Europe group posting on GLOBOsapiens

Canals in the UK

Postings 1 - 4 of 4

davidx Premium account Joined: Dec 04 Points: 34719 Posts: 440 Posted: 2006-03-30 16:30:00    Someone, somewhere isn't teaching our history too well as two members have expressed surprise in comments on St Vincent's pictures that we should have canals. They were the first transport that enabled the mass production of the industrial revolution. It was not long before they had to fight a losing battle with the railways and most closed for commercial purposes. However for quite a long time now many have served for leisure, some having undergone fundamental re-structuring for the purpose. For instance, the Rochdale Canal that passes less than a mile from my house necessitated re-opening of long stretches, renovation of road bridges and some re-roting to avoid buildings. Neither buying nor hiring a narrow boat is cheap but it can give a very relaxing holiday, either with the country scenery that St Vicent shows so well or with totally different impressions of cities. What we don't have are canals in heavy commercial use like some of those linking major rivers across the channel. --- Grieve not for that which you cannot do but rejoice in that which you can. Reply    Reply with quote    Contact davidx   marianne Premium account Joined: Sep 03 Points: 20248 Posts: 349 Posted: 2006-03-30 17:40:00    Hi David, Why don't you write a report about the Waterways? In the eighties, when our children were still young we wanted to have a holiday onthe canals, and we bought: Nicholson's Guide to the Waterways. We have got six parts. I also read Inland Waterways, which was very educational. Last autumn we were in Bishop's Stortford and surroundings and saw many canal boats waiting for next summer. By now we don't want to make this trip anymore. The locks look to difficult to negotiate. Marianne --- “I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” Robert Louis Stevenson Reply    Reply with quote    Contact marianne   st.vincent Joined: Mar 06 Points: 2322 Posts: 23 Posted: 2006-03-30 18:21:00    I was about to post something in the respective guestbooks David and then I saw this forum posting. You are right of course, the UK has a large canal network with some interesting viaducts, locks and even a few special boat lifts. After their "working life" during the industrial revolution ended there seems to have been a bit of a decline but there is now renewed interest and they have become popular for boating holidays. Around my way there are quite a few canal dwellers as well, especially during the summer months. The main canal is probably the Grand Union Canal that links into the River Thames in London and goes about 200km to Birmingham. But there are many other canals throughout the UK including the Manchester Ship Canal, which is probably one only one that was built large enough to accommodate ocean vessels allowing Manchester to become a seaport. I was in Manchester a few weeks ago and although the port is sadly no longer in use the area around it looks to be being developed quite a lot with new housing, shopping and leisure facilities. I haven't downloaded the photos from my camera yet but if there are any good ones I'll post them on the site. Good idea about a report on the UK's inland waterways Marianne, I wonder what "city" it would fall under. Best Regards Clive Reply    Reply with quote    Contact st.vincent   davidx Premium account Joined: Dec 04 Points: 34719 Posts: 440 Posted: 2006-03-30 18:51:00    Talking of the Manchester Ship Canal, Mersey Ferries do trips several times a year for the whole length of the canal from the Lowry centre in Salford and then across the Mersey to Liverpool returning by bus. [Double deckers along the motorway!] See http://www.merseyferries.co.uk/manchester-scc/index.aspx --- Grieve not for that which you cannot do but rejoice in that which you can. Reply    Reply with quote    Contact davidx