36: Wey Navigation
A chance encounter this weekend, as I walked from West Byfleet to Byfleet.
PTSD of Parvis Wharf here – 10 years ago loading a small launch onto a trailer then the ratchet straps went loose while barrelling down the M4!
#40before40
#ukcanals
#weynavigation
#surrey
35: Shropshire Union Canal (Chester Canal)
There and back in a day (alas not just to visit a canal).
Love the city and looking down at the cut from street level.
#40before40
#ukcanals
#chester
#cheshire
34: Basingstoke Canal
One of my locals, and what has become a family tradition on Mother's Day: a walk to forage for #wildgarlic!
#40before40
#ukcanals
#basingstokecanal
#hampshire
33: Bristol Floating Harbour Feeder Canal
Cut when the Avon's original course was enclosed to form the harbour, leading off the river via Netham Lock.
Lovely walk (wade?) from the city centre out to Keynsham!
#40before40
#ukcanals
#bristol
32: Limehouse Cut
Looking as it curves its way to Limehouse Basin. Beneath the bridge here was (is?) the location of the southern stop lock; the other is where the canal joins Bow Creek.
No more London nighttime shots now!
#40before40
#ukcanals
#limehouse
#limehousecut
#london
31: Regents Canal
Thought I'd posted this when I visited Little Venice a while back, but apparently not!
Like the others on the canal, there were two side-by-side locks here but one was removed in the 70s.
#40before40
#ukcanals
#regentscanal
#london
#limehouse
30: City Canal
Now the south dock at West India Docks. The canal was cut to bypass the loop of the Thames creating the Isle of Dogs. That shortcut is no longer possible, as the western lock connecting the docks to the river is now removed.
#ukcanals
#london
#docklands
#40before40
29: Staffordshire and Worcestershire
Explored a bit between Kiddy and Kinver a few years ago, but a delightful slog down the M6 this weekend meant I had the opportunity to see the Roundhouse at Gailey.
Snow from Goretti still everywhere :)
#ukcanals
#staffordshire
#worcestershire
#40before40
28: Peak Forest Canal
A lovely winter's morning walk down the Marple flight to the aqueduct. Beautiful sun coming through the branches and a lovely blue sky at the aqueduct and viaduct.
#ukcanals
#peakforestcanal
#greatermanchester
#40before40
27: Trent and Mersey
Need to step this up now. First of the new year!
After the recent snowfall in the midlands, and illuminated by my headlights... Brrr!
Keeper's Lock near Fradley Junction. Narrow mitred gates with wonky beams à la Staffs and Worcs.
#trentandmersey
#ukcanals
#40before40
26: Bentley Canal
About ½ mile from its junction with the BCN Anson Branch.
This is the boring end – all the locks were out west near the W&E.
There's now a community orchard here, which is noice. 👌
And signage warning against antisocial motorcycle behaviour.
#ukcanals
#westmidlands
#40before40
25: Hatherton Canal
...or at least the link between the Hatherton and Cannock Extension canals.
Much like Richard III being found under that Leicester car park... guess what's under this parking bay at KFC in Cannock! It's only Churchbridge Lock #4!!!
#ukcanals
#staffordshire
#40before40
24: Cannock Extension Canal
Suspiciously parked on the bridge to capture this 30-second exposure at about 8pm. Had to forgo getting the Curly Wyrley after this due to a road closure :(
#ukcanals
#Staffordshire
#40before40
23: Chard Canal
Visited the canal 6 years ago but a slog down the A303 yesterday allowed a stop at the Ilminster inclined plane.
This incline (one of four on the canal) lifted tub boats 82' up Herne Hill towards Chard.
#40before40
#ukcanals
#somerset
22: Croydon Canal
Just 27 years in use... abandoned in 1836, the first to be done so by an act of parliament
Here it is running alongside Betts Park in Anerley. Ripples from a disturbed moorhen...
#40before40
#ukcanals
21: River Wye
It was navigated as far back as when Edward the Confessor had iron shipped from the forest to Gloucester.
Here is Weir End. Gonna guess there was a flash lock nearby (once upon a time before trows and barges were replaced by canoes and kayaks)
#40before40
#ukwaterways
#herefordshire
20: Lydney Canal
🎵 Whoaaaa we're halfway there 🎵
Here's the tidal basin – the gates onto the Severn are in the background. Apparently they're borked so the basin isn't usable and is chock full of river gunk.
The lock is just to the right.
#40before40
#ukcanals
#gloucestershire
19: Pidcock's Canal
Short tub boat canal serving ironworks and collieries up and around the Lyd valley.
Perhaps misnamed as it predated the Pidcocks' management of the forges... should be Tanner's Canal!
These photos are the cut passing through Lydney.
#40before40
#ukcanals
#gloucestershire
18: North Wilts Canal
Shortish canal linking the W&B and T&S. Love this stretch down to the aqueduct over the Thames (not as grand as it may sound!). First time back since 2020.
Lots going on here – junction, aqueduct, lock, basin!
#40before40
#ukcanals
#wiltshire
#almostgloucestershire
A canal lock
A flight of canal locks, behind which are flats and a railway bridge
A large industrial building
17: Leeds and Liverpool Canal
The Stanley Locks, connecting the canal to Stanley Docks. Some wicked 1840s buildings going on here!
#leedsandliverpoolcanal
#ukcanals
#40before40
"nah it's a s***hole" comes to mind as a pertinent quote from that trip
Up the ding.
More of a Basingstoke lad though, me
Psst @paulwhitewick.bsky.social on your turf innit
Oops... tagging this with #ukcanals too :)
16: Andover Canal
Not much to explore on this – taken over by the railway, then that too was removed and most now on private land. But a rainy September drive through Clatford meant one thing... a climb through brambles!
Last photo is at Rooksbury Mill in 2020.
#40before40
#hampshire
#andover
15: Maidenhead Waterways
Here, the York Stream and Moor Cut meet and become the Brat Cut. The Weir has boat rollers, but there are plans for a pound lock here to eventually link the town's waterways ring with the Thames.
#ukcanals
#40before40
#berkshire
#14: Grand Junction Canal
Splitting the GU up for this seems sensible (my game, my rules!)
Startops End Bridge, with its double arch – on the right, the extant wide lock. On the left, the infilled and short-lived narrow lock.
#ukcanals
#40before40
#buckinghamshire
#hertfordshire
#13: Aylesbury Arm
Another GU arm... and treated to a staircase lock at the top!
Wouldn't want to travel the pound between locks 3 and 4 at the moment. But that weeping willow 😍
#ukcanals
#40before40
#buckinghamshire
#12: Wendover Canal
Lovely short arm of the GU, winding past the old Tring Mill buildings on the way to Tringford Pumping Station. Plenty of damsons too – lavly!
#ukcanals
#40before40
#hertfordshire
#buckinghamshire
A canal lock in the early morning sun
A hint of the autumn to come this morning. LOVE IT.
#ukcanals
#berkshire