Hi Steve, another great vlog. Followed both canals 20 years and a member. Know Cannock well and there's been lots of development around Bridgtown and Churchbridge. Mining subsidence sealed the fate of Churchbridge locks hence a necessary detor.
I’ve been scanning maps trying to find any parts of the old route left, a bridge abutment, an old wall or something even some coping stones but it looks like it’s all been completely wiped from history
Yes! I’m about 7-800 off. I can’t believe how quickly it’s grown. The last 2 Christmas have been the fastest period of growth for me. I’ve got about 4 thousands subs in a month
@CourtAboveTheCut You deserve it, you soldier on and provide great content and information and you make it extremely interesting. Well done and ...... Good Job 👏👍👏👍
thanks for this film. we were mored just round the corner from the junction when a working boat came past us at full tilt and took out our mooring lines. Fortunately we got them back in quickly. caroline.
Fingers crossed the trust get some money and volunteers to start soon! They’ve got a really busy couple of years on the Lichfield now with approximately another half a mile planned to be finished in the next 18 - 24 months
Had a brief chat with Derek Ward today, shuck his hand and thanked him his passion for the LHRT … what a nice fella. The overlay canal map extensions in your edits. I’ve looked on the net for them??? The Cannock extension though, it was closed because of subsidence, has I understand it, the extension was subject to constant bridge jacking and canal wall repair…
Is that the waterway routes ones? I’ll add a link in the next comment. Yes it was all really bad up there, I’ve been trying to find some evidence online of any of it but it seems it’s all completely gone
www.waterwayroutes.co.uk/maps-free-for-restoration-projects/ Scroll down to hatherton, then scroll down towards the bottom and you’ll find 2 download links, one is pdf the other is memory maps, memory maps is awesome but it’s a paid ap
You've just connected a few dots for me. I know the area reasonably well, Calf Heath I know, and the A5 which crosses the Cannock branch, and of course being a Stourport lad I know the Staffordshire/Worcestershire canal. Now, thanks to you I know the connection between them! Oh, talking about Stourport, I have some video of the missing lock I told you about that used to connect one of the basins to the River Severn, I'll get that to you as soon as I can.
Amazing thank you, u haven’t been to the basins since I was a kid, I know you said they’d added one (I think that was you!) I need to pop up and have a look next time I’m passing
@@CourtAboveTheCutI appear to have lost the video footage. I transferred them to a memory stick, at least I thought I had, but they weren't there when I came to edit them on my PC and they were gone from the trash bin. I'm gutted, but I've learned a lesson!
Thanks for very interesting report on the Hatherton project. Looks to have great potential given the lengthy sections still in water, though I guess significant financial and other resources will only become available once the Lichfield restoration nears/reaches completion.
Yes, that’s why it’s not really started, the Lichfield canal is on such a good run it kind of needs to focus there, if enough people and enough money become available then work can start on the Hatherton
The Cannock branch is under the orbital,you actually see the canal bank when they made the road by the new retail park wider ,it was dug out hardcored and tarmacked.
@CourtAboveTheCut it's under the duel carriage coming from hawksgreen towards tip island the left hand lane .it's about were the underpass from the retail park is
The Hathertan canal restoration work looks like it is full steam ahead which is good. It is interesting how other projects affect restoration work (such as the smart motorway). Locally we have the route of the disused Wilts and Berks Canal which I believe was up for restoration however Thames Water revived their South Oxfordshire reservoir plans (which are about 35 years old) which would affect the Wantage/Marcham/Abingdon/Drayton rectangle that the canal went through, meaning an open channel canal wouldn't be possible. Such a shame- the only group with any clout is the "GARD" - Group Against Reservoir Development. So, in short, it's good to see that restoration work is proactive for canals in other areas.
@@hedleythorne in terms of restoration of the W&B the eastern end is up in the air because of 30 years of the reservoir being built/not built. The current idea is it’s going to be built and the W&B have asked for the run off channel to be made a navigable waterway to take the canal to the south of the reservoir. It does mean if there’s chance of overflow the canal needs to be temporarily shut until it’s safe to navigate and moor. My suspicion is it would be a permanent no mooring on the entire section with guillotine gates to shut it off, a restricted cut is better than no cut!
@@CourtAboveTheCut That's great information; as you say, this arrangement is so much better than no canal at all. I am guessing it would run parallel with the GWR.
@ yes I think that’s right, I don’t know the section at all, but I think the reservoir is just north of the GWR mainline and the overflow channel runs to the south.
@@CourtAboveTheCut Well we can all hope and prey for that open channel canal, which I think would be needed to help appease locals. I grew up in Marcham, directly to the North, and Mill Lane (running South from Marcham and over the river Ock) I am guessing may eventually become an entrance way to the pleasure lakes and, this plan proceeding, the W/B canal.
@@jimbo4375 the simple answer is no, CRT won’t take on any new waterways unless they can turn a significant profit. Most canals will continue to be managed by the trusts that restore them or ones set up to do so. I’m not sure how it will work for canals like the Grantham canal where CRT own all the land still. CRT still own some small sections of this canal but it’s not a lot so doubt that will change things
I live in Cannock. I can't wait till the Hatherton project starts. Thanks for sharing. It's such a good route.
I can’t wait to explore both the old and new routes, fingers crossed there’s a chance to start some point soon
Hi Steve, another great vlog. Followed both canals 20 years and a member. Know Cannock well and there's been lots of development around Bridgtown and Churchbridge. Mining subsidence sealed the fate of Churchbridge locks hence a necessary detor.
I’ve been scanning maps trying to find any parts of the old route left, a bridge abutment, an old wall or something even some coping stones but it looks like it’s all been completely wiped from history
Great video Steve, very interesting content.
I see you are not far off 20000 subscribers. Good Job 👏👍👏👍👏👍... Onward and upward 👆
Yes! I’m about 7-800 off. I can’t believe how quickly it’s grown. The last 2 Christmas have been the fastest period of growth for me. I’ve got about 4 thousands subs in a month
@CourtAboveTheCut You deserve it, you soldier on and provide great content and information and you make it extremely interesting. Well done and ...... Good Job 👏👍👏👍
@ thank you that’s very kind!
thanks for this film. we were mored just round the corner from the junction when a working boat came past us at full tilt and took out our mooring lines. Fortunately we got them back in quickly. caroline.
I’m sorry to hear that, did they apologise? It’s very bendy around there, it’s why it was called the curly wurly
Thanks for the mention!
No problem, hopefully we will see some more canal stuff from you soon? I’ve always enjoyed your videos
@@CourtAboveTheCut I have been a bit busy just lately but more history stuff is in the works!
@ great to hear
Really exciting to hear that there might be some new cruising routes coming up….. would increase employment as well as biodiversity ❤
Fingers crossed the trust get some money and volunteers to start soon! They’ve got a really busy couple of years on the Lichfield now with approximately another half a mile planned to be finished in the next 18 - 24 months
Had a brief chat with Derek Ward today, shuck his hand and thanked him his passion for the LHRT … what a nice fella. The overlay canal map extensions in your edits. I’ve looked on the net for them??? The Cannock extension though, it was closed because of subsidence, has I understand it, the extension was subject to constant bridge jacking and canal wall repair…
Is that the waterway routes ones? I’ll add a link in the next comment.
Yes it was all really bad up there, I’ve been trying to find some evidence online of any of it but it seems it’s all completely gone
www.waterwayroutes.co.uk/maps-free-for-restoration-projects/
Scroll down to hatherton, then scroll down towards the bottom and you’ll find 2 download links, one is pdf the other is memory maps, memory maps is awesome but it’s a paid ap
You've just connected a few dots for me. I know the area reasonably well, Calf Heath I know, and the A5 which crosses the Cannock branch, and of course being a Stourport lad I know the Staffordshire/Worcestershire canal. Now, thanks to you I know the connection between them!
Oh, talking about Stourport, I have some video of the missing lock I told you about that used to connect one of the basins to the River Severn, I'll get that to you as soon as I can.
Amazing thank you, u haven’t been to the basins since I was a kid, I know you said they’d added one (I think that was you!) I need to pop up and have a look next time I’m passing
@@CourtAboveTheCutI appear to have lost the video footage. I transferred them to a memory stick, at least I thought I had, but they weren't there when I came to edit them on my PC and they were gone from the trash bin.
I'm gutted, but I've learned a lesson!
Thanks for very interesting report on the Hatherton project. Looks to have great potential given the lengthy sections still in water, though I guess significant financial and other resources will only become available once the Lichfield restoration nears/reaches completion.
Yes, that’s why it’s not really started, the Lichfield canal is on such a good run it kind of needs to focus there, if enough people and enough money become available then work can start on the Hatherton
The Cannock branch is under the orbital,you actually see the canal bank when they made the road by the new retail park wider ,it was dug out hardcored and tarmacked.
What is still there? Any walls or is it an old embankment?
@CourtAboveTheCut it's under the duel carriage coming from hawksgreen towards tip island the left hand lane .it's about were the underpass from the retail park is
@ do you mean it can still be seen or you could see it when the road was built
@@CourtAboveTheCut only while the road was being built
Time for JCB to step in and design a bespoke canal dredging machine...?
There are already specifically designed dredging boats. Its basically a steel boat with a big scoop on the front.
If you look at a video I made called beer and boats you’ll see one in action.
Gr8 video buddy, have u checked out Andy tidy videos on this canal & Cannock extension 👍
Yes I mentioned him in this video!
The Hathertan canal restoration work looks like it is full steam ahead which is good. It is interesting how other projects affect restoration work (such as the smart motorway). Locally we have the route of the disused Wilts and Berks Canal which I believe was up for restoration however Thames Water revived their South Oxfordshire reservoir plans (which are about 35 years old) which would affect the Wantage/Marcham/Abingdon/Drayton rectangle that the canal went through, meaning an open channel canal wouldn't be possible. Such a shame- the only group with any clout is the "GARD" - Group Against Reservoir Development. So, in short, it's good to see that restoration work is proactive for canals in other areas.
@@hedleythorne in terms of restoration of the W&B the eastern end is up in the air because of 30 years of the reservoir being built/not built. The current idea is it’s going to be built and the W&B have asked for the run off channel to be made a navigable waterway to take the canal to the south of the reservoir. It does mean if there’s chance of overflow the canal needs to be temporarily shut until it’s safe to navigate and moor. My suspicion is it would be a permanent no mooring on the entire section with guillotine gates to shut it off, a restricted cut is better than no cut!
@@CourtAboveTheCut That's great information; as you say, this arrangement is so much better than no canal at all. I am guessing it would run parallel with the GWR.
@ yes I think that’s right, I don’t know the section at all, but I think the reservoir is just north of the GWR mainline and the overflow channel runs to the south.
@@hedleythorne although looking at this it’s the other way round.
waterways.org.uk/branch_news/thames-water-reservoir-abingdon
@@CourtAboveTheCut Well we can all hope and prey for that open channel canal, which I think would be needed to help appease locals. I grew up in Marcham, directly to the North, and Mill Lane (running South from Marcham and over the river Ock) I am guessing may eventually become an entrance way to the pleasure lakes and, this plan proceeding, the W/B canal.
Does this (and other) restored canals then fall under CRT ownership when complete?
@@jimbo4375 the simple answer is no, CRT won’t take on any new waterways unless they can turn a significant profit. Most canals will continue to be managed by the trusts that restore them or ones set up to do so. I’m not sure how it will work for canals like the Grantham canal where CRT own all the land still. CRT still own some small sections of this canal but it’s not a lot so doubt that will change things