The Story of the Grand Western Canal.
Вставка
- Опубліковано 5 чер 2021
- Yet another wet walk and waffle with the Whitewicks.
This week we take a stroll alone the Abandoned part of the Grand Western Canal. Along this route we explore how they made the first section of the canal at the 95m contour and used an array of methods to get down to sea level. Or at least 20m with Taunton.
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @pwhitewick
OR
If you are interested in other ways which you can help support the channel please do consider clicking on any of the links below:
/ everydisusedstation
www.paulwhitewick.co.uk
ko-fi.com/everydisusedstation
PayPal: whitewickpaul@gmail.com
Merch: teespring.com/en-GB/stores/ev...
Buy our Prints: www.littlefashionhut.com/coll... - Розваги
Paul seems to have far more enthusiasm than his person can contain, it erupts uncontrollably whenever he finds a relic of transport history.
Good job Rebecca is on hand to reign in Paul's enthusiasm, "It's Allerford!"
The "silliness" is very highly appreciated, it's my kind.
These videos are lovely gentle, informative entertainment.
That box at 4:33 is a water level recorder. The vertical pipe (officially a "stilling well") is connected by a smaller bore horizontal pipe feeding from the canal. This means that the water level within the vertical pipe follow the ups and downs of the water level in the old canal. Inside the stilling well there would be a float, again following the ups and downs of the water level. The float's vertical movement would be transmitted to a recording device in the box sitting on top of the pipe. The precise mechanism depends on the "antiquity" of the instrument. It could be just a simple cable leading from the float to a pen marking the level on a paper chart wrapped round a clockwork driven rotating drum, rotating say once a week or month. Someone would then have to visit, unwrap the old chart, and put a new one for the next time period. But more modern alternatives utilise a pressure sensor for the water level dispensing with the need for a float and the pressure data captured electronically and converted to water level. Not sure who would use the data, presumably assisting water management by whatever authority runs the waterway, perhaps ensuring they have the evidence in case the level wanders too high or too low from some agreed depth.
That was fantastic. You've found a canal lift that nobody knows about. What about that?
Brilliant video. What a history lesson. Can't wait for the next part
Where the approach road to Taunton Station comes off from Station Road there is a bridge on the site of the original Grand Western Canal aqueduct across Station Road, and the present bridge replacing it carried the goods lines of the railway and currently carries a road. Just to the bottom right of this was a building demolished in the 1970s that housed the canal's general offices. There may still be some remains of the canal near the new Silk Mills steel arc bridge that carries the Norton Fitzwarren to Bishops Hull road over the railway. There used to be a level crossing here, with a bridge over the canal next to it. Most of the canal between here and Taunton was lost when the railway was quadrupled in the 1930s, but there may still be remains to the west of the Silk Mills bridge.
The Stover Canal at Newton Abbot is another interesting (and probably never again navigable) canal cutting. It carried granite from Dartmoor but also ball clay from quarry pits alongside the river Teign. Tub boats then went down the estuary to Teignmouth Harbour.
Coming to a UA-cam channel near you!....soon.
You've done it again, you have managed to combine a very interesting fact find with some naturally calming music, and your piece of comedy Paul. All very much appreciated. I'm still trying to work out if it was a wheel or a lift, hope my head clears in time for the next magic production, (hang on that was a roundabout) BTW I loved the drone shot of the train.
Great video! I have been fascinated by James Green and his works for some years - relatively little known about him. It seems he got stuck with all the "difficult" canals poor chap. He is also responsible for the wonderful Beam aqueduct over the Rolle (Torrington) canal which is showcased at the beginning of the "Tarka the Otter" film.
incredible. Just imagine that these quiet places in the forrest were once buzzing with activity.
Some great finds in this video! That little church is a gem to!
This is fantastic, especially finding the hidden Alerford lift. Looking forward to the extra video on the Ninehead lift
You're just like me ... I don't follow any faith but I love the architecture of old churches.
I always make a point of going inside (if I can) and having a good look round.
This is the sort of thing I wanted to do but I'm so glad that you guys are doing it for me.
Love the music
I am glad that Rebecca is getting more involved with your videos Paul so I have subscribed to your Channel.
Thanks for the subscription Roy. She is in 176 of the 177 videos we have made.
@@pwhitewick Sorry Paul what I meant was more of an active part ...it's not a criticism.
production quality is insane for an independent couple making films love your channel just subbed
Thanks
Thank you
This one made me dig out my canal and river navigations book to follow along with you. I notice that the nearby Chard Canal - which joined the Bridgewater and Taunton canal at Creech St Michael - also had four inclined planes and three tunnels. Originally surveyed by James Green but replaced by Sydney Hall, possibly because of the difficulties with the Grand Western Lifts.
Never knew that was near me, will have a wander around at some point.
The extreme you go to, just to see the Loch wheel lift at Alfred nr Allerford 🤭
Thanks for your content as usual guys. 🙏
Some real little gems hidden away, I think Nature taking over, protects against "Historical Vandalism". 🙃
Love your videos ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Cheers
One of your best videos! Next week will be fun.
Thanks Paul and Rebecca, fantastic video 😁😀
Struggling to keep up at the minute. Well to be honest just struggling in general. Both my parents have seriously declined with Dementia at an alarming rate. They have had to move into a home and have no idea about being Ill. Having to sort through all of their belongings.... deciding what to keep what to get rid of whilst they are still with us is heart wrenching.
Keep up the good work and I will catch up as and when I can.
The incline at Bude is a hell of a thing. I regularly walk the Planekeepers Path and along the drained sections. I fantasise about blocking the outlets and refilling the cut.
Coming soon to a UA-cam Channel near you.
@@pwhitewick There are segments of the old canal and parts where cattle now graze. Cornish cattle are less predictable I have found and once was stuck for about an hour on a segment surrounded by irate cows. Take care out there!
my childhood canal thanks for sharing
Our pleasure!
Another great vlog from a lovely couple.
Thanks! 😊
Thank you again for letting us in on your adventures..
Lift lock wheel lol great video you are preserving history that seem to not have been kept up to date thank you.
It's amazing how much effort went into the construction of these canals, only to be abandoned.
Wow , impressive finds of bygone era , another super vid ,I thought foxton was something to look at when I visited..
Fascinating. Thanks for posting.
really enjoyable as always guys see you next week x
Love it, grew up near Taunton and never knew any of this. Working my way through your whole input having only recently found you and love every minute of it.
Thank you.
never ever stop enthralling
Always trying Sir.
Thanks for the fun video and very interesting thank you from NZ
yet another fantastic video, keep up the good work.
Excellent find indeed!
Its amazing how quickly even our most impressive engineering feats can be swallowed up by nature.
Well I didn't know that! I was stood in that Allerford hedgerow a couple of weeks ago, sheltering from the rain. If only i'd walked a little bit further along I could have done a bit of exploring.
Go take a look, you might find more than we did.
@@pwhitewick Had a little look see on my way home from work... Too many nettles and brambles to contend with. It looks like more of a winter/early spring place to explore.
@@sjb2oak very good point
Another great video Paul and Rebecca I just love your fun and your enthusiasm for history
you really know how to draw us in with the cryptic opening and cuts. unlike so many others, these cuts payoff in the end.
your enthusiasm for finding gold in your searches is hard to replicate, can’t wait for the next video
Haha... gotta keep you gripped somehow
The channel is growing fast.
We need ato see a canal under a tunnel.
Just imagine how long it's been since someone has seen that...Fantastic find !!
Thanks Matt
I've been to Tiverton I had a short journey in a rowing boat along the canal, I've also cycled alongside this canal at least 9 years ago when I was on holiday in the area.
I'd be very keen to take a boar along it myself.
@@pwhitewick Boar hahahahah
Good Wednesday morning to you sir from Wellington Somerset
Great work guys ! One thing I Can’t believe is, how big that drop was at the end of the video ! ( 14:46 )
Even more astounding is how Nature hasn't eroded it 'back' to how it was before.
Great video. Always enjoy a nice bit of ruinous infrastructure. Thanks.
I find it fascinating you can still find so much part of old infrastructure in the UK general, and that last lift is so beautifully hidden! I love in The Netherlands. Here, rverything is always being cleared and demolished as soon as it is not being used anymore. Seeing / finding old pieces of bridges, tracks, canals are very rare. Already very curious to the more extensive lifts video! Thanks for this one, found it fascinating and makes me want to go to the UK someday!
Loved the Greenham church, the stone walls and old arched doorways reminded me of robin hood 😄🏹
Which Robin Hood? Errol Flynn, the disney cartoon ? Or Kevin i can walk from southampton to Nottingham via Hadrians wall by teatime Costner? Lol
Priscilla Roberts actually I was thinking of the British tv series "Robin Hood" 😉😁 lol
@@danielbarrows7144 ah yes i'll count us in....Robin Hood Robin Hood Riding through the glen tra la la. Fab.
Priscilla Roberts now that makes me want to go back and watch the old shows 🤣😎
@@danielbarrows7144 the last line " and still found plenty of tme to sing" makes me howl. It was on Talking pictures a while ago i think. Along with Ivanho who, according to the song ,is here. Lol. Happy days.
Absolutely brilliant! You've introduced something entirely unknown to most of us but thoroughly fascinating. Pushing through the trees and briars to uncover industrial archaeology is worth the effort and in time the wounds heal!
This is my kind of history, fantastic 👍👍👍
Fascinating!
Great explore, peeps 👌👍
Paul and Rebecca thanks for the video the lift you found looks like something from Tomb raider the video game. Well found and so beautiful!!😎🐓🐓🇬🇧💯
Thanks again. Marvellous history.
Well done you two, go get a hot drink in a nearby hostelry, you certainly suffer for your discoveries , most interesting, informative.,educating and entertaining.
Great video as always loved it !
Another superb video and what a great find !
you guys are excellent. great investigating! nice music as well. good job.
Thanks for watching
When I saw the new thumbnail it made me smile , thanks for taking me along !
great job!!!!
Hi Paul and Rebecca nice to see you in my neck of the woods , I’ve walked a lot of the route from tiverton to Taunton and then on up to brigwater lots to see , cheers for ano great video, btw we’re trying to find time to visit Rebecca’s shop cheers tim
hi paul and rebecca, what a nice cool interesting video , that church was really nice , oh the great british weather lol , that 9 head lift looked cool , really well done guys and thank you for your hard work :)
What a fascinating story. Most enjoyable and beautiful scenery. What a find for you. Is it a lock or lift or shell🤔 ha ha.? Thank you
Great!! your in my neck of the woods. look forward to the next one,Meany Thanks.
Fab vid, wow what a sight to see those hidden lifts. You could tell how overwhelmed Paul was finding them and it was so nice to see. Loved the giggles and silly bits too.
Exciting find!
Really love the professionalism of your videos Pat and Rachel. Those locks/wheels are amazing
Another great vlog, keep up the good work
Tiverton Canal basin is a whimsically surreal place; In the middle of a rather quaint housing estate, cut high into a sheer hillside, MILES away from the Exe. Originally it was planned to link the Grand Western Canal with the Exeter Ship Canal to the Channel via the River Exe (or a rather circuitous and cumbersome route via the Culm, to the Clyst, to the Exe) but once they'd built the canal to Tiverton, and ended up around 90m (270ft) above and sidelong to the Exe, nobody could really work out a feasible way to get cargo between levels, or a route that wouldn't require them to double back half the length again Northwards in order to head South again 😂
That’s a fantastic find in the hedge there; I appreciate the effort you took to show it to us (hope the scratches heal soon!)
Very interesting and I'm thousands of miles away from you all.
Another lovely and very beautiful one. If not wonderful. And entertaining, as well as heart-warming. Also the quality you have reached lately. Wow! I am a truly happy and very pleased and satisfied patron. (Definitely deserved the raise I put in at the turn of the month, no doubt about that.)
When you visit churchyards, please show us a couple of dates on headstones to give us foreigners a sense of the history contained therein
Another great video Paul and Rebecca, I look forward to seeing next week’s too, Paul really seems to go to great lengths to make them really interesting and informative. Good job Rebecca’s interested too! Really love the background music and Paul’s humour too, and of course the interaction with Rebecca!Thanks again Paul and Rebecca 👍🏼👍🏼
really good video. Thank you. i have walked snd kayaked the canal many times, but didnt know the history of it... opposite the end near Greenham is an old disused quarry, by Burnthill Farm on an OS Map... now used as a police firing range. i always presumed canal was there to service this.
Good find because you're not lazy. Always interesting. Thanks.
Glad I'm not the only one who won't let a few brambles get in the way of finding something of great historical relevance. Strange how some people are drawn to tracing old routes, whether rail, road or water. Wondered what the gorgeous music is at the end?
Fascinating guys, I’ve cycled the GWC many times and it’s always good to learn a bit more about its history. Keep up the hard work and thanks for all your very interesting vlogs. Take care. 🧐
Paul has petitioned Allerford council to change their name to anything else
Cracking video again, think I even picked up the sound of bramble trying to tear fabric when looking for that lift.
I cycled from Taunton to Tiverton during lockdown 1 last June. Purposely chose to follow the canal as it’s flat. Really interesting to see the other bits I missed. I’ll have to go out to Alerford and hunt for the lift. Thanks for a great video.
nice find guys
Nice one 👍
That's fantastic - I wonder what happened to the massive wheel, caissons and all the works...? Looking forward to the details video...
Nice one
Yes!
I really like the sound of the Elephant Lift...
They’ve renamed the pub, I’ve always known it as the Victory Inn (even the level crossing is called Victory Crossing). I knew about these boat lifts but have never seen one before so I’m really looking forward to the Nynehead video. I always try to spot remains of the canal from the train each time I venture down that way. Thanks guys for a most enjoyable video (I love engineering)!
By the way, the fully functioning Anderton Lift seems to follow similar principles as far as I can tell, albeit on a larger scale (it originally had overhead wheels with chains).
Thanks for making this, really interesting and what a find at the end. I walked the length of the still open part of the canal in mid April and really enjoyed it, but finished when the water ran out. I had read about the old lifts and so on beyond there but didn't know much details or what still existed so thanks for enlightening me. I wondered if you were going to cover the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal when you get as far as Taunton but I guess that one is not disused.
See, history can be exciting and unexpected. Let’s all get out and right the wrongs on the maps. Great stuff you two.
That's a piece of time I'll never get back.
Are you including the time it took you to comment??
Why are u watching then?
I stayed in a self catering house in Wellington next to the canal
Great content just subbed 👍 explain things right ✌️
Watch Michael Palin at the "Elblag - Ostrada" Canal boat lift. still working after 150 years. lots of wheels, cables and rails. (New Europe series) PS: Did you sign the visitors book in the Church? I always do if there is one. it's also interesting to see how many different nationalities are in the book. Great video and very good presentation.
@ 9.50, that is exactly what it is. i've worked (volunteered) around the lift with the waterway recovery group, and the locals filled us in on some of the details.
Such an interesting old canal. You both always make the finds interesting. Needless to say, I loved the little tunnel at Waytown! Pity that the water was so deep that you couldn't walk through! Thank you both.