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Essential read: Managing lock cills

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April 26, 2023

Every year, lock cills catch boaters unaware, no matter how experienced they are. Once a vessel’s caught on a cill, it causes the rudder to pop out of the cup, which is quickly resolved. However, in many cases, it results in damage to the skeg, rudder and bearings, and the boat needs to be towed…
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Heritage Under The Hammer

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April 25, 2023

A cast iron registration plate and a guide to the Norfolk Broads dating back at least 100 years are two items that make the headlines in Geoff Courtney’s bi-monthly round-up of canalia sold at auction in recent months. THE registration plate was BCN1461, which sold for £70 in a live online Great Central Railwayana auction…
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Trust funds five benches for elderly and disabled

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April 21, 2023

THE Dulverton Trust Fund, managed by the Heart of England Community Foundation, has generously awarded a grant to fund benches for elderly and disabled people to sit and relax by water at Whitehouse Wharf in Selly Oak, in the West Midlands. An independent grant-making charity, it supports UK charities tackling a range of social issues,…
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Canal-bank seats for the passer-by

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April 20, 2023

Words and photos: Tim Coghlan TWO benches have been installed beside the Grand Union Canal at Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire, to commemorate the lives of two of its well-known canal and community activists, David Blagrove (1937-2016) and Roy Sears (1945-2018). The funds to purchase the benches and pay for their installation came from the David Blagrove…
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They’re not making them any more

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April 19, 2023

Jonathan Mosse’s monthly look at freight developments on the inland waterways. “BUY land, they’re not making it anymore”; thus goes a well-known observation attributed to Mark Twain. Much the same thing could be said about ports scattered around the periphery of the United Kingdom. So when confronted by a headline such as: ‘Councillors vote to…
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IWA Lichfield Branch offside vegetation clearance

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April 18, 2023

IWA Lichfield Branch has been busy this winter, cutting back the offside vegetation in its area. Starting at Willington, members worked their way along the Trent & Mersey Canal to Fradley Junction and had a little time left over to do some ‘spot’ trimming on the northern reaches of the Coventry Canal. The offside vegetation…
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Training crews ready for a new season

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April 17, 2023

National Community Boats Association press officer Madhurika Walsh keeps us up to date with the latest training activities. WITH the new community boating season fast approaching, members of our senior training team are once again out on the water running instructor training courses for a variety of our projects. This will enable them to continue…
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Gallows Inn Lock open day sees visitors flock to Erewash Canal

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April 15, 2023

Report & photos: Les Heath ONE of the 14 locks on the 15-mile Erewash Canal became a tourist attraction over the winter when the Canal & River Trust invited the public to view a £204,000 major works project. Despite a damp start an open day at Gallows Inn Lock attracted numerous visitors thanks to the…
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New hand on the tiller at LCC

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April 14, 2023

FOLLOWING Lichfield Cruising Club’s recent annual meeting, club member Joan Surplice was elected as its new Commodore. Joan and her husband Les joined LCC in 2015 and, over the last five years, has served on the club’s board as secretary. Lichfield Cruising Club is based at Huddlesford just outside the city of Lichfield on the…
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Scotland’s canals to be celebrated with Red Wheels from the National Transport Trust

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April 13, 2023

Both Crinan and Caledonian Canals will be awarded a commemorative plaque this weekend. Two of Scotland’s canals will be celebrated by the National Transport Trust this weekend with the award of Red Wheels to the Crinan and Caledonian Canals. Red Wheels are awarded by the National Transport Trust, whose Transport Heritage programme commemorates Britain’s rich…
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Characters of the Cut: Ashley Woodward, The Boat Inn

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April 12, 2023

By Alice Griffin STANDING proud at top lock opposite the country’s first canal museum, The Boat Inn, Stoke Bruerne, is at the heart of the canal system. Independently owned and operated by the Woodward family since 1877, fifth-generation Ashley Woodward is rightly proud to be the current general manager. Originally rented from the Duke of…
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Urgent request for crew – Kildare

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April 8, 2023

Much work has been completed on Kildare and the plan is to take the boat to Braunston to be painted for the Boat Show in June. A crew is needed to move Kildare. The plan is to assemble at the Museum on Tuesday 11 April with a 5-6 day cruise to Braunston. This requires a…
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Weaver’s Triangle Visitor Centre Re-Opens

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April 7, 2023

The Weavers’ Triangle Visitor Centre on Manchester Road, Burnley reopens for the 2023 season at Easter. On Saturday, 8th April the Mayor of Burnley, Councillor Cosima Towneley, who has recently agreed to become Patron of the Weavers’ Triangle Trust, will inaugurate the season at 1.30p.m. The Visitor Centre will then be open on Saturdays and Sundays…
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Navigation at Crofton: re-opened!

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April 3, 2023

The Kennet & Avon Canal has re-opened to navigation at Crofton, following five months of closure to allow the Canal & River Trust to replace the canal’s pumping system at Crofton. A section of the towpath at Crofton will remain closed until July 2023. The pumping system at Crofton, near Great Bedwyn in Wiltshire, keeps…
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