So what is Bullo Pill and why did it matter to the Stroudwater Canal?

Roger Farnworth's excellent blog on Bullo Pill:
rogerfarnworth.com/2018/03/13/bullo-pill-and-the-forest-of-dean-tramway/

[@ebanggm]

Beautiful scenery ❤. Thank you for sharing 🌹🌸🌷🌼🌺

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers! Paul

[@ebanggm]

My pleasure ❤️

[@michaelmiller641]

Thanks ,Paul, for that short bite!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Michael! Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers, Paul

[@wendingourway]

Now I have learned something new...I now know what a "pill" is. Who knew?! Always appreciate these tidbits!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Bruce! I am always learning something new making these videos - I had no idea before filming here either! Cheers, Paul

[@AliceGoss]

I learn something new watching your videos. Your knowledge of the subject amazes me.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Alice! Glad you enjoyed it. Take care, Paul

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

Surprising that Bullo Pill is still in use, given that the coalfields and rail connections ceased operations long ago. In the early 19C a rail/road tunnel was begun under the Severn from near Bullo Pill, towards Framlingham. But, it collapsed and was flooded and abandoned. There were also proposals in mid-19C for a rail crossing, which also came to nothing. Only Bullo Pill survives. Thank you for a very interesting video.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Malcolm. Yes, such a shame that it is now a high security dock at Bullo Pill now and you can't access the really interesting bits anymore. I am not sure of the reasons for the high security. A lot of people now live in chalets and caravans in the dock area too. Yes, there was an attempt at building a Severn Tunnel here but as you say it collapsed and was abandoned, although part of the earthworks survive hereabouts, although on private land. I think the work that does take place is ship repair and salvage - surprised to see a narrowboat there! Cheers, Paul

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Paul, and again I have learned a lot. Very well presented as usual and it is not raining. Ron

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Ron! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, I had been meaning to get here for a while - it isn't easy! You can't park anywhere near Bullo Pill - the lane is private so I walked from Awre. Such a shame that they have all those high fences and security around it now. Take care, Paul

[@faithg9766]

That was really interesting & the maps & old photos helped to tie it all together.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Faith! Glad you found it interesting - unfortunately it was a little frustrating to make because of the new rules regarding access to the lock and dock areas here. Glad it was OK in the end. Take care, Paul

[@michaelpilling9659]

Hello Paul - greetings from Poland A very interesting video. I can see how Bullo Pill fits into the link between Forest of Dean coal and the Stroudwater Canal. An interesting history lesson

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Michael! Yes, it is a fascinating place, but also frustrating too as most of the interesting bits are hidden behind high fences and high security. Despite appearances, this was a diffcult video to make! I had to be quite clandestine when filming. Glad you enjoyed it though. Hope you have a great week! Take care, Paul

[@royedwards8713]

Hi Paul nice canal update video,and hope you had a good weekend👌

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Roy! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, good weekend thank you! Off filming on The Severn Way again tomorrow - a bit nervous to be honest, as it is a long way (have to walk back to my car as no public transport in the area) - I am going to start very early to avoid the heat of the day and rest for a while at mid-day before heading back late in the afternoon. Might go to the fireworks in Bewdley on Friday night. Hope you have a good week! Take care, Paul

[@grantbaker3336]

Hi Paul, Another great video it was a shame that you didnt get to see the dock itself, up until a few years ago you could look straight down into it and see the lock gates, the site including the wharf is now used for the dismantling of boats, the rubber works are now long gone I was very surprised to see they were still marked on the map. The large pool behind the dock itself I suspect was a reservoir to maintain the water level in the dock at low tides when the lock gates were closed.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Grant! Gosh, this was a very difficult video to make. You cannot park anywhere near Bullo Pill, as it is a private road, and there is no parking allowed along any of it. In addition, it is very high security there now, and you are not allowed inside the very high fences that surround the inner dock area (where the lock and dry dock once was). No idea what goes on inside there - but inside is a lot of 'new' housing in chalets and caravans and the like. I remember visiting many years ago (in the early 1980s or possibly 1970s) and wish I had photographed it then. I think you are absolutely correct about the pool near the dock to maintain water levels; it mentions sluices on the older OS map. Thanks so much for a great comment. Take care, Paul

[@SouthWestSundays]

This was interesting Paul - Thank you! Sone lovely views too. Interesting to hear the meaning of the word Pill. That would explain the meaning of Pill, near Bristol’s name. It used to be Crockerne Pill, I believe (having just looked it up) - Pottery wharf! Thanks for awakening my intrigue!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Louise! I didn't know that about Crockerne Pill - interesting! Yes, I think there are some 'Pills' on the Welsh side of the Bristol Channel using the Welsh spelling. Take care, Paul

[@dianarolph1770]

That was very strange- 2 signs featuring the ‘Severn Way’ & both official looking! Not just any cobbled together ‘amateur’ signs. And yet we can see the real Severn Way across the river on the opposite side of the bank. Thanks for explaining the derivation of the name ‘Pull’ - it was unexpected to find the dock there still in use. I wonder if you will find that boat pictured, abandoned at Upper Framilode? Another piece of the jigsaw making up the history this area and the Stroudwater Canal. Thanks Paul!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Diana! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, most odd with those signposts. Another odd thing is that they didn't seem that old either! The Severn Way was put in in 2000 as a millenium project, but they looked newer that 24 years old. I have no idea! Unfortunately, just like the dock here, Upper Framilode Lock and Dock is completely in private ownership with huge fences around it, so no chance of having a look! Thanks so much, and have a good week! Paul

[@pwhitewick]

Would like to see how you get on with the tramway tunnel. We struggled to get to either end owing to the aforementioned private land. I thin its bricked up, but I would love to see the portals.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Hi Paul, Yes, I think it will be a challenge, but I am willing to try. If I find the portal(s) I will send you the photos on 'X' as a PM. Happy hunting and filming. We must catch up soon. Cheers, Paul

[@pwhitewick]

@@westcountrywanderings great stuff Paul. Thank you. Yup, we are always wondering somewhere!

[@davidberlanny3308]

Hi Paul, you know I think you've taken us here before, from afar. Did you capture Bullo Pill from the other side of the river in your video entitled "Sunset over the River Severn"? Such a lot going on there what a fascinating place it is. Very enjoyable to watch, well done. All the best!!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Very well remembered David! You are absolutely correct. In hindsight, I should have dug into the archives and showed what it looks like from the other side. There is a lighthouse or lightship there. Glad you enjoyed it. Hope all is good with you and your mum. Take care, Paul