How to Sell Sand - A Short History of the Bude Canal

Welcome to the Abandoned Bude Canal. In this family friendly exploration video we try and find some of the Bude canal remains. James Green designed some very curious engineering curiosities in order to conserve water here. Was it enough to sustain a economical fully functioning transportation method?
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[@pwhitewick]

Thanks for watching folks. If you are new here, we would love for you to comment and say hello below!! Welcome to the channel, this is very much the style of video we normally make!

[@whizadree]

you should do this in the summer

[@robertmaitland09]

The excitement of finding an adit, priceless.

[@pwhitewick]

Yuuup. And.... I now dont think it was the adit.

[@Agresticality]

Wow, all I can say is wow. Your ability to tell a story about something many would think is mundane is impeccable. Both Paul and Rebecca you're brilliant!

[@oddwad6290]

Nice mini documentary of a very important era of British history for the world to take note of . The early days of industrialization were brutal , but through the freedom to innovate , the world can now support close to 8 billion of us . Thankyou for covering this early period of innovation and economic history .

[@ff2skin356]

Thank you so much Paul and Rebecca for filming the James Green Bude Canal. I go to the Hobbacott Incline walking my Husky regularly and have always wondered where the Adit came out at the bottom of the Incline into the Canal. Wow, just wow! Now I know. Thanks for the pictures of the Adit inside. Truly remarkable engineering.

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you. Loved this adventure. More to come!

[@FatManWalking18]

glad to see Rebecca's ankle is better

[@briancjohnson]

"bu-de-ful" Grounds for divorce. ;) Another lovely video journey, thanks to you both for sharing this with us!

[@paulukjames7799]

Lovely capture of Bude and canal

[@nigelmattravers5913]

This was amazing, as a civil engineer I am always fascinated by what was done more than 200 years ago, this is classic! We talk about innovation these days but those engineers were at the edge. Paul & Rebecca thank you for introducing us ( me) to old engineering in the UK.

[@GreenJimll]

"Hardly untouched" is an interesting turn of phrase. 🙂

[@fumthings]

sounds like you mean the opposite...

[@GiacomodellaSvezia]

It's a bittersweet experience to watch what was and still could have been, or be again... On the other hand, what nature has done with the marks that humanity left in the landscape is wonderful to behold as well, if not more inspiring.

[@chrispollard6568]

Thanks for the praise of engineers - I'll take it.

[@colclumper]

I love these videos of rare ways to get a boat from point A to B in weird experimental ways

[@pwhitewick]

Yup, lots of craziness going on here!

[@dyslexiksteve2488]

Jokes are always better when you explain them

[@pwhitewick]

Couldn't agree more.

[@TheDalaiLamaCon]

I regularly walk the Planekeepers Path that follows the disused canal from Marhamchurch to the Hobbacott incline. I often get the urge to fill in the outlets that stop it refilling with water. I think it would be beautiful to have water in the cut and the wildlife would love it. Many thanks for presenting my backyard to the world.

[@danielbarrows7144]

What a Budeifull day for a walk along canals! 😜

[@janinapalmer8368]

Very interesting Very cold 🥶 Brrrr..!! Well done 👍

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Janina. Feeling the cold watching this back myself!

[@janinapalmer8368]

@@pwhitewick ~ yes I bet it does too ... what time of the year were you there ? I loved Bude in the summer .. very different place of course 😃

[@pwhitewick]

@@janinapalmer8368 actually only about three weeks ago, so not the best plan!

[@christopherbraiden6713]

Thanks for the video Paul and Rebecca very interesting canal and a grand sea lock restored back in use. The railway in the sand is very much still there when the sand washes away to reveal it!!😎🦆🦆🦆🦆🇬🇧🇺🇦

[@Sim0nTrains]

Victorians had some crazy and interesting ideas like that Incline, the Budetiful pun was brilliant! lol And surprise that you could still hear you from all that wind! Lovely Video and have a Merry Christmas.

[@SDCornishman]

Thank-you for tilling a bit of the story of the Bude Canal. My family has very involved in the area and plans for the canal. The first incline was at Marhamchurch and the “Box Foundry” and the water at the bottom was used for the waterwheel that powered the forge that made the chains. And on up the road is “ Box’s Shop”.

[@nickauclair1477]

We need our devoted viewers to look at many comments on videos and interact with people that say things we agree with. With more interaction this channel will continue snowball growth. I don't see why you won't have 100k within a few months.

[@annenewton5403]

Our favourite place Bude, we spent many years on holiday there but didn’t know half of what you told us , thank you.

[@MB-gs7pk]

Hi Paul and Rebecca. Another great video. My couple of times G/Grandfather was lock-master at Nth. Tamerton back in the day. Greetings from Australia.

[@michaelcampin1464]

I'm counting the minutes until you release the next vlog . Merry Christmas to both of you and your family. Lord Michael and Lady Jamie- Lee Campin Robson of Hougun Manor. May you continue to progress your channel.

[@TIMMEH19991]

I was very fortunate when exploring this canal about 15 years ago, the farmer who owned the land around the Tamerton incline showed me exactly where to go to see the remains, which were amazingly well preserved mainly due to being such a long way from any inhabitation or a right of way. An absolute gentleman to be so helpful to a total stranger.

[@captainkirk1]

I went to bude as a child, lovely place.

[@JimNicholls]

That adit is a remarkable discovery. If that is not under some kind of preservation order, it should be. Well done!

[@SBCBears]

8:38 You gestured toward Rebecca and remarked that the view that way was "beautiful". I thought you were about to score major points, but you went with "Bude-iful" instead. Still worth something, but... 8)) Another lovely and interesting video.

[@ausie7of9]

05:05 "so we're now arriving at, right here" 🤣 love your videos, your also accidental comedians

[@pwhitewick]

haha... I get a little over excited!

[@Bicyclehub]

First class! Very nicely put together and watchable.

[@MattsBrabus]

At the end of the bridge onto the beach you will find the wagon turntable still in place. It’s normally covered in sand but I think I have a photo of it I’ll send over when I find it. Great video as always :-)

[@philsharp758]

A very interesting and informative video. I pity those miners digging a 2 to 3 foot high adit. As an aside the Cornish/Devon border is perilous. Be careful whether you put the cream or jam first on your scone.

[@cerealport2726]

The "jam first" vs "cream first" war is real. I've been in hiding for years because I got it wrong once.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

hedge your bets, put them on at the same time 🤣 i’m a jam first person, only because i prefer cream on top of it for the contrast of flavors 😉

[@cerealport2726]

@@bostonrailfan2427 if only i'd thought of this, or putting them next to each other... ahh hindsight is a wonderful thing.

[@alexcharlesworth7580]

I live life on the edge as I'm Cornish, but I prefer my cream teas the Devon way😱...

[@maynardmckillen9228]

The Culture War (which topping reigns supreme by Divine Right, cream or jam, and which is the usurper?) takes a very curious turn at the Cornish-Devon border.

[@polo86cfahrer]

Wonderful landscapes that you have, here every beautiful piece of earth is ruined with windmills.

[@malcolmsmith6615]

One of the most engineeringly interesting canal videos so far, so thank you. I need to do some homework!

[@clareryan3843]

SO INTERESTING❤

[@dannyg2360]

Pleased to see your ankle is better R.

[@joncawte6150]

Please do this one again but in the summer when you have more daylight to play with. Great video, as always, but too short😄

[@CornishCockney]

As you came down the rails onto the beach there is a turntable where the tub boats were turned around. It is usually buried but has occasionally been exposed by high strong tides. I have a photo.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Keith. Sadly we didn't see any evidence on the beach on this occasiin

[@malcolmdalrymple1779]

Thanks again both for a fascinating little bit of transport history. Keep it up (especially when it’s a bit warmer 🌞 ).

[@RobertSmith-zv1xo]

Dad jokes with Paul, it was budefull. The vlog was once again really interresting!

[@SuperMadman41]

This was an awesome vid about the UK's canal system!! Thanks, a Canadian fan

[@Warrentvoid]

Bude is reminiscent of Whitby, which we absolutely loved when my wife and I did our grand tour of the UK and Ireland back in 2015. You have such a lovely, diverse country, but I’m a train tragic, so I can’t get enough of your presentations. I doubt we’d ever get back, you are so far away from Oz.

[@Matt-pt3vq]

I’m just here for the comments. 😁

[@schwadevivre4158]

Thanks for this

[@davidelliott5843]

Devon has a lot of heavy clay soils. The additions of sand and lime improved drainage and crop yields. The C18th land enclosures accelerated the process of improving the land productivity. In some cases soggy, unusable land became prime arable estates.

[@carolinegray3150]

Merry Christmas and a happy new year 🎅🏻🧑🏼‍🎄❄️⛄️☃️🎄

[@davidbray7149]

I used to live in Bude, and quite fabulous (if a little windy) it looked too! And such a little known story.

[@warrenhumphries1371]

Thank-you Paul and Rebecca. I have driven all around this area many times while working, giving very little thought to the purpose of the canal. I hadn't made the connection with the Tamar lakes. So out with the maps and the next visit will be with fresh eyes! Merry Christmas to you both.

[@leeclift4666]

Really interesting went to Bude last year. I didn't even know about the canal and sea lock until I got there.Its a bit different when your stood on the canal path looking down onto the beach.Look forward to more on this canal. Have a lovely Christmas Paul and Rebecca. Lee up in the shire.

[@barrieainge4937]

Went to Bude years ago for the Jazz festival and only walked the water filled section from the beach. Didn't have my copy of Lost Canals of England and Wales with me at the time so didn't explore further. Must re visit soon. Great video Paul and Rebecca.

[@eddyhenningsson3121]

Budeifull tunnel!!! :-D

[@yorkiemalone8727]

Brillllllliant Thank you

[@syncrosimon]

Excellent, used to live near there and learnt more in the last 15 minutes than all the time I was there. Thank you👍👍

[@pwhitewick]

Excellent, thanks Simon

[@MrGreatplum]

Looks like those inclines were the best log flume rides ever 😜 Excellently done - my only memory of the Bude Canal was when we stayed in Bude in the mid 80s and I remember a carnival on the water (I think - I was only 5!)

[@pwhitewick]

It did have me wondering if they ever used the tubs to sit in as well. Must have been very tempting.

[@Hairnicks]

Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed my old home, such a lovely place, even in winter, glorious in the summer. I felt quite emotional seeing you in all those amazing places.

[@easytiger652]

Another great informative video.keep the videos coming.all the best for Christmas and New year.happy holidays to all.🎄👍

[@bcoldgoalie]

What a fascinating bit of history. I would have loved to see that incline in operation back in the day. Another great video.

[@pwhitewick]

We didn't get a chance, but there is a working model in the local museum.

[@ianprince1698]

I had been to Bude to see my sister but I had never imagined the little tubs with wheels on for going up and down the slopes

[@Lichfeldian--Suttonian]

Fascinating video. Many thanks again. It’s also a good opportunity to visit at least two railway viaducts (those at Holsworthy) I notice.

[@uk-hon5769]

The lime wasn't strictly a fertiliser. What it does is break down the structure of the largely, clay soils in that part of Devon. Cheaper and easier than burning limestone to do the same job.

[@tomgruitt6563]

Bude is in Cornwall :-)

[@uk-hon5769]

@@tomgruitt6563 Badly phrased, clay soil in the West Country

[@tomgruitt6563]

@UK-Hon? Ahh I’ve got you!

[@martynbuzzing3327]

Who knew? Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. 👏👏👍

[@cd82156]

Fantastic shot down that adit!

[@oscarmeredith1128]

Brilliant video, shame to think there are plans to concrete over the old railway track where the sand used to come off Summerleaze to the canal.

[@richardpettet9996]

Went to Bude couple of years ago and was not aware of the canal or railway until we saw it. Didn't realize the extent of it.

[@jennyd255]

Back when I used to live in Cornwall I often walked along there, but I never knew most of that background info, so thank you. I think if one wanted to "rewater" a "restored" leisure use canal today one would probably need to figure out an alternative method to lift and drop the boats, but the old Cornish mining engineers that would have worked on the original build were certainly ingenious.

[@alexcharlesworth7580]

I think I remember a visit to Foxton locks on the Leicester section of the Grand Union Canal in the Midlands. They have been built alongside the old incline that predated them. The remains of the incline have been preserved along with information panels so rather interesting to see both methods of overcoming changes in elevation alongside each other.

[@steverpcb]

Let me guese, your 2022 holiday will be to Montech in France :)

[@averycornishtrance4258]

Interesting

[@EeRocKK]

Merry Christmas, Paul and Rebecca! Thanks for the amazing journeys!

[@rexgeorg7324]

Great Explore Guys !!!

[@davie941]

hi again paul and rebecca , thank you for another cool and interesting video , what a great find lol , really good shots of the outlet , well done and thank you guys :)

[@andrewpreston4127]

Absolutely fascinating. And that addit. Thank you.

[@elliotmormile3213]

2nd part would be great really interesting to see behind the scenes of where I live

[@carolinegray3150]

Good interesting video

[@wideyxyz2271]

Not been to Bude since I was 17 that's was 40 years ago, You could get Pasty, Chips and peas with two slices of bread and butter and a pot of tea for 99p. There was also a real Lido for swimming in! I bought my first Dragon Riders of Pern novel there too! Wow some memories!

[@chris77777777ify]

Really good video. Very interesting, I never knew so much engineering took place on canals, such hard work

[@jmarsh3347]

Awesome video, packed with history and details, well done.. Thanks!

[@dyslexiksteve2488]

Will be good to see the lido. It is amazing, it can be the hottest day of the year and the water is still freezing cold

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

Another lovely "little" video. And what a lovely find with the display -- would have been bude not to have had a visit and look inside. ;) And what fantastic pictures of fascinating pieces of feat of engineering 'hidden' out in the wild (speaking of the outlet of the Hobbacott Incline). As per the Bude Aqueduct (the Main Feeder), I would say it's not only such a good example of an abandoned (and untouched) canal, but more general of an abandoned, historic track or rather trail.

[@Madonsteamrailways]

A gorgeous trip!! One that I will make when I have a proper long range electric car!!

[@stevemarshall3481]

I live in the area and my daughter kayaks along the Bude canal, I've walked some of it but from Bude beach end, I never knew there was so much more to explore, I might pull a map out and plan a few more walks 👍

[@milowadlin]

Fascinating stuff!

[@Jimyjames73]

Thank you for a fun interesting video - always like watching your vids!!! 🙂🚂🚂🚂

[@kapuchinoification]

Sand was an important commodity for improving the ground for farming across Cornwall. You should have a look at the Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway when you get a chance, it is one of the oldest in the World, and was build for importing sand. There are still lots of original features to see.

[@miketherefurbisher8000]

Fantastic guys!! as always. Have yourselves a Great Christmas. Mike

[@gs425]

Just to add that the tramway went over that little stone bridge to the beach. Just after that there is what almost looks like a large circular drain cover in the sand. Look closely and it's actually the wagon turntable used to link up with the moveable lengths of line that the sand was dug from. Would have been nice to had some better shots of the tram lines on that slope for people that don't know it. Quite a remarkable survivor.

[@TurboTimsWorld]

I was in Bude today at the swan boat pool, the tide was wrong but you can see the rail tracks onto the beach at super low tide.....NOW canal boats with wheels...Tarka trail time come up to Bideford and Torrington in Devon I can walk you along the Tarka line and Role Canal and you can look down onto the Role canal to the sea lock and see the boats with wheels at the lock . Best wishes and thank you xx

[@MrLargePig]

Merry Christmas, Whitewicks!

[@BarneyLeith]

Great video, fascinatingly informative. Love your work, Paul and Rebecca!

[@bobsrailrelics]

So much in a short video, saw the lock as a child but knew nothing about the canal or its history. The inclined planes are fascinating.

[@davependrill2897]

Another brilliant video. Welcome to Cornwall....come down west and visit st agnes station...

[@robinjones6999]

Thanks guys - another marvellous video

[@chrissayers7076]

This week's documentary particularly interesting, I would say a lot of work gone into this episode as it really well put together, thanks guys.

[@RavinCarper]

Another great video! Well done guys!

[@andrewnewby6923]

Have a happy Christmas from andrew

[@telx2010]

This is what we're told, hiStory is very different from the past.

[@davegillman6296]

Very nice do come back, and do some more.you missed the old turn table just as you get on the beach, it comes and goes depending on the sand

[@pwhitewick]

Frustratingly we saw no rails on the sand at all.

[@tomlee812]

Really enjoyed this one. Thanks for all the content over the past 12 months. Merry Christmas and happy New Year to you both.

[@PoppinJay]

Terrific as usual, thanks for all your efforts throughout the year. Have a very happy Christmas.🎄

[@duckysan]

Thank you both for all your efforts to bring us a most informative and interesting travelogue. Over the last few years and many episodes, you've highlighted and discovered much of the UK's lost infrastructure, and I find this continually fascinating. Compliments of the Season, and all the best for 2022.

[@nickjennybate2513]

Well done - a very interesting video. I was particularly impressed by the clever simplicity of the water-operated hoisting machinery of the Hobbacott incline, as shown on the hand-drawn diagram (15min.53sec.). The Engineer had used clockmakers' chiming technology, but on a larger scale, with a spinner-and-vane mechanism for regulating the speed of the machinery using air resistance. Without it the machinery would run away and destroy itself. This is the vertically-mounted mechanism on the left, and the particularly clever bit is that it is adjustable by simply changing the projection angle of the vanes. It must have been terrifying to watch, and you certainly wouldn't stand too close! The water tanks in the shaft act as the driving force in the same way as the chime weight of a clock. .

[@radar59]

Another great video, thank you.