Digging up Relics in an Abandoned Canal

[@ianstewart2185]

I am one of the many volunteers currently working on this project, due to work commitments I was unable to be on-site the day you where filming. Thanks for promoting our work to a wider audience, as stated we are always after more volunteers who like to get muddy. See links in the description for details

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Ian. Sorry we missed you. Back again for sure.

[@victoriaeads6126]

Out of curiosity, I just checked Google maps to see if they had any more recent images. I don't know whether you can request an update, but the panorama ground view is still from before the beginning of the lock restoration, and it is still listed as Westfield Bridge and lock. The satellite image looks like it's from around when this video was made. I suppose that's about what you'd expect from the satellite image, though.

[@lindamccaughey6669]

That was fantastic thanks Paul. What an exciting project that is. Congratulations to all concerned with it. Thanks for taking me along. Please take care

[@michaelmiller641]

It's amazing what's going on in the field of canal restoration now, and thankyou Paul and Rebecca, for recording it.

[@pwhitewick]

Our pleasure.

[@sideshow4417]

Must be nice living somewhere where your heritage is preserved and restored.

[@pwhitewick]

They definitely try

[@leannemaidment5224]

This is absolutely incredible! It brings hope for other canal restoration groups.

[@janecapon2337]

It’s great that they can repair the old lock. It will be wonderful to travel down it when it is reopened.

[@pwhitewick]

And just a mile or so to go warms the heart

[@misterflibble9799]

@@pwhitewick Unfortunately, there's more than a mile to go. These locks are not part of the "Missing Mile". The "Missing Mile" section refers to the section between Westfield Lock and the A38/A419 roundabout, where the canal channel has now been restored thanks to a grant from Highways England's Environmental Designated Fund. Its name derives from the fact that the canal channel has been completely obliterated by the M5 construction, and will therefore need to be rebuilt from scratch, including the M5 crossing mentioned in the video. Further west of the roundabout, the canal channel is mostly still in existence, but will need dredging; there is an oil pipeline crossing that will need to be modified, a road bridge that needs to be raised to allow boats to pass underneath, and another lock to restore, plus (from memory) at least one accommodation bridge (for local farm use) that needs to be built.

[@effyleven]

Good to see this kind of canal infrastructure being replaced, even when the works now required are rather MORE involved than the original construction. So, this is not reconstruction. This is renewal and extension! Boy! What a turn-around in the status of the canals there has been! And yes, it makes you wonder how many other once "hopeless" canal restorations are in with a better chance.

[@paulharvey9149]

Nice one, Paul! I just love those old stone towpaths. Where's Rebecca? Is she aware you're showing off your helmet on KZbin? 😂🤣😂

[@1chish]

When you see this work restoring these old canals you have to admire the navvies who dug out thousands of miles of canals with picks and shovels dressed in shirts and waistcoats with string round the trouser legs. That the brickwork survived all this shows the quality of their skills. Just utterly amazing. Well done each for bringing this canal back to life.

[@johnsparkes8963]

I use to fish under that bridge in the late 50s when i lived at Eastington.

[@hedleythorne]

As a kid I would love digging out the hard sand on a beech and re-diverting water courses. This film tickles that urge on an industrial level.

[@UsualmikeTelevision]

Restoring canals to there original beauty! Beautiful way to make England proud of its past! Great Video!

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

Ooh, another Canal Restoration. And wonderfully showcased. Fascinating.

[@abarratt8869]

Canals, train lines, tunnels, old roads; I really like the little films you do, thank you :)

[@peteg259]

I used to volunteer for the CCT on previous sections of the canal - this has inspired me to sign back up!

[@pwhitewick]

Love that Pete.

[@Canalsman]

Visiting groups of volunteers have been helping restore canals since the 1960s. (I was involved as one such volunteer as a schoolboy working on the southern section of the Stratford-on-Avon Canal which at that time was owned by the National Trust.) There's an unbelievable amount of hours contributed each year.

[@worldtraveler930]

Never Underestimate the power of Tourism!!! 🤠👍

[@pwhitewick]

100%

[@eggy77]

Very interesting, the Chesterfield Canal is my local canal that's currently being restored, the aim is to get it completed by 2027 which is the 250th anniversary of the opening of the canal. 9 miles to go, plenty of work to be done including redirecting the canal through Killamarsh where the existing route has been built on, and dealing with the Norwood tunnel that collapsed in 1907 and severed the canal in half. Its great seeing so many old canals being restored.

[@LastofAvari]

They are doing a great job. Thanks for highlighting it, Paul!

[@willwallacetree]

Wowzers, they are absolutely massive chambers, beautifully built too!

[@thesteelrodent1796]

this is amazing work. Glad someone's working to preserve these canals. It's sad that the channels have been left to rot when they're such an important part of history, but nowadays where tourism and environmental consciousness is a thing, it only makes sense to restore them - it may be slower, but it's far more environmentally friendly to move large amounts of freight along the canals than putting it on trucks, and waterways are always a great tourist attraction

[@davidberlanny3308]

Thanks for showing us this. I like to think that the people who infilled the canal hid the coping stones for the day someone decided to restore the canal. Good luck to all the volunteers from Spain!!

[@misterflibble9799]

I'd like to think that, but I think it's more likely just laziness :) They wanted to lower the height of the top of the lock in order to turn it into a grassy field, so just pushed everything in to the chamber. Not that we're complaining, of course.

[@bd4_l]

Very, very interesting! I wish them all the best in the future.

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thanks for the tours today. Always an interesting experience. See you on the next! Cheers Paul. 😊

[@TrevsTravelsByNarrowboat]

That was brilliant Paul, I love seeing derelict canals coming back to life.

[@TerminusVox]

Modern-day, volunteer, Navvies!

[@malcolmsmith6615]

Factual, informative, interesting and encouraging! A nice distraction from looking at the course of derelict canals and old railways (which is also interesting of course). The Rochdale Canal restoration (which was considered impossible) also had to take a short deviation to get through an existing underpass under the M62, so an almost identical problem and solution! Enjoyable, thank you.

[@gs425]

Dremon lizzle cake. My favourite 😍

[@biking261]

Wow a few hundred yards from my house and hadn't realised how far they had got with this

[@zGJungle]

I was anxiously waiting for a good shot of that amazing flooring the gentleman was stood on, and you finally give us a good look at the end, thank you!

[@pwhitewick]

Good things come to those that wait

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

That was returned to its source country by the Belgian Government as a goodwill gesture before the UK pulled out of the EU. A Heritage piece from Passchendaele. 😜😉😁

[@philsharp758]

There is something gladdening to see an old piece of infrastructure being restored. It must be gratifying work. Much appreciation to John Robinson for his bequest. And another great video from Mr Whitewick. My only question is, have there been objections from the adjacent landowners about having a working canal at the bottom of their garden? P.S. your penchant for tea puts you in the Geoff Marshall league :-)

[@pwhitewick]

The whole area is under development from Forest Green Rovers, so this hopefully is small fry compared to that!... To be fair I'm more of a coffee man... 😜

[@Canalsman]

Most landowners, and especially house owners, welcome life being restored to waterways. House prices invariably increase and a very important secondary function of a waterway is to provide improved land drainage.

[@robwilkie1]

Great vlog Paul. Can’t wait to see that canal restored. Long term they hope to go the other way to the Thames. That will be incredible when they achieve that.

[@pwhitewick]

I guess the Tunnel is the biggest obstacle there!

[@leslierhodes5467]

I liked this video, even before I had a chance to watch it. All you are looking at something that is amazing that is going on all over the country for the canal.

[@TheSynthnut]

Great to see this being restored for use, quite some undertaking! I wonder why they chose to rename the existing lock and give the new one the old name rather than call the new lock the John Robinson Lock?

[@taffythegreat1986]

It’s nice to see these canals are being restored. I thank you for bringing this to our attention. And a big thanks to all those volunteers, which would never happen without them. 👍👍

[@UKAbandonedMineExplores]

It must be so satisfying digging out and restoring a structure like that where originally, there was so much work involved in it's construction, I'd love to do something like that.

[@erinna8298]

Paul's mind needed an extra weekend 😆 thats where the Friday came from m8 heheeh

[@TestEngineer1982]

Love your videos, keep them coming.

[@shirleylynch7529]

Incredible work being done by volunteers. An amazing project. Keeping history alive. Thank you Paul for taking us with you to see all this in action.

[@raytheron]

How heartwarming that so many are prepared to give their time and efforts (and money!) to this superb restoration project!

[@brianwillson9567]

Excellent. Roll on Sapperton.

[@glyn829]

Very interesting 👍 some good work being done restoring the canals

[@djhrecordhound4391]

We have historic canals in southern Ontario Canada, but they're either built over or left to rot. This is what led me to several UK channels, including yours. They got it right over there. This area is missing out on major tourism with that alone.

[@readmylisp]

Time to start up a restoration society. There must be Government funds available to kick it off ?

[@handyandy6050]

Canal being restored! Amazing! So nice when this happens.

[@MrGreatplum]

This is brilliant and fantastic to see a restoration nearing its end - just a mile to go!

[@fatbloke6223]

Calm yourself Tiger, there may be a mile or so to go to connect with the with the G& S at Saul, but the other side of Stroud to Inglesham also needs a little attention...doubt it will be finished in my lifetime..

[@Jimyjames73]

Good to see that another Canal will be restored - pity about the Motorway thou...😉🤔🚂🚂🚂

[@willyd-adv]

Absolutly love this. Canal restoration videos are my favorite thing to watch on KZbin even though there aren't many but yours is the best

[@korma9732]

Awesome, thanks for sharing.

[@JulianJacobs100]

Live in Gloucester, work in Stonehouse and go past that canal every day. Great to see you down in my neck of the woods. Keep the great work. 🚂🛶🍻

[@dizstruxshon1012]

Ahh you said Friday, we expecting a Friday upload now, 😃 but Sunday will do i guess. Thx for all you both do 💯

[@rogerneale4319]

Very tempting to go and join our local canal group

[@pwhitewick]

Do it Roger!!!

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

Very informative video on a fantastic canal restoration project. Thank you!

[@template16]

Excellent video Paul. Hopefully you will revisit one day to show the progress.

[@hazza106]

Finished in the garden for they day , cracked a beer then saw a new vid :) awesome Sunday

[@shayne109]

Amazing work. i hope you can promote more of this work around your other projects Paul. i for one could watch these canals being brought back to life all day!

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers, I certainly aim to do that.

[@steadynumber1]

You got in a bit of a mix up at the end there Paul. Perhaps you could use a holiday. How about the canals ? BTW, 47 years ago I helped restore the Droitwich Canal. Happy days.

[@mikepowell9326]

Great video loved it ☺️

[@davie941]

hello again Paul and Rebecca, very interesting video , i love to hear about things being restored , i would love to have a good rummage through the spoil to see what could be dug up , i hope it all goes well for those guys , really well done and thank you guys 😊

[@leeclift4666]

I've walked this canal from Severn up sapperton so much excellent work being done

[@lisascenic]

What an impressive undertaking!

[@Sarge084]

I'm particularly interested this restoration as I lived in Gloucester for several years, and of course my home town was created by the termination of the Staffordshire Worcestershire Canal at the River Severn. Canals are in my blood... not literally of course!

[@andybbeck2043]

brilliant best video yet .but love all the detail u guys put out

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks so much!

[@bobsrailrelics]

Always happy to see a canal being restored especially closing a gap. All power to them!

[@IcenI_Koi]

Amazing, thanks Paul.

[@bmosley4444]

Im in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan and the evidence shows the whole city was canals and they simply filled them in with rubble from smashed buildings.

[@robertansell4538]

Outstanding vlog Paul

[@andrewmarch7891]

Many thanks Paul; fascinating as usual.

[@victoriaeads6126]

I CANNOT get over the fact that the supervisor's name is Pontefract, which is Latin for "broken bridge." That irony is too wonderful. He is, after all, fixing plenty of aquatic-adjacent structures, some of which are probably bridges 😂

[@mtnair3]

Really enjoyed this video which shows the respect many of your country folks have for the history of their areas. Great video. Where’s Rebecca?

[@Perthshire]

Great video. I enjoyed that!

[@stephenwise734]

Absolutely Brilliant! Thanks again for the wonderous views and scenery! Hit Subscribe and Smash the Bell!

[@pwhitewick]

All of those things!!

[@a11csc]

great project

[@shaunmarsh7930]

OK you've managed to talk me into it I have subscribed to you and hit the bell icon keep up the good work you are doing

[@pwhitewick]

Welcome

[@shaunmarsh7930]

@@pwhitewick Thanks I have been watching you for quite a while just never got around to hitting the buttons.

[@pwhitewick]

@@shaunmarsh7930 apparently its a common thing. I'm sure we do the same too

[@burnoff123]

Do love an abandoned canal !

[@pwhitewick]

Me too

[@Rail_Focus]

Looks like painstaking work excavating the lock. Is all the work being done by volunteers with donations?

[@misterflibble9799]

Donations (including the John Robinson bequest) pay for materials and plant hire. It is intended (expected) that all of the work will be done by volunteers. Occasionally contractors have to be brought in if there's a job we can't handle, but that doesn't happen very often. Pretty much the only job on this lock that we're expecting to be done by "contractors" is the fitting of the lock gates, because it's a specialist job involving lots of expensive equipment. The gates will be supplied and fitted by the company that makes them.

[@owenrichardson1419]

Brilliant to see a restoration that is nearing a end. As you have said so many protects with open ended schemes.

[@palmertrees]

I want some Dremon Lizzle cake now!

[@AdamOpie]

Such an exciting project!

[@muddydave01]

That was fascinating.

[@davegillman6296]

Great work unfortunately down here in sunny Devon we have a real shortage of canals

[@gs425]

I grew up in rainy Devon. It's far too hilly , although the sweeping estuaries provided much transport routes. That said the exeter canal was one of the first in the world I believe !! Canals I recall at stover, Gunnislake, Bude, Tiverton. The chard and Taunton canals are very close by in Somerset.

[@adrianpilbeam7403]

Awesome video mate. Loved that guy with his Dremon Lizzle cake 🤣😂

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks, included purely because he mocked my speech impediment! ;-)

[@misterflibble9799]

Wahay, I've starred in a Whitewick video :)

[@Sim0nTrains]

Friday? That was out the blue! But a great video Paul

[@fefid2218]

would be interesting to see something like this for the wilts & berks

[@pwhitewick]

Most definitely

[@deanthornby2026]

I worked on Hythe canal while it was being dredged ...we found hundreds of hand made clay pipes and not much else ... it was interesting tho

[@Mr_wayne0805]

Another very interesting vid Paul. But i have to ask. How did the Dremel lizzen cake taste 🫢😝. Sorry.

[@neonskyline1]

Incredible

[@excossack]

I wonder how the canals that are filled in / abandoned helped control heavy rain/flooding?

[@robertdonaldson6584]

I am fiddling "Swinging on a Gate" on my Strad....

[@bullettube9863]

That's quite a project they have going! I'm wondering what that body of water is near the highway, would it be possible to utilize that?

[@pwhitewick]

Absolutely yup. That's River severn

[@eddiewillers1]

So you hiked to Pike Lock to beat the clock at Dock Lock?

[@pwhitewick]

What a shock

[@paulmessis1094]

Shame they couldn't do this for the portsmouth and arundel

[@russchapman2281]

If you are interested ,i know the owner of the Roundhouse at Lechlade which is the junction for the canal and maybe abkle to get you a visit

[@johngravett3568]

It would be great if they could do this sort of thing for the Basingstoke Canal right up to the town?

[@pwhitewick]

Oh very much so.

[@SteamCrane]

Watch this, then picture how many navvies and how many shovels and how many oxcarts and how long it took in the 1700's. Then realize that the masonry won't go much faster than it did back then.

[@pauljones1350]

Great news restoration wow ,friday you wash your hair on a friday😅😊see you Sunday.

[@pwhitewick]

Knew it!!!!!

[@breaking_mowers3811]

Do you think that there is such a major renovation push in and around the canal network because of the impending fossil fuel crisis and someone somewhere has realised that canals are going to become very important for trade once again?

[@nikskin30]

Dremon lizzle cake. My favourite.

[@michaelsilcock7933]

Dremon lizzle cake!!! Haha

[@memofromessex]

Can someone explain what is the purpose of canal restoration? It isn't a criticism, I'm in awe of their passion and hard-work - but it seems like an awful lot of work. All the best!

[@pwhitewick]

Completely get your point about expense and work involved. For me personally.... its about soooo many things. 1. The open space. The need to people to be able to get out and about and enjoy a route. 2. Restoring heritage as a community asset. History and education right on your doorstep. 3. Income will be gained by the use of the canal, this will aid tourism in the local economy. 4. Canals are gorgeous.

[@fatbloke6223]

Why do we restore Canals?.......Short answer.....to make the country a better place. If you like the idea why not join in, plenty of stuff on youtube to watch and lots of way to help