Canal and River Trust

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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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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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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CROCODILE ON THE CUT not all it seemed

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December 22, 2025

A POLICE appeal to find a crocodile dumped in a canal caused a storm on social media – and the mystery was soon solved. The Derbyshire Rural Crime Team first posted on Facebook: “We know this is probably the strangest appeal ever to grace our Facebook page; however, we are appealing for your help in…
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MAJOR FUNDING SECURED to safeguard the future of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal

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December 5, 2025

The future of one of Wales’ most cherished waterways has just received a significant boost. The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal – a vital lifeline for local wildlife, businesses, and tourism – will continue to flow thanks to a long-term funding commitment announced by the Welsh Government. Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies confirmed that the Welsh…
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WIGAN CANAL reopens to boats after water main burst

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December 2, 2025

BOATS have returned to cruising the seven-mile length of the Leigh Branch of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in Wigan following its closure due to a burst water main back in August. Engineers at the Canal & River Trust worked with United Utilities, which owns the water main, to carry out a bespoke repair to the canal bank between Poolstock Lock and Bamfurlong…
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HISTORIC NORTHAMPTONSHIRE working boat celebrates 90th birthday

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November 25, 2025

A historic Northamptonshire working boat which played a key role in fighting fires in London during World War II is set to celebrate her 90th birthday. Sculptor, which is owned by the Canal & River Trust and normally moored outside the Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne, began her working life in November 1935 when she joined…
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FOXTON LOCK festive feeling as Christmas illuminations are switching on

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November 24, 2025

Foxton Locks is set to sparkle as the Canal & River Trust invites visitors to one of Leicestershire’s most spectacular Christmas events, taking place on Friday 28 November. The charity, working with Foxton Locks Inn, Foxton Canal Museum and other businesses on site, is organising the event, which will see the historic site decked out…
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COMMISSION REVIEWING BOAT LICENSING FRAMEWORK DELIVERS REPORT

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November 20, 2025

The Report from the independent Commission set up to review the legal framework around boat licensing and whether it is appropriate for the canal network’s future has been published (19 November). Over the past ten months the Commission, chaired by Andrew Cowan, a former senior partner at law firm Devonshires, has undertaken an extensive review, engaging…
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BOAT LICENCE FEES for 2026-27

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November 13, 2025

The Canal & River Trust is today announcing an increase in boat licence fees for both private boat owners and boating businesses of 4.85% from 1 April 2026. The rise is based on Bank of England forecasts that inflation will remain at around 3.8% through until April 2026. Surcharges for boats without a home mooring…
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WINTER MAINTENANCE to span 45 canals

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November 11, 2025

A total of 137 projects to restore and repair the canal network will take place during the colder months. JUST after the last issue of Towpath Talk went to press, the Canal & River Trust announced details of its winter maintenance and preservation programme. Works will span 45 canals and rivers and include 137 separate…
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BE A BRICK and buy one!

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November 5, 2025

Volunteers are looking to late autumn and the start of the next phase in connecting the Staffordshire & Worcester Canal at Baswich to the town of Stafford. THE chairman of the Stafford Riverway Link, Paul Bryan, said: “The dedicated group of volunteers have continued to make progress on their aim. The holding basin, with room…
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LOCK CLOSURE forces more lorries onto Yorkshire’s roads

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November 4, 2025

THE Inland Waterways Association (IWA) has said the Canal & River Trust’s plan to close Sykehouse Lock, on the New Junction Canal, near Thorne, South Yorkshire, from November 3 to December 19 for bottom and top gate repairs is excessive and disregards the impact on navigation and businesses. The six-week duration of the intended closure…
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SPOOKTACULAR Halloween events to scare your socks off

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October 24, 2025

Things are getting very spooky around Halloween on Canal & River Trust’s canals in Yorkshire, with frightening family-fun Halloween events to scare even the most intrepid ghost hunter. The waterways charity, in association with Huddersfield Canal Society and the North of England Centre for Music & Arts, is inviting brave souls to discover the spookier side of…
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