I am James Graham Gregory-Marshall, the son of Joan Marshall (General Manager of the Basingstoke Canal from 1949 - 64) and David Gregory who was Foreman of the canal during the same period. I really enjoyed this video. A few years ago I tried to trace the original line of the canal from Basingstoke to Little Tunnel Bridge and got hopelessly lost on a couple of occasions. I wish that I had seen this video then but using its information, I will try again this summer to trace the route. I hope the plans to mark the last five miles goes ahead and I look forward to the next part of this video. Thank you very much.
Thank you James. I imagine your Mum and Dad had many a tale about the canal and probably so much valuable information lost. I'm so glad you enjoyed my film, hope you enjoy finding what remains of the canal as much as I have. Part 2 should be out around the end of February, beginning of March
Thank you for this excellent guide. I have done this walk some years ago and it fires the imagination to what could of been if the shortages of water had been resolved how busy the canal might have been.
Thank you Benjamin. I think because of the railways and motor transport all canals became unviable and uneconomical, although the water supply problem certainly was a factor.
@@PASTFINDERexploring very true especially as the last big payday for the basingstoke was when it was paid to transport material for the mainline that runs parallel to the canal for much of its length. I'm looking forward to part 2
A bit further on i think my grandad painted King John's Castle as it was known that stood near the old canal. He was a sign writer and occasional artist. This would have been 1930s and 40s.
I really enjoyed the video. I always wondered where the canal basin was located in Basingstoke and how much of the canal bed actually remains between the terminus and Old Basing - now I know. Looking forward to seeing Part 2!
Absolutely brilliant, can’t wait for Part 2.My Great Grandfather on my Mother’s side of the family worked on the Wharf in Basingstoke, family Surname Evans. One of his son’s lived in a house along Redbridge Lane & was responsible for filling in a large section of the Canal which ran right down to Basing House.
Thank you Alison. It's a shame as it's only after publishing my films that I receive a wealth of stories and information on the very subject. I imagine your Grandfather could have relayed some tales and invaluable material on the canal.
Hi Pete, thanks for your comment. Alas yes, nothing remains in Basingstoke. The next part will show, however, that although dry, much of the canal still remains as it leaves Old Basing.
Fantastic video with great historical facts, nice use of past /present overlays. Shame that it wasn’t able to be extended again when Festering Place was created. Glad you made it out of The Fen. Looking forward to Part 2.
Wonderful. You filled in a lot of holes in our knowledge. My son and I walked this from Weybridge and could only trance as far as the branch to the brickworks....the rest was a mystery
Really interesting, thank you. I was born just outside Basingstoke and remember as a kid travelling in on the bus (fare around 8d as I recall) to what many of the older folk from our village still referred to as The Barge. Basingstoke had all changed by the time we moved away in the late 1960s, but your views of the bus station area are quite unrecognisable! But the bridge at Basing House is still as I remember it. Look forward to the next instalment.
Another fantastic video! If I remember correctly, around 10 years ago… I guess, police found the remains of a body on Basingstoke Fen mentioned at 9:50. The remains were skeletal, and no foul play was suspected. Sadly, I think it was believed to have been the remains of a homeless person who’d passed away and gone unnoticed unfortunately.
Nice work Bob, I've walked the exact same route all the way to Greywell. There are some very interesting bits to come, I'm already looking forward to part two.
Really enjoyed that video. I have walked the route of the canal from the Greywell tunnel to Eastrop Park and I think I found most of the remaining bits, but I never noticed those metal plaques in the wall and I was never too sure of the path the canal took through (or next too) Easthope Park. Fascinating video, thank you.
I lived on the then quite new Riverdene estate at Eastrop around 1970, and the canal was stll somewhat visible from around Eastrop Bridge most of the way to the bypass, as there were no roads or buildings near the line. And if I remember right, the bed still held some water in the Basing house area in about 1970. Incidentally, a couple of very elderly Greywell residents told me that the village name is pronouced as 'Grool' (more or less monosyllabic).
A good guide, perhaps a little long but some nice images there and with some of the archive photos added would make it more polished. Good job though The loss of the Canal for those last five miles is very disappointing, but the opportunity to restore it was not overlooked by our local council who invested money in trying to find a way to restore it and find an aquifer to ensure a good water supply.
Whereabouts is the old pump house on Basing fen. I walked it many times with my dog and can never find it, also it's very easy to get lost in this area
fantastic film it's incredible what we lost the canal wharf photo l was blown away when l first saw this recently l have a canal book which says there is an old ww2 jeep buried under redbridge would be interesting if this was true ! l often walk along eastrop way and try and imagine canal boats coming along there l got very lost one day on the basing fen didn't think it was possible but believe me it is.
With more sensitive and creative planning, Basingstoke could have become a beautiful town instead of the ugly carbuncle it has become. God knows how many backhanders were paid to strip the town of all its charm from the train station to Winton Square.
Totally agree, unfortunately all our successive MPs and the council are interested in is swamping the town with ever more housing and attempting to attract non existent big business. Imagine how pleasant it would be had the canal been restored from Greywell to Eastrop Park.
![สาวเมืองเพชร - ธีเดช ทองอภิชาติ [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kEt7F9PvO3I/mqdefault.jpg)
I am James Graham Gregory-Marshall, the son of Joan Marshall (General Manager of the Basingstoke Canal from 1949 - 64) and David Gregory who was Foreman of the canal during the same period. I really enjoyed this video. A few years ago I tried to trace the original line of the canal from Basingstoke to Little Tunnel Bridge and got hopelessly lost on a couple of occasions. I wish that I had seen this video then but using its information, I will try again this summer to trace the route. I hope the plans to mark the last five miles goes ahead and I look forward to the next part of this video. Thank you very much.
Thank you James. I imagine your Mum and Dad had many a tale about the canal and probably so much valuable information lost. I'm so glad you enjoyed my film, hope you enjoy finding what remains of the canal as much as I have. Part 2 should be out around the end of February, beginning of March
This is great. I’ve lived in Basingstoke all my life and didn’t know much of the information you have given in this video.
Nice work!
Thank You Dave. Before I began exploring I knew only a small amount of this existed. Don't forget parts 2, 3 and 4 with 5 yet to be released.
@@PASTFINDERexploring I will work my way throughout the others. Cheers
This is very informative and looks like hard going. Thank You
Thank you Paul. Hard going but thoroughly enjoyable
Thankyou. We enjoyed imagining the canal being there as you walked. Sad in a way. We love our concrete it seems.
Thanks Tony. Glad you enjoyed it. Part 2 will be out next week.
Thank you so much. Just beautiful and such wonderful photography
Hi Ann. Glad you enjoyed it and thank you for your kind comments.
Thank you for this excellent guide. I have done this walk some years ago and it fires the imagination to what could of been if the shortages of water had been resolved how busy the canal might have been.
Thank you Benjamin. I think because of the railways and motor transport all canals became unviable and uneconomical, although the water supply problem certainly was a factor.
@@PASTFINDERexploring very true especially as the last big payday for the basingstoke was when it was paid to transport material for the mainline that runs parallel to the canal for much of its length. I'm looking forward to part 2
Excellent video and commentary. Thank you
Thanks for your kind comments Robert. Part 2 is out now.
Brilliant. The canal hedgerow and tree line certainly survives in Eastrop Park.
Excellent stuff Bob.
Thanks Alan.
A bit further on i think my grandad painted King John's Castle as it was known that stood near the old canal. He was a sign writer and occasional artist. This would have been 1930s and 40s.
Another excellent documentary. I have lived in the area since the 80s. You uncover things I have not seen before. Well done.
Thank you for your kind comments David. I think the secret is to just get stuck into the nettles and brambles (ouch)!
I really enjoyed the video. I always wondered where the canal basin was located in Basingstoke and how much of the canal bed actually remains between the terminus and Old Basing - now I know. Looking forward to seeing Part 2!
Thanks David, glad you enjoyed it.
Absolutely brilliant, can’t wait for Part 2.My Great Grandfather on my Mother’s side of the family worked on the Wharf in Basingstoke, family Surname Evans. One of his son’s lived in a house along Redbridge Lane & was responsible for filling in a large section of the Canal which ran right down to Basing House.
Thank you Alison. It's a shame as it's only after publishing my films that I receive a wealth of stories and information on the very subject. I imagine your Grandfather could have relayed some tales and invaluable material on the canal.
Great video, very interesting. Can't wait for part two.
Thank you for this. I love Basingstoke Canal and have always wondered where it’s original location was in Basingstoke.
Thanks Abi, look out for part 2 soon.
Fascinating! What a lovely and informative video.
Like David 5 hours ago, I look forward the learning about more of the 'last 5 miles'.
Thanks Harry. I'm glad that you enjoyed my film. Keep an eye out for part 2 in March
Excellent video!
I never realised that a stretch of the canal had been built on!
Hi Pete, thanks for your comment. Alas yes, nothing remains in Basingstoke. The next part will show, however, that although dry, much of the canal still remains as it leaves Old Basing.
This is excellent. I loved every minute. Thanks.
Thanks Scott. Look out for part 2 in the new year.
Fantastic video with great historical facts, nice use of past /present overlays. Shame that it wasn’t able to be extended again when Festering Place was created.
Glad you made it out of The Fen.
Looking forward to Part 2.
Cheers Steve. Took a while to find my way out, with a few added scratches.
Wonderful. You filled in a lot of holes in our knowledge. My son and I walked this from Weybridge and could only trance as far as the branch to the brickworks....the rest was a mystery
Really interesting, thank you. I was born just outside Basingstoke and remember as a kid travelling in on the bus (fare around 8d as I recall) to what many of the older folk from our village still referred to as The Barge. Basingstoke had all changed by the time we moved away in the late 1960s, but your views of the bus station area are quite unrecognisable! But the bridge at Basing House is still as I remember it. Look forward to the next instalment.
Hi Lewis. Thank you for your kind comments. Look out for part 2 around March.
Another fantastic video! If I remember correctly, around 10 years ago… I guess, police found the remains of a body on Basingstoke Fen mentioned at 9:50. The remains were skeletal, and no foul play was suspected. Sadly, I think it was believed to have been the remains of a homeless person who’d passed away and gone unnoticed unfortunately.
Not surprised Mark, there is still much evidence of homeless people trying to survive on the fen today. Very sad!
Nice work Bob, I've walked the exact same route all the way to Greywell. There are some very interesting bits to come, I'm already looking forward to part two.
Thanks Nige. Yes there are a lot more things to find from here on. Glad you enjoyed it.
Really enjoyed that video. I have walked the route of the canal from the Greywell tunnel to Eastrop Park and I think I found most of the remaining bits, but I never noticed those metal plaques in the wall and I was never too sure of the path the canal took through (or next too) Easthope Park. Fascinating video, thank you.
Hi Steven, thanks for your kind comments. It's a great walk isn't it?
Love this!! Fascinating stuff!
Cheers Chris. Glad you enjoyed it. Look out for prt 2 in the new year.
Great video!
Thank you Frank, glad you enjoyed it.
Really top quality film. Amazing how easy it is to get totally lost on Basing Fen.
Thanks. Yes we did get lost on Basing Fen.
Excellent video. I traced the canal from Greywell to the scout hut on old Basing but got stuck from there
Thanks for your kind comments. I shall get to the scout hut and beyond in the next part.
Fascinating - a great watch
Hi Greg. Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it.
This was so interesting! Great video!
Thanks. Look out for part 2 in the new year.
That’s sad I wish they would have persevered the canal love these videos
Thank you for your kind comments. Glad you enjoyed it, Part two out this week.
I lived on the then quite new Riverdene estate at Eastrop around 1970, and the canal was stll somewhat visible from around Eastrop Bridge most of the way to the bypass, as there were no roads or buildings near the line. And if I remember right, the bed still held some water in the Basing house area in about 1970. Incidentally, a couple of very elderly Greywell residents told me that the village name is pronouced as 'Grool' (more or less monosyllabic).
Shame it didn't remain and was then restored, would have been a good tourist attraction today.
A good guide, perhaps a little long but some nice images there and with some of the archive photos added would make it more polished. Good job though The loss of the Canal for those last five miles is very disappointing, but the opportunity to restore it was not overlooked by our local council who invested money in trying to find a way to restore it and find an aquifer to ensure a good water supply.
Thanks David. Alas I would have loved to have included more archive photo's, however, despite trying, I couldn't obtain permission to use them.
Whereabouts is the old pump house on Basing fen. I walked it many times with my dog and can never find it, also it's very easy to get lost in this area
It's off the footpath which cuts across the Fen at Swing Bridge cottage.
Well I enjoyed that x
Thank you Christopher. Look out for part 2 coming soon.
fantastic film it's incredible what we lost the canal wharf photo l was blown away when l first saw this recently l have a canal book which says there is an old ww2 jeep buried under redbridge would be interesting if this was true ! l often walk along eastrop way and try and imagine canal boats coming along there l got very lost one day on the basing fen didn't think it was possible but believe me it is.
Hi Joe. Thanks for your kind comments. I've heard about the jeep too. Didn't include it though in case it was someone trying to have a laugh.
If you use the lidar compassion, you can see the embankment quite well in places.
Thanks Dave, I've used Lidar on other explores but not this one. I'll get onto it.
With more sensitive and creative planning, Basingstoke could have become a beautiful town instead of the ugly carbuncle it has become. God knows how many backhanders were paid to strip the town of all its charm from the train station to Winton Square.
Totally agree, unfortunately all our successive MPs and the council are interested in is swamping the town with ever more housing and attempting to attract non existent big business. Imagine how pleasant it would be had the canal been restored from Greywell to Eastrop Park.