Looking for an Old Canal Staplow Herefordshire

The Gloucester to Hereford canal at Staplow just outside Ledbury in the UK. The canal was granted permission to be built in 1791 and work started in 1793. It reached Newent in just two years in 1795, but didn't reach Ledbury until 1832. It was finally completed to Hereford in 1845 an was closed after a mere 36 years in operation. This was mainly due to the railways proving such a strong competitor being quicker cheaper in most cases and reliable. This was true of a great many canals of the period and in fact the railway companies bought a lot of the competing canals, filled them in and built their railways on top. This was the case for this canal and the canal suffered the indignity of being used for the transport of railway building materials in the early stages.
This walk is typical of old canals in general. There is a wharfingers dwelling, lengthsman cottages and places where it is hard to see any visible signs that there was a canal here at all. A wharfinger would have run a small wharf facility and lenghtsmen were responsible for maintenance of a section, or length of the canal and towpath. All history is here, where once a bustling scene witnessed commerce on the move, now there are quiet meadows with ghosts from times past.

[@luluyoung1032]

Lovely . Really enjoyed the peace and tranquility of the countryside. Such a shame that canals and railways have been lost. Real gem. Thankyou.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thanks Lulu. P.W.

[@JimNicholls]

A fascinating walk, Ron. Lots of interest, and the chapel was a bonus. Much of the footpath seemed not to have been walked recently, so a gem going unnoticed except by the connoisseur.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

It was a beautiful walk Jim away from the crowds. Ron

[@Da51lva]

I mow the Swinmore International Airstrip every week in the summer. Make sure you do look both ways and listen to any planes

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thanks for the advice, I guess it is not a place to loiter. Ron

[@michaelpilling9659]

That was a most enjoyable walk. Thank you. Beautiful apple blossom, a primitve methodist chapel, lenghtmans cottages and agricultural scenery. Excellent. I guess the power of the railway closed the canal forever. Little did the railway know that that would disappear too. Nothing is forever. Superb film Ron

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Very true Michael. P.W.