80. How long-unused parts of the North Oxford canal are being brought back to life
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 มี.ค. 2017
- #narrowboat #narrowboats #canal #canals #liveaboard #cruisingthecut
There is a surprising amount of unused bits of canal across the UK, in varying states of decay. In this vlog I take a look at two separate (but geographically near) projects which are digging out and restoring parts of the original route of the North Oxford canal.
It has, quite literally, taken me months to film this one as the I had to shoot on several occasions at the second location so I do hope you like it!
With grateful thanks to:
The Old Mortonians: www.oldmortonians.co.uk
Clifton Cruisers: www.cliftoncruisers.com
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Theme music: "Vespers" by Topher Mohr and Alex Alena, from the TH-cam music library
I am an old retired cowboy here in Abilene Texas and for some reason, I too enjoy watching these adventures on the old British canal system. For me, it gives me an armchair adventure without having to fly over there to see for myself, thanks for sharing part of your life with us retired folks.
I find watching this the most relaxing thing on the internet currently. No agressive things like those yellow jackets and isis and what not, nothing that has to be accomplished, just watching nature and calm things being done.
I think all canal users must sincerely thank all the volunteers for the time and effort it was storing these come out without them where would we be. Thanks again all the volunteers
The effort put into this vlog is evident - fantastic!
This may may be the best Cruising the Cut vlog to date. Loved the story line and the history. Good editing too.
A documentary presentation that really does set the standard, very professional indeed.
I remember that arm in the early 1960s with the old boat rotting away, it only had sides completely rotted and filled with mud and water. We tried to reach it but were beaten back by mud and water. Obviously as boy adventurers we didn't know it was an ice breaker. Thanks for the vlog, O happy days, the locks and canal was our playground:)
Enjoying all your Vlogs, but this was something special. I hope the Old Mortonians succeed in their efforts to preserve the history of the canals.
It's wonderful to see a bit of British history being restored and made available to the public. Bravo for bringing this to the world through TH-cam!
Thanks for watching :-)
Fascinating story. So heartening to see a dead canal brought back to life again, that too through dedicated voluntary work.
This is not a vlog. This is a documentary. Lovely content. Good job 👍
On a more serious note, I think that 'the world' will appreciate the fact that you did take the time to shoot this video. History in the making. Well done, that man.
Thank you
So interesting how bits of canal are being re-established after almost 200 years.
Seeing some of this canal system is definitely a bucket list item for my retirement.
A video worthy of broadcast on TV. Educational, informative and entertaining. Wonderful stuff. Thank you sir.
Better than TV because David refrains from politics and sensationalism. He cruises the canals and enlightens us on what he sees. He's a true journalist, the way they used to be.
This is great to see - I've moved into one of the moorings on the new arm and it's really impressive to think that only a few months ago it was a jungle!
It really, really was...
Well done. You did a good job of balancing the photography, voice over and history to create a very compelling video. Thank you.
-johnny
Cheers
This is awesome. It just goes to show how connected us humans are to our history.
:-)
Brilliant vlog it's so interesting seeing parts of the canal network being bought back to life and being used! Your history of the North Oxford is fascinating and is worthy of a TV slot.
I love seeing how the older parts of the canals are being brought to life. Sometimes new fangled is just so boring. Bring back more canal I say!
Thanks for the vlog, very interesting x
:-)
Ian reminded me of Jessie from the Fast Show. "Today I will be mostly be clearing the canal".
I sometimes think it's amazing we have any canals left in the UK given the historical fact of the "new" railway companies stealing all their commercial trade "back in the day", so it's especially enjoyable to read about these new (albeit small) restoration projects. And well done David for your persistence in filming this particular vlog !
very well presented, its nice to see old sections re opened.
It is indeed. Cheers
Brilliant David. Good to see that people are researching the old network and are allowed to restore some of it.
Thanks John
What amazing work people do. Thank you.
How truly exciting to see water flowing in to fill up a restored section of canal, and how wonderful must it have felt to have been on that first boat to travel down there in so many years. Wonderful. The only other thing I'd like to have seen was a group of the workmen who'd re-dug the canal warming their hands (and maybe roasting a few nuts) on a flaming brazier, and watching with a satisfied grin, as the boat slid past them.
The workers were busy getting on with other tasks, no time to stand and stare :-)
Great to know that parts of history is being preserved, restored and rebuilt.
Thanks for sharing this bit of your world!
80 Vlogs!!!! Congrats on the effort that you put in each one of it to make them great.
I'll have to pull all the stops out for vlog 100 eh?!
They all have been great, so i bet vlog 100 shouldn't be any different.
i came across your youtube chanel on your 3rd vlog and i have been following ever since.
i just realized that this was vlog 80 (seemed like a round number) and just wanted to thank the effort and journalistic quality that you put in every vlog you make.
i'll keep following as long as you keep posting!
Thank you! I'm pleased you enjoy them.
Nice look at the history and its restoration.
This was amazing. I think it's the best video you've ever done (so far). I found it so interesting and appreciate how much work must have gone into creating it
Awwww, fanks Lorna! Hugs to you and pusscat.
That's Cool.... So much history is lost... good to see people care... Nice Video !!
Cheers Russ
Very nice but how long is it going to be and how do you turn round to get out again you can't back up 2miles
Neither arm is more than a couple of hundred yards long
This makes me terrifically jealous. We have the remnants of canals in the US. I enjoy hiking the towpath of the old C&O canal that runs along the Potomac and used to feed our nation's capital with coal. As nice as it is as a national park, it just seems a shame for it to be a long collection of puddles overgrown with reeds. It's not functional at all and it was once known as the Grand Old Ditch!
there is a project to restore parts of the C&O. It's not in totality and I think right now is only around Georgetown, but it is a start.
There's more money for nicer things in Georgetown than in Cumberland
The length and quality of these videos is fantastic. I've seen them all and can always put one one whenever I need a bit of a relaxing trip. Thanks!
Thank you!
So very interesting! Glad to see that parts of the old system are springing back to life!
Lovely, isn't it?
For me, living in the states, I found it interesting that school children will have a piece of their history to learn about with these finished arms. I am all about local history and loved your video. As always, cannot wait for the next.
Thank you
Such an interesting vlog! Well done to those dedicated volunteers who are working to restore the original route of the canal; and of course, to you, for showing us how it is all taking shape. The surrounding scenery looks gorgeous, so hope you will get to enjoy cruising along the newly-restored parts of the system one day. Take care. :)
They're just short arms so no cruising to be done along them as such but a lovely spot for sure.
I'm only four years behind, so hopefully in coming weeks I will see a little more of how the restoration of this section of canal is going. This is one of the best videos of yours I have seen so far 👍👍
Thank you. The section at Hillmorton has sadly been abandoned for a variety of reasons. The section at Clifton is in use as private moorings.
Best episode so far in my opinion, I wonder if you would do one about some of the mills and industry along the way? thanks for the channel its great!!
I really enjoy these behind the scenes stories.
Wow that was really good to see a little bit of old canal come back to life
Brilliant! Kudos to the volunteers!
It's incredible to think so much work was done before it all stagnated :( such a pity! But it really is wonderful that the canal was dug up and used no matter how briefly after nearly two hundred years
How interesting to see an old canal dug out and filled. Found myself with what felt like a quizzicle look on my face at the end.
Not sure if that's a good thing or not!
Great vlog. It is wonderful to see that a small bit of history is being brought back!
The rebirth of a section of canal! really enjoyed that. thanks David.
I don't know about bringing the Oxford Canal back into use, but in north-west England there seems to have been a considerable decline in canal boating. Several marinas and basins for barges have been either closed or run down in the last 20 years.
The best yet just what I like to see total reuse from scrub to flood😊
great to see the old coming back to life! i too liked the locker tour. since i don't have a boat like yours and here in the USA i will never have ( boy i wish we had the locks and narrow boats here what great fun) it's like looking in to someone garage! lol keep up the great work! i know this took alot of time but we sure love it. THANKS!
Thank you so much!
Actually the northeast U.S. has 1000's of miles of small canal'!
How many canals are there in the States?
The history behind all of this is amazing. I really enjoy your entire channel, thanks for introducing me to the canal network.
Thank you, glad you like it
I'm in love with this Canal thing..
Great to see some of the old restored and used again!
:-)
I have watched many of your videos sir and you my friend are creating history yourself as regards recording all of the works that’s going on people be able to look back on what you have done and say my goodness me thank you for saving what it was like before hand
I should think that this sort of video would be a natural for you, given your background in journalism. Here you captured and edited the good bits of the video and researched the back story and presented a concise and enjoyable bit of history for TH-cam which will also server to document a moment in current history. I hope that we will see more of these sorts of videos in the future; just think about 180 years without water and suddenly the canal is back. 180 years is several lifetimes. That is not frivolous. I hope this both rewards those who worked to restore the canal and to recruit and to encourage others to want to help. Thank you for your effort, too.
Thanks. These videos come along rarely because it's a matter of chance that I get to do them so, alas, don't hold your hopes for loads more!! Cheers
This was fantastic. I love to see that these old canals are getting new life!
Of course, today we do it with a back hoe. It makes you really appreciate the work they did to build the canals two hundred years ago with pick and shovel. A great vid, as usual, thanks.
Extraordinary to think of it, I agree!
Dug by Irish navvies payed in bear and meat
This is a very informative history lesson for sure. I never read about this in any history book. This is truly an important part of history I wish I had known earlier in life.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Really well done. How 15 people could even consider pressing "dislike" is beyond comprehension.
Thanks for sharing and it is really great to see that history is not fading away but restored, even if in parts. I was also amazed how shallow the canal looked like, for some reason I thought they would be deeper.
As always it is a joy to hear the presentation and the camera work was professional.
Thanks. Yes, being man-made the canals were dig just deep enough to float the boats and not much more!
The production value of your videos is tremendous
Very kind, thank you.
Thank you for the effort you've taken in the making of this video.
Wow! I just LOVE seeing forgotten architecture given a second chance!
Congratulations David, a very interesting/educational episode- intriguing history of the original canals. 👍👏👏👏
Thank you so much for your film, I stumbled across it by accident and ended up watching the whole thing. So great to see local projects bringing so much happiness.
Well documented David. Thanks for the effort.
Great vlog, these old arms are getting their second chance I hope it continues
This is fantastic coverage, thank you for the trip.
A lovely optimistic look toward the future! Heart warming stuff and a great vlog. You'll "pass by" again in the future no doubt, to document progress.
Good work! Thank you for covering it! Canal TV/ or Watching The Cut may be a good hobby for you to start.
Not sure I quite understand but glad you liked the video.
You can certainly tell that you have experience in journalism in this video. Great quality and such an interesting story. Thanks!
Great Video.. nice to see old bits of the cut being reborn. Thanks mate..
:-)
Fascinating and very well produced. Thanks.
And another informative and entertaining vlog.Thanks cruising the cut.Ken
One of your best Vlogs! Good job!
It's all down hill from here!! ;-) That one took ages and lots of effort.
It shows and thank you for all the hard work.
Very interesting thanks for sharing. Its great seeing these old canals sections brought back to life.
I enjoy these videos that discuss the history of parts of the canal. I also enjoy seeing that there are people who live in such an economic state as to be able to volunteer their time to projects such as these restorations.
Really great Vlog. Excellent and interesting installment as usual. So good to see disused parts of the network coming back to life. Came to UK for a holiday in 2011 from Australia, saw narrow boats and canals. Fell in love immediately. A year later in 2012 moved over here and been here ever since. While I continue to work etc, narrow boats and crusing the network on an extended basis have always been somewhere at the back of my mind. Since I have discovered this vlog, that back of the mind has been pressing forward. Very dangerous. Has now led me to doing sums. We will see. Thanks again for the Vlog
I've reached Vlog no. 80 - What a wonderful story David. A fabulous film great camera work and excellent commentary. New life breathed into a canal is a very good thing
the effort and time invested in telling this story really shows. very informative and wonderful film. thank you
Another well done, informative, vlog! Thank you so much for all the work you put into making your vlogs first rate.
Cheers Richard
This is one of my favorites of your videos so far. Can't wait until you take your trip. I know there are more great videos to come.
I hope so...
😊👍
My home town, Ipswich, has a length of river/canal, that used to be navigable, as far as Stowmarket, but is now mostly derelict, and is also inaccessible due to the replacement of the locks with sluice-gates, and weirs. I've always wondered if any attempt restore it will be made, but as it has no connection with the rest of the canal system, probably unlikely..
The owner of the restored section of the North Oxford must have had a serious amount of satisfaction, pleasure, and a big smile, when he was finally able to cruise himself and his family along it.
Interesting to see the progress of the work. Would be nice to see an update, if you have time.
Thanks for your own hard work recording this video.
,
Excellent - 180 years wow! Happy to see that - thanks!
Thank you again for an entertaining and informative video. The press for preservation and restoration is so heart warming. Keep the incredible videos coming!!
Glad you enjoyed it.
That was a fascinating look at history coming back to life. Thank-you for sharing this
Glad you liked it, cheers
Really liked the history of this Thanks
Fantastic video, especially the part showing my now home mooring being brought back to life, and a wonderful place it is to live with great folk and beautiful views
:-)
Brilliant film / article. We need too see more of this happening. Cheers for sharing.
:-)
Wow you have been busy, the Canal and River trust should be pleased with your work. Actually it's quite a legacy you're creating I think, very nice work. I'll look forward to part 2 of the storage locker as it's relevant to not only narrow boats but all live aboard boating, RV's, Caravans, Motor homes and Tiny homes... Thanks again sir.
Locker part 2 is on hold for the moment, part one got a lot of negative feedback :-( But I will do it, maybe secretly, in the end. Cheers.
Well, in 2021 I and I suspect many others will happen by this superb mini documentary and be skillfully transported back to enjoy the restoration of this historically important section of canal. You have left your mark here with this brilliant piece of work. Thank you.🙂
Another outstanding video David. There are so many old canals that need to be restored.
Luckily lots of groups exist to do just that!
A. Fascinating bit of film work there chap. Your journalistic background has stood you well. I love seeing the history of the canals. Hope you do more of this type of work. But then i love your travel videos as well. I find myself living vicariously through your channel. Keep up the great work and good luck on your upcoming canal adventure!
Thank you. The history ones are tricky because usually there's no images to show (since the canals were built before photography!). So they happen only when circumstances permit!
Great episode. I like to see restoring of old buildings, sites and also canals like this. I would love to see similar and followup videos. :-) Proceeding my view of your videos in order.
Very enjoyable! Thank you. Never take your beautiful country for granted. Some of us would live there in a heartbeat!
It can be lovely, indeed.
wow! what an absolutely wonderful episode this was! I just adore the canal systems in this country, and an old one brought back to life is just a big amazing achievement! brilliant episode! thank you!
Thank you :-)
Hi David ..delighted to see the video....Great contribution by your countrymen....💖
I always look forward to your videos. They never cease to entertain me. I appreciate the fact that you share not only your life on the canals but history as well. Please keep doing exactly what you are doing. I hope your trip this spring brings many more episodes of your vlog.
Glad you like them. Cheers
One of my favourite canal vlogs so far. Great to see abandoned sections of canal coming back to life.
Cheers Simon
Another great vlog David well done. So glad we are based in this area with so much to see and so much going on.
Cheers
Great vlog, such an interesting story and love the filming. Thank you.
What a lovely sight that boat being the first to go on that part of the canal for 100 odd years ! Really interesting vlog thanx for sharing it with us
Cheers Joanna
how interesting! we love the history lessons you're so good at delivering!
Thank you
Great information, thank you so much for this video - I love learning about the canals, the canal boats and life aboard :) I'm off to research some more of this particular canal and to see the progress. I found this video this morning, but see that you uploaded it two years ago. I seem to be jumping around and never watching in order. So much fun to discover a previously unseen video from Cruising The Cut! :D
I'm a big fan of antiques and preserving historical trails and such. This was very interesting!
Glad you liked it!