The Canal Invention you DO NOT want to use.

Quick note: We had no clue that we would meet some lovely people along the route at Pewsham, so this video should have been about 3 mins shorter. We didn't want to take the title and intro out though to fot the last bit so hopefully you'll still enjoy it!
Welcome to our first walk along the Wilts and Berks Abandoned Canal. This week we take a walk along the western section between Lacock and Pewsham, restored by the amazing volunteers. Huge thanks to Basil for his time on the day.
You can visit the Wilts and Berks trust here: www.wbct.org.uk/
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @pwhitewick
/ paulandrebeccawhitewick

[@steveaskey]

That overflow was certainly impressive, and thank you for going "off script" to include Basil and his wonderful enthusiasm.

[@mkendallpk4321]

Glad you ran into Basil, what a gem he is. Very interesting video this week. The horse shoe overflow looks like a work of art in itself.

[@mgutkowski]

No, it's a work of engineering.

[@gordanmilne7034]

Artistic engineering.

[@mgutkowski]

@@gordanmilne7034 no such thing. If it's beautiful, it's through form following function, not art.

[@gordanmilne7034]

@@mgutkowski Codswallop.

[@mgutkowski]

@@gordanmilne7034 go look up the definition of art and tell me how it applies.

[@Urbexy]

The overspill was a very clever design. Very often older engineering solutions just work. They are designed to be simple and effective. Some research I did in the past revealed something very similar local to me. It was a "cut" delivering water to power machinery. If the water got too high it fed into a pipe. The pipe took the water over a large bucket and the weight of the water acted on a lever to open a sluice. The bucket had several holes so when the pipe stopped flowing the bucket would drain and the counterweight closed the sluice. Today engineers make things way too complicated. 🙂

[@Unsensitive]

Engineering should only be as complex as is absolutely necessary. Simplicity is the hallmark of good design, not complexity.

[@paulinehedges5088]

Fascinating to see the canal beong rebuilt and thank heavens for enthusiasm volunteers! Lovely to see you both. Thank you as allways .

[@ThatCoalSoul]

* being *

[@nathanielberners]

Ahh, a rare moment when the KZbin algo' recognises one of my more eclectic tastes in channels. Fascinating project, and delightfully presented. All that reclaimed brickwork is beautiful. Instant subscription 🙂

[@pwhitewick]

Welcome. Now get binging on the other 250 videos!! 😊

[@MisterItchy]

Basil is a legend and still kicking at 85! What a rock star!

[@hairyairey]

I want to be as fit and healthy as Basil at 85! There's the benefit of looking after your health right there. What an amazing guy he is. Brilliant video Paul but I would have thought the circular overflow you were looking at wasn't the horseshoe one you were after! It did become obvious though. Other KZbinrs might have edited that out so thanks for leaving it in.

[@percybrown]

Basil's knowledge is amazing. People like him should always be listened to and respected. Great episode!

[@ringo4419]

That old boy certainly knows his stuff!

[@patchso]

Kudos to Basil and the volunteers!

[@farmerpv]

We in the USA do not have the appreciation of the canal system built in Great Britain hundreds of years ago and the civil engineering involved. Today this would be a great way to see the country and learn about a lot of history at the same time.

[@davidbassett4577]

Basil was a gem in his own right! Great episode

[@robertansell4538]

David basil what gent and dont get better them that ever

[@MrMutt1960]

Thank you so much basil for what you and others do ,from a gratefull noverner

[@phillunn4691]

It’s really great to see our heritage being restored back to it’s former glory, so that we can show our grandchildren how we used to live! Thanks for sharing another great video with us Paul and Rebecca 👍🏼👍🏼 look forward to seeing next week’s video!

[@midnightwind8067]

That gentleman has this well in hand. What an awesome guy. Love it.

[@bryansmith1920]

Thank you, P+R it actually made me think that as a retired person a volunteer job might be just what I need. I love the little slices of what it takes to put our history back together

[@chasbodaniels1744]

If you have the means, time and physical ability, I heartily suggest volunteering. Imagine the satisfaction and even the fellowship to be had from sharing your particular life-skills for a cause! I’m exhausted after doing my bit, but it encourages me to exercise in between to stay ready for the next session. Win win!

[@gordanmilne7034]

This country would fall apart without volunteers the majority of whom get little recognition or seek it.

[@stepheneyles2198]

I spent some time between jobs volunteering for the Cotswolds Wardens - they are active in restoring and clearing footpaths in the area. It was hard work, but when I'm out and about nowadays I remember working on things and always appreciate the work the volunteers do. Go for it, Bryan!

[@suttoncoldfield9318]

Obviously, you're going to have to video and upload your work.

[@chrismoule7242]

See my separate post: it's not all sweetness & light...

[@GiacomodellaSvezia]

Enjoyed it immensely, in part thanks to Basil, who looks much younger than 85. Thanks, all three of you.

[@stacymirba1433]

I'm in the USA and it's different to hear you talk about the King. I knew you had a King but I'm just so accustomed to hearing about the Queen my entire life that it was almost shocking to hear citizens refer to having a King. It's probably become normal over there since the Queen passed but I had to pause and remember that their has been a change.

[@handlesarefeckinstupid]

It's still very odd to hear it, but believe me the royal family aren't talked about by people as much as the media like to. They have no bearing on our lives at all really.

[@LeafHuntress]

As a Dutchie i cannot comment on limey feelings, but i’m still not used to having a king after more then 100 years of queens & he’s been that since 2013! Koningsdag(kingsday) simply doesn’t sound as good as Koninginnedag(queensday). I’m a republican(NOT the yankee kind tyvm!) anyway so my feelings on this subject get ignored by the general public... Liefs leafs(^.^)

[@neilrobinson9806]

Your vids are top drawer miles better than the plurile crap on tv keep up the good work👍👍👍

[@Evan-lr8nq]

The joy you all get from talking about the canals is contagious! Now I have to watch more about them!

[@jennyd255]

Wow - what a great episode. That volunteer was one of the most interesting and inspiring people you have ever featured. I had no idea that the Wilts & Berks was so actively being restored. Back in the day when I was a member of IWA and WRG (circa 1977 - 1992) the focus was all on the Kennett & Avon, and the view on the Wilts & Berks was that it was effectively B.E.R (beyond ecconomic repair) to use an old engineering phrase. So it is fantastic to realise that whilst I have been busy quietly getting older, the whole restoration bandwagon has marched on so very effectively. Really positive news - more like this please!

[@donsharpe5786]

Interesting to see this being rebuilt. This area was my stamping ground as a child and teenager. I remember my dad telling me about the old canal and looked at where it crossed the road between Pewsham and Derry Hill. The Lysley Arms, just up the road, famous for a murder in the 60s. Also when I went to Swindon there were far more signs of the canal although they may now have gone because of Swindon redevelopment in the 1970s. This section of canal was important and was the reason why Swindon became the central engineering works at Swindon. It meant that they could get bulk raw materials to Swindon relatively easily and cheaply.

[@TheEudaemonicPlague]

I knew that many canals had been left to rot, but I hadn't heard before that anyone was working on restoring any. That's great--it's a bit of history that shouldn't be left as ruins, I think. Where I live, historic constructions keep getting destroyed, and it seems about like no one cares.

[@Beateau]

Basil has to be the most coherent and understandable old Brit I've ever seen.

[@a11csc]

nice one,basil sure knows his stuff

[@0BRAINS0]

Liked and subscribed. When I watched this I teared up a bit because it reminded me of the things me and my wife used to do together. Good stuff.

[@pwhitewick]

Welcome to the channel Sir. I hope we can continue to bring you a little joy and maybe some memories

[@ivy7642]

Totally ran into this channel by accident, but I love old industrial engineering, trains and canals both! Bumping into Basil couldn't have been a more fortuitous happening, lots of lovely info, and a look at how they do the repair. Splendid!

[@jellyfish1433]

Stuff like this, the off path things most people will never even know about, is always so interesting to learn about. The amount of time, resources, and knowledge put into things like this without much recognition is crazy! I hope it can be fully repaired to it’s full potential soon!

[@bobsrailrelics]

Impressed to see restoration happening, it's always good to see a canal reopening. Thanks.

[@martindeane9631]

Can I just say what an excellent production this is. Interesting subject with good interviewing and editing and nicely balanced sound. Keep up the good work!

[@meme4one]

Great spot, I went down there last year, met the guys working on it and had a great chat. I've got some great photos from there too. Yes, that's camilas house with the elephants.

[@workonesabs]

I live near the canal, and is a overflow, one of many. Impressive engineering.

[@malcolmsmith6615]

Brilliant! My locks! I was born and bred in Chippenham and for a while lived close to Pewsham locks. When I found the locks in the 80s it was massively overgrown. The towpath was impenetrable and although you could get to Top Lock, you had to scramble through branches, trees and brambles to get to the start of the Middle Lock. That was as far as it was possible to get. Top Lock was relatively well preserved, although almost hidden in trees, but I read somewhere that Middle and Bottom locks were part destroyed by army demolition practice during WW2. Trouble is, they were far too overgrown to get near enough to check it out. There was a branch from Pewsham to Chippenham and while bits remain today (if you know where to look) most is now gone. Back in the 70s there was a lot still to see and I still have some (poor quality) B&W photos of bits of it. My first ever attempt at taking photos! Now I live “Up North” it’s not so easy to get back to visit, but I need to!

[@mrlister2000]

Another excellent and interesting video. Basil looks amazing for 85!

[@caiusofglantri5513]

I love this! An enthusiast with a lot of knowledge about canals hands over to an older enthusiast with even more!

[@GodmanchesterGoblin]

Fascinating. I was not aware of that type overflow. And great input from your impromptu interviewee as well.

[@LastofAvari]

You were lucky to stumble upon this wonderful gentleman.

[@pwhitewick]

Absolutely

[@cargy930]

I reckon Basil's an amazing piece of history in his own right! Top geezer!

[@MY-nh3si]

My local walk! Been watching the restoration for years. It used to be a real challenge to get to Lacock without sinking into the mud of the canal! Still intrigued how they're going to cross the A4 at Pewsham 🤔. Lovely video as always.

[@Bicyclehub]

Your canal videos are always fascinating, especially when we see some restoration work going on. You have to take your hat off to the volunteers who do such important and valuable work with such limited funding.

[@richardeljay]

Interesting video and enjoyed Basil’s knowledge which clearly demonstrated just how hand to mouth in cash terms many of these vital volunteer organisations are.

[@majormanfredrex]

I loved the video. I found it intriguing that the overspill is such a simple but effective means of preventing damage to the towpaths and surrounding property. The autogenerated captions are an absolute hoot. "Wheelchair and Boxer", "Camilla Parker balls", "Kennel engineers", etc.

[@pauljones1350]

Basil is amazing for his age a gaffer who gets things done never mind his age remarkable fellow well played talking to him

[@VoodooMcVee]

Indeed, had I had to guess, I would have said he was in his mid-seventies. Hopefully I'll still be as fit on my feet and in my head at his age.

[@carsond7870]

Gave me the feeling of Smarter Every Day the way you prompted the knowledge from that amazing man! Learning from those who dedicated their life to a passion is truly something special.

[@Thribbulous]

Grew up in Lacock (a bit, then moved to Corsham...), know the area well. Lovely to see it again, it's been a while 😊

[@martinmarsola6477]

A nice tours and explanations. Thank you for the tour today. Enjoy the week ahead. Cheers mates! 😊❤

[@binarydinosaurs]

That was excellent, thanks folks. Question is though, if the horseshoe trough was the 2nd structure what was the first?

[@EMleRoux]

Thank you Paul & Rebecca for taking me along on your walk. Also a big thanks to Basil and his team for volunteering and sharing their knowledge.

[@RinoaL]

I love that you left-in the footage of the incorrect overflow. hahaha

[@pwhitewick]

Gotta be honest!!

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Basil was a joy to experience.

[@garethbeynon3377]

Love the double entendres Rebecca getting her leg over😍

[@Unwashed_Chicken]

I used to take that route to walk between Chippenham and lackham college, always wondered what they where doing with all that equipment, they been working on that for quite some time will have to visit again when its finished.

[@nicholasself4771]

Hi Paul, it's not correct to call it the Wiltshire and Berkshire Canal. It's official name cited in the Act of Parliment is Wilts & Berks canal. Cheers. Nice video, I live near there.

[@nicholasself4771]

Basil wasn't wrong when he said it was dangerous. Up until a few years ago, you could walk in the bottom of the locks. But then a wall fell down and killed some guy and the W&BCT got the book thrown at them by the H&S Executive. Most of the damage was done by the Royal Engineers whilst training in demoltion in WWII. Apparently, the locks were similar to one they had to blow up during the Normandy invasion.

[@stevie-ray2020]

@@nicholasself4771 Maybe the canal trust should ask for volunteers from the Royal Engineers to help rebuild it?

[@nicholasself4771]

@@stevie-ray2020 yes, maybe they should.

[@davemaloney2382]

@@nicholasself4771 Actually we didn't get the book thrown at us by H&S Exec. They put a work stop on the area until we had complied with some of their safety demands, loose scaffold boards, and paperwork. A very long and publicly expensive police investigation cleared the canal trust of any criminal activity. Don't know when the coroners inquest is yet though.

[@davemaloney2382]

@@stevie-ray2020 Actually it was Canadian Sappers and we have written twice asking if they would like to donate sadly no reply.

[@smiffy1947]

When you come back try to have a look at the aqueduct over the River Marden at Stanley, which collapsed in 1906 and was the cause of the closure of the Wilts & Berks Canal to all traffic and resulted in it being finally abandoned. The short branch to Calne starts nearby.

[@musoseven8218]

Fascinating - thanks for sharing. Lovely engineering, I was lucky enough to work on the railways with some wonderful engineers. We should be more proud of our country and its achievements, it's helped civilise and feed the world ✌️👍😊 Basil, is a similar age, to my spritely, father, still active, so much knowledge 👍😊

[@Raggy60]

I hope I'm as active as Basil when I'm 85. Very interesting video.

[@pwhitewick]

Likewise!!

[@hedleythorne]

Love the overspills. They remind me of the water sculpture they have at the lock in Newbury.

[@a11oge]

HT I was thinking exactly that. I have never been there when it was working.

[@dieseldragon6756]

Thanks to the cost of living crisis; When you referred to the pound (The basin between the locks) the first thing I thought of was _„How many of those buy a loaf of bread now?“_ ⛵💷🤣 Many thanks for the great video, and especially for showing off the Horseshoe Overspill! It's great to see the canal network being restored and made navigable again, especially as dwindling resources mean these will probably be bought into use again for carrying heavier, bulkier freights in the near future! 😇

[@huntermccoy7641]

The canal network is still one of the most useful things constructed in England. Amazing that people can even live on the extensive network that's still operating

[@davidreeves-turner6572]

I love Rebecca’s face pulling in the background!

[@jackprier7727]

Like so many of these marvelous engineered devices you show us, the horseshoe-overflow is a work of art-

[@TheLowerman]

Lovely video. Basil is a treat.

[@pwhitewick]

He was wasn't he!

[@JustCameronAndHisJeep]

"Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" - It's just up ahead... good video, thank you. I love learning this sort of thing.

[@sandwormgod4771]

Wonderful explanation from Basil.

[@micrashed]

If you are ever up at Capernwray there is a good spillway from the Lancs canal down to the river Keer by the Keer Aqueduct - a drop of 40 foot - there is also the packhorse bridge over the river nearby

[@msspi764]

Fascinating. The waste weirs I've seen at our canal in Maryland are likewise adjacent to streams or other culverts under the canal. The beauty of the engineering and construction of these early canals, even of things that will never be seen, amazes me. Our National Park Service restores the structures as they were originally built so dry laid masonry for the lock structures.

[@dedogster]

I am fascinated by you canals, that fact there are so many and you are restoring them! That is amazing work! I live in Ottawa Canada, home of the Rideau Canal, we didn't have any where near the building of canals . Enjoying your channel! Cheers!

[@kayejaye261]

Great vid. I am American. Love all kinds of engineering, construction, and history. Thank you.

[@stemartin6671]

85 years old? I would never have guessed, imagine what he's seen change over the years

[@davidcox8961]

Were it not for watching videos about English narrow boat canals I never would have taken notice of the historical marker I walked past in SE Michigan. It seems that long ago canals were a big deal. There had been a plan to build a ship canal across Michigan, connecting Lake Erie with Lake Michigan. It never happened.

[@tinytonymaloney7832]

What a real nice genuine person that Basil is. And at 85 he looks well. I do hope you go back again soon and see how he is getting on. Great video, I'm going to subscribe 😁👍

[@dodaexploda]

I'm not sure why I watch these videos. I understand almost nothing of what they are talking about. Paul and Rebecca just put out good vibes, maybe that's why I watch.

[@pwhitewick]

Keep watching!!!

[@knownothing5518]

Congratulations to Paul remembering that there is a current King and even who his spouse is! And also congratulations to another incredibly interesting and yet also relaxing video that makes me forget about time for a while!

[@Maddog3060]

The Algorithm certainly picks some odd but interesting videos at times. I always feel a bit sad when I see a disused/abandoned industrial transport system, like a canal or a railroad. So much effort and work to make them, variable use gained from them, and then forgotten by most. So nice to see that some English care to preserve history.

[@TheCelts01]

Great vid guys thanx and all our love from the snowy City of Hamburg Germany.

[@mikedavies1827]

I live quite close to the rebuilt section of the canal at Royal Wootton Bassett. This section is fed by springs that come out of the hill the town is built on. At one end they have rebuilt a lock, but also have overflows for the springs to carry on it's natural path.

[@Rail_Focus]

Great video, it's actually quite and elegant structure for something they didn't want to build 😉. It's always good when you bump into a volunteer, they usually have so much knowledge.

[@roderickmain9697]

Well done, guys. I applaud the way you did this. Unexpected real time encounters are definitely worth it. Kudos to the restorees too.

[@aengusmacnaughton1375]

So great to see these volunteers rebuilding history -- and the flow of public and private funds.

[@davie941]

hello again Paul and Rebecca , another good very interesting video , hello basil , really well done and thank you 😊

[@KlaunVI]

Cheers for you both and Mr Basil.

[@kimcason8764]

That Old Get looks fitter than me and he has almost 20yrs on me..!! Great Video, Boop on..! 😎 Cheers all, Kim in Oz.

[@shirleylynch7529]

Most enjoyable as always. Very enthusiastic. Thank you.

[@ChristyOFaghan]

Basil certainly added flavour to this composition.

[@eze8970]

Thank you P+R, & also to Basil! 🙏🙏

[@invisiblewizard2538]

Excellent - I've bunged Basil and Co a tenner

[@sallyheselton8551]

SO glad to see this video here. I found ithe Cana in Aug 220 and then joined. I sent your Hereford and Gloucester canal reference and link to wilts and Berks soon after and encouraged them to get in touch with you. Wether they did, had already I don't know but delighted to you are now progressing it to hopefully the Thames. I have following you for a year, with my guy, you seem to exactly like the things we like in the way and humour we do.

[@huntsbychainsaw5986]

It's really neat seeing a canal and lock system on much smaller scale than what we have in Canada.

[@greenjack1959l]

It takes a special sort of person to commit to a job that you will never see completed. Respect to all involved. I've always thought the the canal system should be extended nationwide as originally intended. That would be a massive shot in the arm for the leisure industry, the local and national economy as well as providing a means to move water from one end of the country to the other in a national grid during droughts, thus ending the water companies illegal local monopolies.

[@sarahfuller8542]

Love it, a "boop" to go with the "doobly do" 😁🤩

[@Teapot-Dave]

There is enough work going on in that lock restoration for a whole mini-series. It would be very interesting to see some time-lapse footage of the works, and a further documentary when everything is completed and it is open for boats again.

[@pwhitewick]

I'm alllll over that

[@shoknifeman2mikado135]

These British canals are so tiny, it doesn't look as if two boats could even pass each other... I am used to living by the Welland Ship Canal in Ontario Canada, which is from 200 to 500 feet wide at the surface, it's locks are used by ships up to 80 feet wide and 730 feet long

[@davidberlanny3308]

Boop!! Great video!! Big thanks to Basil for explaining the restauration. Good luck from Spain!!

[@COVENTRYBRIAN]

Fascinating video. Thank you for sharing

[@janehigh5279]

Another wonderful video. Basil rocks!

[@Seriouskai]

Interesting video, randomly got here and found something I will enjoy watching more of!

[@pwhitewick]

Welcome

[@christophernoble6810]

This is essentially a spillway. All canals need to have them to keep the level of water in the canal constant. I have seen them discharge water into a nearby river whilst said river was in flood but the canal was fine!

[@chokeizm]

one of my fav episodes from you guys . hope its emailed to the trust or whatever ;) as u done them proud and could be used for more grants or towards it

[@davewedgbury1583]

Excellent to see another canel being restored

[@pwhitewick]

More to come!

[@robertmiller2831]

“Just ahead a bit”is the walking equivalent of the classic driving “are we there yet”

[@alexcharlesworth7580]

Nice to see you back on a Canal. There is something about old canals, they seem to have an atmosphere all of their own. Must put the Wilts and Berks on my explore list as it's not too far away and looks fascinating. I thought Basil was great. Would be great to be like him at that age. Great vid.