photos, large stuffed fish in glass cases, accommodation if we had needed it and a real fire.

At 8 am the next morning we headed off for Welches Dam lock 6 miles away. This is an attractive location with a fine lock-side cottage close to the extensive RSPB Ouse Washes nature reserve. It looked particularly good in the autumn light and we received a warm welcome from one of the residents.

Welches Dam lock remained completely impassable as it has been since 2006 and once again I had no alternative but to turn round and head back via Welney (but missing out the pub this time) to the Old Bedford sluice at Salters Lode. Fortunately, leaving the Old Bedford proved far easier than entering, perhaps because I had already laboriously dug a channel on the way in.

Following discussions with the Middle Level Lock keeper and a member of EA’s Navigation team I reversed ‘Olive Emily’ a short distance into the tidal channel at low water. This enabled them to shut the tidal doors behind me and for ‘Olive Emily’ to rest on soft mud just outside the sluice. Soon after the boat　lifted on the incoming tide and I then reversed into the main tidal river and then (in forwards) re-entered Salters Lode and the Middle Level.

I am pleased to have made 3 trips along the Old Bedford during 2017 and I look forward to the day when the ancient route connecting the rest of the waterways system via Welches Dam Lock (continuously closed by EA since 2006) and Horseway Channel (also EA managed and unnavigable) is fully restored. Re-opening this route would reinstate a cruising ring which includes some of the oldest waterways in the country.

The post Olive Emily and the Old Bedford River appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

In July 2017 two boats, Olive Emily (built by Fox Narrowboats and moored at Fox’s marina) and the cruiser Marie II, successfully navigated the Old Bedford River from the tidal River Ouse at Salters Lode to the current head of navigation at Welches Dam lock. This is an ancient and attractive waterway and a statutory navigation. It is about 14 miles long and is managed by the Environment Agency (EA). There are many difficulties in using this river and some readers will be aware that non tidal access to the Old Bedford ended 11 years ago when EA arbitrarily piled the entrance to Welches Dam lock in 2006.

John Revell, owner of Olive Emily, takes up the story.

“I took part in a trip along the Old Bedford in April 2017 when 3 narrowboats managed to reach Welches Dam. This was the first successful trip by narrowboats since 2006. EA were very helpful and cooperative but had made it clear beforehand that they would have preferred the trip to have been made later in the year. So Lois and Roy Parker (Marie II) and myself gave EA two months’ notice that we would like to make a second voyage in July. The tides seemed right and the dates chosen were just before the main school holidays.

EA (Waterways) acknowledged our request and consulted other parts of EA. One distinct advantage of this was that when we reached Salters Lode we found that EA (Water resources) had asked the local Middle Level Commissioners lock keeper to put more water into the non tidal river. This made the normally tricky access from the narrow tidal stream much easier.

Apart from one big snag the trip to Welches Dam went really well and we returned the following day after stopping overnight close to the excellent Lamb and Flag. A lot of people knew about our trip and commented how good it was to see boats on the river again.

None of this would have been possible without the help and advice from the EA staff we met and the Middle Level lock keeper so what was the big snag?

Out of the blue and at the last minute, EA’s (Waterways) Team Operations Manager, asked for the whole cruise to be called off or delayed until October (four months later) after the next scheduled weed cut had taken place. A similar request for delay had occurred prior to the trip in April 2017, albeit for a different reason and with rather more notice whereas I had been advised that my unsuccessful trip in November 2016 would have been more successful if I had made it earlier in the year.

The lengthy email from EA (Waterways) cited concerns from EA (Fisheries) about low dissolved oxygen from “wind blown accumulations of decaying algae” in one section of the river. EA (Fisheries) were of the opinion that navigating through this in our two boats might give rise to a “significant risk of an environmental (Fish distress /kill) incident. ”

Following discussions with David Venn, Chairman of IWA (Inland Waterways Association) Peterborough Branch, we decided that a proportionate response to this concern would be to continue the planned trip and assess the situation when we reached there as the problem appeared to be very localised (close to the village of Welney).

As we approached Welney we found a short stretch of foul smelling, floating rotting material – see photo. Removing this before we reached there would clearly have benefited everyone and everything. Someone commented that EA appeared to be more concerned about the DO (dissolved oxygen) than the DO (disgusting odour).

We were met by two helpful staff from EA (Waterways) team and we discussed what to do. It was decided that the narrow boat could proceed very slowly and cautiously along the middle of the channel under their close supervision. The cruiser was stuck (see photograph) and so it was pulled through the weed by ropes from the narrow boat again under EA’s close supervision.

Everyone present was satisfied and I am pleased to report that subsequent tests at Welney by EA after the passage and return of our 2 craft showed minimal effect on oxygen levels.

EA had known about the “wind blown accumulations of floating algae” for some time and personally I feel they could have done more to remove it. This was such an obvious environmental problem and leaving it was not in anyone’s interest, least of all the residents of Welney and those who walk, fish, collect eels, and occasionally boat along the river.

I returned to Welney by car 2 weeks later and I am pleased to report that these ”accumulations of wind blown algae” have gone so I wonder whether we were asked to delay our trip for four months until October 2017 for another reason.”

John Revell 15 Aug 2017

Narrowboat Olive Emily

The post Old Bedford cruise 16 and 17 July 2017 – Another Success appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

Progress on the Old Bedford river

Non tidal access to the historic Old Bedford River was lost in 2006 when the E.A. closed Welches Dam Lock, thus stopping access to a waterway that had been navigated for over 350 years. Since the closure various attempts have been made to access the Old Bedford from its outfall into the tidal Great Ouse. In 2009 an enterprising couple, Lois and Roy Parker, succeeded in getting onto the river and through to Welches Dam in their shallow drafted cruiser, but no narrowboat is known to have managed it.

On 4th April 2017 veteran of several previous tries, John Revell, lead another attempt in his 41ft narrowboat ‘Olive Emily’. He was joined by Chris Howes in his 45ft narrowboat ‘Lily May’ and Jeff Walters in his 50ft narrowboat ‘ever after’. The boats marshaled at Salter’s Lode lock on the Well Creek.

Currently access to the Old Bedford river can only be gained at low water on a ‘neap tide’ (which is the highest low tide, occurring only fortnightly). However because of silt build up at the mouth of the river to the Great Ouse, there is only a few inches of water and the passage can be described as between ‘very difficult’ and ‘damn near impossible’ ! However after much writhing about in the mud, and over an hour of trying, all three boats scraped through.

The E.A. had kindly raised the water level in the river sufficient for comfortable passage to be made, and previous problems of cot weed and ‘bottoming out’ were avoided, The E.A. had also lifted the guillotine gate at Welney, which is generally an obstacle to navigation.

Guillotine gate Welney

In the morning the three returned to Salter’s Lode for low tide. Again it was very difficult to get through the sluice gates onto the Great Ouse, but after two hours of trying the happy trio and their mud splattered boats finally made it !

An emotional John Revell observed “I was one of the last boaters to use Welches Dam lock from Horseway Channel before EA suddenly piled across the lock entrance in 2006. I never thought it would take another 11 years to reach it from Salters Lode. I’d like to give a big ‘thank you’ to the E.A. for their support this time, without which the trip would have failed. I’d also like to pay tribute to the late, great, inspirational Charlie Fox, it can be no coincidence that 2 out of 3 of the boats that made the difficult passage were Fox boats !”

Welches Dam lock

Chris Howes added “after the great difficulties getting onto the Old Bedford through the silted up estuary entrance, the journey itself was lovely. The huge frustration was that when we eventually made it to Welches Dam Lock we were only one closed lock and approximately 2 miles of de-watered channel away from the navigable network.”

Jeff Walters also added “I’d like to join in the thanks to the E.A. for their fantastic co-operation. As a member of the Project Hereward restoration team, can I make a heartfelt plea that the E.A. continue this invigorating, fresh spirit of working together by now facilitating the entry of the IWA’S highly qualified engineers into Welches Dam Lock to assess the true extent of necessary restoration?”

Chris Howes.

The post Old Bedford river conquered! appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

John Revell reverses Olive Emily into and through the Salters Lode sluice gate to join the Old Bedford river.

Following on from John Revell’s previous blog about the efforts to restore the Old Bedford river to navigation.  John follows up with his latest thoughts.  Photography by Mike Daines.

In November 2016 I took my narrowboat Olive Emily, based at Fox’s Marina in March, into the Old Bedford River via the tidal river Great Ouse at Salter’s Lode. This is not as simple as it sounds. It has to be done “on the level” and the Old Bedford and the narrow tidal channel which leads to it are in poor condition. As a result few boats have been willing or able to do this in recent years.
I attempted the same journey in November 2015 and managed about a mile before being forced to turn round through lack of water and a massive amount of cott weed which completely clogged up the propeller.
This year I emailed the Environment Agency (EA) well in advance on the 7th October advising them that I proposed to navigate the Old Bedford during the period 3 November to 5 November. I further explained that I would aim to cruise all the way to Welches Dam lock and I asked for confirmation that the Welney Guillotine Gate, through which we would have to pass, would be left in the raised (navigable) position. I never received a reply from EA.
I successfully entered the Old Bedford at 7.45 am on Saturday November 5. This was not straightforward (see photos) but the Middle Level Lock keeper and an EA staff member were very helpful and together with a volunteer crew of David Venn, Chairman of IWA Peterborough branch, Chris Howes, Ivan Cane and Mike Daines, I headed off towards Welches Dam.

A view rarely seen over the last ten year!. Looking over the prow of a narrowboat navigating the Old Bedford river towards Welney and Welches Dam lock.

We made quite good progress at first and soon we managed to pass our one mile progress marker from the previous year. After another mile or so there was evidence of dredging on the west bank with the spoil piled up along the bank and the digger visible in the far distance. It was this dredging that had quite obviously enabled our progress up to and beyond our one mile limit of the previous year.
Further ahead were the overhead electrical power lines that cross the river around three miles in from Salters Lode. A previous attempt in July 2008 to reach Welches Dam in my narrowboat, accompanied by Lois and Roy Parker in their cruiser Marie 2, had failed because this section hadn’t been dredged for years.
As we approached the power lines the river took on a glazed and milky look and we became engulfed in a mass of cott weed with the water level dropping to a silted muddy depth of just one foot.

Heading towards Welney on the Old Bedford river in November 2016. NB Olive Emily is about to run into a mass of cott weed and an undredged length of the river that runs beneath the power cables three miles from Salters Lode. This is evident from the uncovered section of bank underneath the pylons and the continuation of dredging further along towards Welney and Welched Dam lock.

It immediately became obvious that we couldn’t proceed any further and once again we would reluctantly have to abandon our goal and turn around. With much prodigious poling by the crew Olive Emily was slowly extracted from the glue and turned back into deeper water to make her return to Salters Lode.
We had again been defeated by the same problems as last year, insufficient depth of water, lack of dredging and masses of cott weed.
We had failed in our objective to reach Welches Dam lock which was stanked off by the EA in 2006. This lock has remained closed and impassable for 10 years despite the efforts of the IWA locally and nationally, the East Anglian Waterways Association, Fox Boats and the Project Hereward team. The “temporary” piling which was installed by the EA in 2006 covers most of the entrance to the lock so it is very effective at stopping boats but rather less effective at stopping leaks which was claimed to be the reason for the piling in the first place.
Two developments occurred between my email to the EA on 7 October and my passage on 5 November. Firstly, I found out late on 3 November that the Welney guillotine gate was in the down (unnavigable) position. This came as a surprise as I had been assured that it would remain up (navigable) position unless there was a change in river conditions.
I live in East Anglia and I knew that the weather in East Anglia had been dry for some time so the closure of the Welney gate was puzzling.

Olive Emily’s volunteer crew man the poles to extract her from the silt.

More importantly, the water level in the Old Bedford had been dropped by a foot in the week after I had notified EA of the dates of my proposed passage. This is even more puzzling and I have been unable to find out why this was done and by whom.
EA is a multi-functional organisation so any part of it might have authorised this action. It might have been done by flood control, it might have been fishing, it might have been engineering, it might have been navigation, it might have been environment. Who knows?”
Whatever the reason, this had made the tidal passage into the Old Bedford at Salters Lode unnecessarily difficult and muddy. It meant that that the depth of water in the Old Bedford was shallow throughout. It also meant that an attempt to enter the Old Bedford the previous day (November 4) had been unsuccessful and had had to be abandoned.
The general lack of depth became an insuperable problem when I had reached the stretch of very shallow un-dredged water, deep mud and glutinous cott weed close to the overhead electrical lines. Everyone knows that special precautions must be taken when working near them but this situation arises routinely on other rivers and canals and is easily overcome. Indeed the same overhead lines cross the nearby navigable New Bedford river, Well Creek at Nordelph and the Great Ouse at Littleport.

The Salters Lode sluice pictured from the Old Bedford. The water mark on the guillotine door is clearly marked and was a good two feet lower.

The Old Bedford is not a dead end waterway leading nowhere but is part of a long established route that needs to be restored to full navigation. It would make an interesting cruising ring. It has been navigable since 1637, well before the main canal era started. It is a statutory navigation and it needs to be maintained.
Although the Old Bedford remains officially open it will remain off limits for all but the most determined boater until it is deep enough, and dredged properly.
The Canal and River Trust (CRT) has built on the long experience of British Waterways in managing rivers so that they remain navigable most of the time but are closed when flood conditions require. Just think of the Rivers Soar, Trent, Severn, Avon, Weaver or the river sections of the Trent and Mersey or the Caldon or the Calder and Hebble to name just a few.
Would the current lamentable state of affairs in this part of the Fens be tolerated elsewhere on the system? Would this have been allowed to go on for so long if CRT managed it? Would it not be better if responsibility for navigation matters on waterways that are currently managed by EA be transferred to CRT?

John Revell and Mike Daines
14 November 2016

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