News

WWII Firefighting Narrowboat Sculptor Celebrates 90 Years of Canal History

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January 9, 2026

A historic working narrowboat that played a vital role in fighting fires in London during the Second World War has marked a remarkable milestone — its 90th birthday. Sculptor, owned by the Canal & River Trust and normally moored outside the Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne, began its working life in November 1935 as part…
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WIND-POWERED SHIPPING and the Future of Decarbonising Inland Waterways

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January 8, 2026

Wind-powered merchant shipping has moved from theory to reality, offering a compelling demonstration of how global freight transport can dramatically reduce its carbon footprint. While the direct use of wind power is not suitable for inland waterways, the principles behind it point clearly towards the future of low-carbon freight on canals and rivers. A landmark…
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IWA Pushes for Higher Clearance on New Exeter Ship Canal Bridges

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January 7, 2026

The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) is calling for increased air draft clearance on replacement bridges planned for the Exeter Ship Canal, as Devon County Council moves forward with proposals to renew two ageing structures on the A379. The council intends to replace the existing westbound steel swing bridge, dating from the 1930s, and the eastbound…
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SHROPSHIRE COUNCILLORS Tour Montgomery Canal Restoration with Volunteer

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January 6, 2026

Senior councillors from Shropshire Council have taken part in an introductory boat tour of the Montgomery Canal, hosted by the Montgomery Canal appeal and restoration groups. The visit marked the first opportunity for senior councillors to view restoration work on the Montgomery Canal since political control of the council changed following local elections in May.…
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FOUR SEASONS on the canal

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January 5, 2026

Artist, illustrator and author Trevor Bounford has spent 15 months immortalising a historic journey along the Louth Navigation canal in Lincolnshire, capturing its landscapes, waterways and character through paint. Trevor — who has previously exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in London — has created 17 detailed line-and-wash sketches depicting key locations along the…
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KING’S AWARD for Voluntary Service Honours Grantham RiverCare for Protecting the River Witham

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January 3, 2026

Grantham RiverCare has been recognised with the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest accolade a voluntary group can receive in the UK and regarded as the equivalent of an MBE. A total of 231 volunteer groups across the country have been honoured this year. The award, previously known as the Queen’s Award for Voluntary…
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£210,000 LOTTERY GRANT to restore 1912 Canal Boat as floating community hub

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January 2, 2026

A National Lottery Heritage Fund grant of £210,000 will restore a 1912-built historic canal boat and transform it into a floating community hub, bringing a little-appreciated chapter of Oxford’s waterways history to life for future generations. The funding will support the restoration of Kilsby, a working canal boat that has been in continuous use on…
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VOLUNTEERING EXCELLENCE on nation’s canals

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December 31, 2025

Volunteering has been one of the standout success stories of the Canal & River Trust since it was formed in 2012. Today, around 5,500 volunteers regularly give their time to support the charity’s work, contributing nearly three-quarters of a million volunteer hours in the past financial year alone. Reflecting both this growth and the increasing…
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CANAL REOPENS after £850K repair

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December 30, 2025

Boats have returned to cruising the Shropshire Union Canal in Cheshire following the completion of an £850,000 repair project to fix a serious breach caused earlier this year. The breach occurred when an old culvert carrying a stream beneath the canal collapsed, damaging the towpath, embankment and canal bed. To carry out the complex repair,…
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BANNED: Plastic wet wipes

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December 29, 2025

Rivers, lakes and beaches across England are set to become cleaner, with wildlife better protected, after the Government signed into law a ban on the sale of plastic wet wipes. The move marks a significant step forward in tackling plastic pollution, which can cause long-lasting damage to waterways and ecosystems. The new legislation specifically targets…
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WIGAN CANAL REOPENS after water main burst

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December 28, 2025

Boats have returned to cruising the seven-mile Leigh Branch of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in Wigan following its closure in August caused by a burst water main. Engineers from the Canal & River Trust worked closely with United Utilities, which owns the damaged main, to complete a bespoke repair to the canal bank between…
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FAIRER BOAT LICENSING SYSTEM called for

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December 27, 2025

An independent commission’s report on boat licensing for the Canal & River Trust concluded that the current system is outdated, inconsistent, and in need of reform – and has recommended clearer definitions, stronger enforcement powers, and a simpler, fairer framework that reflects modern use of the waterways. BOAT licensing needs reform to reflect the current…
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NATIONAL HONOUR for waterways photographer

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December 24, 2025

National Historic Ships UK, a government-funded but independent organisation, has announced the winners of its annual photography competition celebrating maritime heritage across the UK. The organisation provides objective advice to UK governments and local authorities, funding bodies, and the historic ships sector on all matters relating to historic vessels. Kev, from Tipton in the West…
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BREACH at Whitchurch on the Llangollen Canal: what we know so far

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December 23, 2025

A major embankment failure on the Llangollen Canal at Whitchurch has led to the closure of a key section of the waterway while emergency services and engineers assess the damage and plan repairs. The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday 22 December 2025, close to New Mills Lift Bridge, and resulted in a…
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