Canal News – Guided nature walk along the Montgomery Canal

Canal News

Guided nature walk along the Montgomery Canal

Montgomery Canal north of Perry Aqueduct

Between Heath Houses and Frankton Locks the restored Montgomery Canal passes through peaceful countryside well away from any major roads. It was in this vicinity that the 1936 breach occurred that was to close the canal for more than half a century.  © Copyright Stephen McKay and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 Address

Tesco car park
Welshpool
SY21 7AL

 22 Aug 2013
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Join ecologist Stuart Moodie for a twilight walk along the Montgomery Canal.

If you want to find out more about the wildlife that the Montgomery Canal is home to then make your way to Welshpool on 22 August and join a free guided walk led by national ecologist, Stuart Moodie.

The walk from Welshpool to Belan Locks will take in Whitehouse Nature Reserve and cover about 3.5 miles. As well as spotting a wide selection of wildlife, you’ll find out all about the fascinating history of the canal and how it has been restored.

For more information email great.nature@canalrivertrust.org.uk

Canal Bridge over Montgomery Canal

Carries Rhew Level Lane of unrestored section of Montgomery Canal  © Copyright John Firth and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Canal News – Montgomery Canal & The National Museum at Ellesmere Port

Canal News

Montgomery Canal Restoration Work Party

20 – 21 Jul 2013
9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Help the Shropshire Union Canal Society to complete the restoration of a further stretch of the Montgomery Canal.

The Shropshire Union Canal Society holds monthly work parties to return ‘the Monty’ to water.

New volunteers with any level of experience are welcome. The work parties are an opportunity to learn new skills under the guidance of experienced people.

This year the SUCS need a big push to lay blocks in the channel bed, so please come along and help to complete this section of the restoration. Tea and coffee are provided three times per day, just bring your own lunch.

Redwith – February 2007

and October 2012

The Society has been actively engaged in the restoration of the Montgomery Canal since 1968. We restored 10 locks between 1970 and 2006. With all the locks on the canal restored, we became a channel restoration group and moved to the Redwith site in 2008. This stretch will extend the length of the Montgomery linked with the national canal network by 430 metres – towards Crickheath, the next winding hole, and ultimately to Llanymynech, from where the watered but isolated section extends beyond Welshpool.

Can You Help?

Our needs are simple; volunteers, money, cake.

If you are interested in joining the restoration work parties, please contact Mike Friend on Mike@canalcottage.co.uk or 01948 880723 or 07909 912611
New volunteers with any level of experience are welcome, our work parties are an opportunity to learn new skills under the guidance of experienced people. This year we need a big push to lay blocks in the channel bed, so please come along and help us to complete this section of the restoration. Tea and coffee are provided three times per day, just bring your own lunch. And maybe a cake.

As a volunteer group our progress is slow, but we are extremely good value for money so please consider a donation to our restoration fund.
Using commercial contractors is much quicker but much more expensive; we’d like to see Llanymynech connected to Liverpool, Leeds and London in our lifetimes, so if you have a few million to spare, we’d love to hear from you!

Thanks to all the lovely people who have given us cakes. If you are in the area, don’t be shy!

Restoration Work Party Dates for 2013

February 02 + 03
March 16 + 17
April 20 + 21
May 18 + 19
June 15 + 16
July 20 + 21
August 17 + 18
September 21 + 22
October 19 + 20
November 16 + 17

To read this year’s work party reports, please click on the links above

For reports from previous years at Redwith, please see the Redwith Restoration Archive page.

Location

The worksite runs between Bridges 83 and 84 at Redwith. The site entrance is just west of Redwith Bridge, on the B4396 between Knockin and Llynclys, about 300 yards east of Lloyds Animal Feeds.

Map reference SJ 300 240

Lloyds’ Post Code SY10 8BH

Google Maps link

The towpath remains open during restoration work.

Warriors and Washerwomen at the National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port

The Redcoats are here!

20 – 21 Jul 2013
10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Soldiers, sailors, merchants and housewives from 1000 years of Cheshire history and beyond will be bringing the National Waterways Museum to life at the Warriors and Washerwomen Living History Fair on July 20 and 21.

This colourful weekend will see the museum taken over by re-enactors from many different periods giving a living, walking and talking exhibition of the history of Cheshire.

Visitors are invited to take a walk around the site and meet fearsome Vikings, Medieval artists, English Civil War soldiers, Redcoats and Cavalrymen from the colourful Napoleonic era, American Civil War soldiers to find out about the North-Wests links to that conflict, and even families inhabiting the historic row of cottages in the museum.

” Firing demonstrations, drills and other shows of old skills will be taking place around the museum’s seven acres during the day – visitors should listen out for announcement or just follow their ears to make sure they don’t miss anything. In addition to the historical enactors, there will be children’s activities, trails and boat trips.

Canal News – Montgomery Canal Triathlon & Bradley Lock Gate Workshop

Canal News

Montgomery Canal Triathlon

Address

Montgomery Canal towpath,  Newtown to Frankton

11 May 2013

9:30 am – 5:00 pm

Using the 35 mile route of the Montgomery Canal, the Triathlon will invove cycling, boating and walking.

Enjoy spectacular views as you cycle, boat or walk along the Montgomery Canal in this unique challenge.

You can cycle 13.5 miles from Newtown to Welshpool, canoe 11 miles from Welshpool to Llanymynech and walk 10.5 miles from Llanymynech to Frankton. Complete one section or push the boat out and attempt all three!

Each section can be entered separately so taking part in the 3 activities is not compulsory.

The event is non competitive but lots of fun. This is the second year that it has been organised by the Friends of the Montgomery Canal and entry enquiries are very welcome. Please contact Peter Richards tel 01691 831455.

Montgomery Canal

Wildlife thrives along the Montgomery Canal. It is one of the most important canals in the country for nature, much of it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Welsh section is of international importance

The canal is alive with rare aquatic plants, and otters and water voles have also been spotted. Several nature reserves border the canal, filled with wildflowers and insects, including dragonflies and damselflies.

Walking or cycling along the towpath is an excellent way to experience the peace and tranquility of this rural canal. This is also a popular canal for canoeing – paddling quietly through peaceful green surroundings is a great way to spot wildlife.

While the canal was closed to boats for many years, it is now being reborn as a cruiseway through the picturesque Welsh Marches. One restored section connects to the Llangollen Canal, while the other is only accessible by a slipway at Welshpool. Work continues to join the two sections through volunteers and the work of the restoration partnership.

Open day at Bradley lock gate workshop

Lock gate replacement

Address:

Bradley Workshop

Bradley Lane,  Bilston,  West Midlands,  WV14 8DW

 12 May 2013

10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Come and visit us at Bradley workshop and find out how we make lock gates for our canals and rivers.

Take a tour of the lock gate workshop, engineering rooms, woodworking workshop and store room where the gates are painstakingly made and ask questions of our expert staff about how the gates are made.

The workshops plan on the basis that 4% of our lock gates (there are 1,600 locks around the network) need replacing every year – which works out at 200 to 220 lock gate leaves or 100 to 110 locks. It can take anything from five to 20 days to manufacture a gate (depending on the size) to plane the green, rough sawn timber, set out the gate, carry out all the intricate steel work, make the mortice and tennon joints, shape the heel and head posts and assemble everything into the finished product.

As different canals were originally built by individual pre-Victorian entrepreneurs, each one varies from the other and there is no standard design. Therefore, every individual lock gate is unique to its canal and has to be hand crafted to achieve a water-tight fit in its chamber.

Each bespoke lock gate is hand-crafted and made from sustainably sourced British oak and weighs on average 3.6 tonnes and can take up to 20 days to make.

There’s no need to book – just come along between 10am and 4pm and we’ll show you around.

Canal News – Opening Times: Montgomery Canal

Canal News

Opening Times: Montgomery Canal

Frankton Locks – SUMMER OPENING TIMES 2013

 Wednesday 27 March 2013 – Thursday 31 October 2013

Lock opening times 12 noon until 2pm, 7 days per week (including Bank holidays).

Bookings are required for passage through the locks.

Customers can book any day in advance but no later than 10.00am on the day of passage*

To book, please call our Northwich Office.

Please note there are no passages available without a booking or outside these hours.

To book a passage Monday-Friday, call 0303 040 4040

If you are calling on a Sat, Sun or Bank Holiday, please call 01606 786777, Option 8 (Anderton Boat Lift)

*NB Customers are advised that there are a maximum of 12 boats allowed down the locks and 12 boats allowed up the locks in any one day and booking well in advance is recommended to avoid disappointment. There is a minimum of 1 night and a maximum of 14 nights stay.

Enquiries: 0303 040 4040

Canal News – Round the MIdlands, March 2013

Trent and Mersey Canal in Rugeley, Staffordshire

Approaching Leather Lane Bridge, No 66. Visitor moorings here are good for a visit to Morrison’s supermarket nearby off to the left.  © Copyright Roger Kidd and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 

http://www.shropshireunion.org.uk/montgomery-canal-restoration

Boating on the Montgomery Canal

Discovery and invention at Gloucester Waterways Museum as part of National Science and Engineering Week

15 – 24 Mar 2013
10:00 am – 4:30 pm

Science and engineering is at the heart of Britain‘s waterways and what better time to celebrate the inventions that have contributed to our canals and rivers than National Science and Engineering Week (15-24 March).

Families will be able to follow a specially created science trail around the museum and learn more about the science and engineering behind some of the museum’s mechanical exhibits, including the Fielding Engine, steam crane and the museum’s famous SND No4 steam dredger, restored recently thanks to Heritage Lottery Funding.

Visitors can put their problem-solving skills to good use when they learn how to build a bridge to get a tall ship through as well as understanding more about the intricacies of dredging Gloucester Docks.

SND No4 Steam dredger at Gloucester Waterways Museum

Canal News – November 16th 2012

Canal News – November 16th 2012

Lock on MontgomeryCanal

View of restored lock on Montgomery Canal taken from Morrisons supermarket car park in Welshpool .  © Copyright John Firth and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Welshpool Lock open day, Montgomery Canal, 17 November 2012

Come and watch us replacing and refurbishing the gates at Welshpool Lock. If you arrive at the right time you’ll even get to see a fish rescue.

Fish rescue at Hollybank basin

We’re draining the lock so that our engineers can carry out a detailed inspection and repair the brickwork before replacing the bottom lock gates, which date back to 1973.

Come and see the stoppage works taking place as part of the overall restoration of the Montgomery Canal and you’ll have the chance to join a guided tour and walk down into a drained lock chamber.

As part of this project we’ll carry out a small-scale fish rescue. This is your chance to get close up to some of the many fish species our waterways are home to.

Powysland Museum, located next to the lock, will be open with free entry on the day. Go inside to hear talks about the heritage of the local canal network, as well as learn about local history. Refreshments will also be served here.

Dogs and children are welcome.

Time: 10am-4pm (last entry strictly 3:15pm; site closes 3:45pm)

Address: Welshpool Lock on the Montgomery Canal, Powys, SY21 7AQ

Parking: Pay & display car park at Morrisons next to the lock. Tescos car park over the bridge (charges apply)

   Hillmorton Lock 4, Oxford Canal, 18 November 2012

Come and see the work taking place on one of the busiest lock flights in the country. We’ll be draining the lock and installing commemorative lock gates.

Locklines arts project

We’re offering you the chance to descend into a drained lock chamber to get a closer look at the maintenance work taking place on this unusual twin flight on the Oxford Canal.

We’ll also install a pair of commemorative lock gates, designed by artist Peter Coates, built in our own workshops and inscribed with a poem by Roy Fisher. Make sure you don’t miss out on this historic moment.

Hillmorton Locks, Rugby, Warwickshire

The flight of locks at Hillmorton consists of three pairs, the bottom pair (here) numbered 2 and 3, then up to Nos 4 and 5, with No 6 and No 7 being the toplock pairing.  This is because of the stop lock at Hawkesbury, about sixteen miles away being allocated number one on this, the North Oxford Canal!  © Copyright Roger Kidd and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 

No pre-booking required.

Time: 10am-4pm (last entry strictly 3:15pm; site closes 3:45pm)

Location: Hillmorton Lock 4 on the Oxford Canal

Parking: Free parking is available in the car park behind Badseys Café Bistro next to the Locks

This year’s winter stoppage open day programme has been sponsored by May Gurney

Canal News – November 3rd & 4th 2012

Canal news – Weekend November 3rd & 4th

Trent & Mersey Canal – Brindley Bank Aqueduct

Typical James Brindley designed brick aqueduct over the River Trent. The canal opened in 1777.  © Copyright John M and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 IWA work party at Rugeley

03 – 04 Nov 2012

09:30 am – 13:00 pm

Work party weekend at Brindley Bank, Rugeley. Organised by the Inland Waterways Association, Lichfield Branch in conjunction with the Canal & River Trust.

Installation of 20 mooring rings and signage to establish countryside visitor moorings on the Trent & Mersey Canal between Brindley Bank Aqueduct and the A51.

Meet at the bottom of the steps, accessed by the footpath between the Pumping Station and Albany Drive.

Work will include: digging holes, fixing and concreting in rings with brick paving, installing signs.

9.30am to 4.30pm on Saturday. 10 am to 1pm on Sunday to finish off and also clear the footpath between the road and steps. All help appreciated, even for only a few hours.

If you plan to attend on the Saturday, please let Margaret know, as we intend to provide sandwiches at lunchtime. All necessary equipment to be provided by the Canal & River Trust. Refreshments provided. Further information from Margaret Beardsmore on 07581 794111 or email margaret.beardsmore@waterways.org.uk

Montgomery Canal Restoration at Redwith

Looking north from the re-instated Redwith bridge as work nears completion on the restoration of the Montgomery Canal from the current head of navigation at Gronwen Wharf.  © Copyright David Stowell and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

  Montgomery Canal volunteer work party

03 – 04 Nov 2012

10:00 am – 16:00 pm

Come and help restore the historic Montgomery Canal at Redwith Bridge with the Shropshire Union Canal Society.

Redwith Bridge is signposted from the B4396.

For more information, call Mike Friend on 01948 880723 or 07909 912611.

Black Country Museum

Canal boats moored up on the Birmingham Canal at The Black Country Museum  © Copyright Peter Latham and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

  Bonfire Night at the Black Country Living Museum

03 Nov 2012

18:30 pm – 22:00 pm

Enjoy traditional bonfire celebrations at the Black Country Living Museum.

Take the family to the Black Country Living Museum on the BCN for its traditional bonfire night.

It’s the perfect night out for children (and adults) who don’t like big bangs, as there will be no fireworks.

Roaring bonfires will be accompanied by traditional entertainment, hot roast chestnuts and a fairground.

The museum’s canal-side village will be lit up with candle and gas-light and visitors can enjoy chatting to period characters.

Pre-booking is essential. Call 0121 520 8054 or visit http://www.bclm.com/bookings

Canal News – Montgomery & Maesbury

Canal News – 29 – 8 – 2012

Montgomery Canal between Aston Middle and Lower Locks

The Montgomery Canal justs cuts across the corner of this square, I put it in again just to remind everyone what a beautiful canal it is.  © Copyright John Haynes and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 Montgomery Canal volunteer work party

01 – 02 Sep 2012
08:00 am – 16:00 pm

Come and help restore the historic Montgomery Canal at Redwith Bridge with the Shropshire Union Canal Society.

Redwith Bridge is signposted from the B4396.

For more information, call Mike Friend on 01948 880723 or 07909 912611.

Montgomery Canal Restoration at Redwith

Looking north from the re-instated Redwith bridge as work nears completion on the restoration of the Montgomery Canal from the current head of navigation at Gronwen Wharf.  © Copyright David Stowell and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Benefits of re-opening a canal

When the Aston to Gronwen Wharf section of the Montgomery Canal opened in 2004 Maesbury Marine Services was a fledgling company at Maesbury Mill, it is now a thriving marine business with lots of boats either moored or being maintained.  © Copyright John Haynes and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

  Maesbury Canal Festival

01 – 02 Sep 2012
09:00 am – 16:00 pm

Visit the canal festival on the Shropshire Union Canal at Maesbury.

For more info, contact info@canalfestival.co.uk or 01691 830403.

Hallemans Bridge west of Soudley, Shropshire

Bridge No 53 across the Shropshire Union Canal carries Westcott Lane between Cheswardine and Goldstone.  © Copyright Roger Kidd and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 

Canal News – Waterway Recovery Group

WRGie News May 2012

Wow – what a busy Easter! WRG volunteers spent two weeks on the Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal digging, profiling, rollering and shovelling in order to create a new 275m length of canal from Over Basin. Further north on the Chesterfield Canal in Derbyshire over 20 volunteers started work on the new Staveley Town Lock – they will be returning at the end of August to carrying on block and bricklaying.

Construction of Staveley Town Lock on the Chesterfield Canal

The new lock (Staveley Town Lock, no. 5A) will enable the canal to get under a railway line a few hundred metres further on. There will be a twin lock (Railway Lock, no. 5B) on the other side of the railway line to raise the canal again. This section of the Chesterfield Canal is presently not connected to other waterways but the Chesterfield Canal Trust, in partnership with Derbyshire County Council, are working hard to complete the restoration project.  © Copyright Graham Hogg and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

WRG Training Weekend

Date: 23rd/24th June  Location: Lichfield Canal

Every year we run our training weekend with the main purpose of making sure that we train/refresh our volunteers for the summer work programme. We hope to run “Introduction to Bricklaying” and “Surveying” courses, along with training courses in operating items of plant such as excavators and dumpers.

Look the part on site!

The Canal Camp 2012 t-shirts are now on sale through IWA’s online shop for ONLY £8. WRG logo on the front with new 2012 design on the back.

T-shirts are available in small, medium, large, x-large, xx-large

Canal Camps 2012

The camps are filling up fast but we still have some spaces so don’t delay and book now! Each camp costs only £56 which includes food & accommodation.

CC201207 14th-21st July Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal

Leaders: Fred Towey & Loraine Hughes

C201212 28th July-4th August Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation

Leaders: tbc

CC201214 4th-11th August Cromford Canal Camp

Leaders: tbc

CC201215 4th-11th August Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation

Leaders: tbc

CC201217 11th-18th August Cromford Canal Camp

Leaders: Tom Rawlings & Gemma Bolton

CC201219 11th-18th August Montgomery Canal

Leaders: Martyn Worsley & Ju Davenport

CC201222 18th-25th August Montgomery Canal

Leaders: Mike Palmer & Harry Watts

CC201223 25th August – 1st Sept Chesterfield Canal

Leaders: Steve Baylis & George Rogers

CC201225 25th August – 1st Sept Montgomery Canal

Leader: Jonathan Smith

 

Canal News – Waterscape.com

Canal News

Waterscape.com

 Montgomery Canal – Frankton LocksFrankton Locks

Frankton Locks are at the northern end of the Montgomery Canal, just south of the junction with the Llangollen Canal. The hours of opening are restricted.  © Copyright Martin Clark and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 SUMMER OPENING TIMES 2012

Tuesday 27 March 2012 – Wednesday 31 October 2012
Tuesday 27th March 2012 until Wednesday 31st October 2012
Lock opening times 12 noon until 2pm, 7 days per week including Bank holidays.
Bookings are required for passage through the locks.
You can book any time before 10am on the day of passage.
To book, please ring our Northwich Office.
Please note there are no passages available without a booking or outside these hours.
To book a passage, call 01606 723800

Enquiries: 01606 723800

 HuddersfieldCanal

 Between Lock 20W and 21WHalls Lock. Huddersfield Canal, Greenfield

This section was restored to use in 2001.  © Copyright Michael Fox and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 Tuesday 13 March 2012 – Friday 30 March 2012
Towpath between Halls Lock (Lock 20w) and Lock 21w

Closure of towpath to public – No restriction to navigation as a result of these works.
This is to facilitate gas mains replacement works

British Waterways apologise for any inconvenience caused

Enquiries: 01782 785703