Gloucester to Hereford Canal Hereford end
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- Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
- Having filmed the Gloucester end of the Gloucester to Hereford canal, it seems only right to see what can be found at the Hereford end. The canal having been begun in 1793, and completed in 1845, was closed in 1881 after a mere 36 years working life. It was very expensive to build requiring several tunnels and financial problems dogged it from day one, until GWR seized an opportunity, bought it, then promptly shut it down filled it in and built a railway on top. The present aim of the Gloucester to Hereford Canal Trust, is to reverse this process.
Having done some research before setting out, a first for me, my expectations were low. After the magnificence of the Gloucester basin Restoration the Hereford end is as you will see a trifle disappointing. I looked around the terminus and main dock area but all seems to have disappeared under various modern industrial developments, so I headed to Aylestone park where there has been some restoration and also has some parking available.
Having located the canal I began following it towards the city centre, but soon ran out of canal. From here it is possible to see the scale of the effort required to reinstate this navigation. Not in my lifetime I feel, though I am quite old.
Highlight of the day was the finding of a tunnel entrance, not a wasted day then, and in truth a nice day out in Hereford.
A courageous exploration well done!
Thank You. P.W.
You're very intrepid aren't you! What a journey. Not too much see: nice renovation again - the highlight for me was finding the tunnel. Once again, thanks for all the efforts you made to bring this film to us. A wonderful and informative film
I didn't expect to find much so I was quite pleased with what still remains. P.W.
@@ParkinsonsWalks Jewson's timber yard is the old canal basin and maybe again. There is a preserved bridge at the junction of Widemarsh Street and Newtown Road. The line of the canal has been cleared in Newtown Road and the restored bed is found in front of the PC World shop, together with a new bridge. The bed will be excavated to full width in due course. Finally, in Burcott Road by Painter Bros there is a former canal bridge that was taken over by the GWR. The abutments of the bridge bear the tell-tale rope marks in the cast iron angle protectors. From the bridge put in when the Roman Road was improved, when looking in the Gloucester direction you can see a largish expanse of water. The canal bed is unobstructed from Jewson's all the way to Shelwick Green, from where it becomes really tricky. I love the way you just get out and go, so that your discoveries are exciting and genuine. This film found places that I haven't been to (yet). Excellent stuff.
@@philippankhurst6680 Thanks for the detailed update Philip, much appreciated. P.W.
An idea for you, the river Severn, was largely navigable and there were Severn Barges that cruised it in trade, indeed at the Blis Mill complex near Iron Bridge they have an example renovated and preserved. You find it interesting ti explore the quays where boats were loded and unloaded. Obviously Tewkesbury and Gloucester have sites but there are a lot of place that are hard to locate and at many places they exchanged cargo with canal traffic. Many of the lesser rivers joining the Severn had their own class of boats plying trade. At Skenfrith on the Welsh border, ther remains a Roman Quay and mill building, the river there feeds into the Wye, but what size boats ? Very shallow draught. Just a thought.
Very interesting Peter, I've made a note. So far have only seen the remains of a Severn trow among the wreaks at Purton. Thanks. P.W.
When Currys/ PC World was built at the outer end of Widemash Street in Hereford, planning conditions included a requirement to preserve the line of the canal. This is perhaps the most impressive part of the Hereford end of the canal but is not very large or connected. The actual terminus of the canal was close to the railway station and can be seen on very old maps of Hereford. Since I moved away from Hereford a new main road has been constructed right where the terminus was. If travel from the Currys PC word site into Hereford within a very short distance and prior to the road junction you will pass over a road bridge over the original route of the canal.
ln your fascinating video you looked around the road , corner and commented "not very exiting", or similar, that road would have taken you directly on to a rail bridge, over the bridge is Currys PC world. I recall that Staplow was the main activity area for those in the preservation movement and at Monkhide Skew Bridge is worthy of a look. Thank you for an informative video.
Thanks for posting that fascinating info Andy, I'll take a look next time I'm out there. That's if lock down ever ends ! Ron
We are inspired to follow your investigations. It would have been good to have inserted the GPS details at the significant points in the video. This takes geocaching to a new level (no pun intended). Thanks :)
Hi Dick, I don't think you would have much trouble finding it, provided you had a map. Ron
The end of the tunnel is in a yard belonging to a company called "Painters Bro's" its apparently still open but at a lower level because of things being built around it. The yard is very secure so you'd have to seek permission to see it.
Thanks for the info Nick
Canal runs around the perimeter of the PC world in Hereford too
Thanks for the info Kent. Ron
Is that a military tie or Ludlow Grammar School around your hat?
No, it was an off the shelf hat the band came with it. Ron
Hereford lies in an horrendous flood plain ckeck out how many river courses end up here. never buy a property!
Thanks for the heads-up Leroy. P.W.