The Grand Western Canal A Brief Review of Current Reclamation - By Tony Haskell

Somerset Gardens Trust – Autumn, 1998

The descriptions of our visit to Cothay and Greenham Barton have both mentioned the presence of the remains of the Grand Westem Canal. To many, the mention of this name will conjure up the water filled section from Tiverton to the Devon/Somerset border on part of which a horse drawn barge operates throughout the summer. What is not so commonly known is that this canal once continued to Taunton as a tub boat canal, once the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal had been completed in 1827. Its history is particularly fascinating and, whilst it is recognised that this subject hardly comes within the brief of a Somerset Garden Trust, nevertheless, its present programme of partial reclamation represents an interesting example of countryside restoration, that it deserves a few lines.

The concept of linking the Bristol Channel to the English Channel with a manmade waterway had, for years, fascinated canal engineers, keen to reduce the time taken, to ship cargoes round the dangerous Devon and Cornwall peninsula. James Brindley, the eminent canal engineer had been approached by a consortium of Devon and Somerset businessmen as early as 1765 to survey a link 'using the River Tone [and therefore the Parrett to Bridgwater] to the River Exe at Exeter. The plan remained on the drawing board until a new initiative was mounted in the early 1790's, at the time of canal mania'. This plan had been prepared by no less an engineer than John Rennie, who was at that time supervising his scheme for cutting the Kennet and Avon Canal linking Bristol to the London markets.

The Grand Western canal promoters foresaw a copperbottomed financial venture in connecting to Taunton, and thence to Bristol, with a canal which would provide a ready outlet for their abundant agricultural produce from the West Country, whilst, at the same time, allow import of coal, from the coalfields of South Wales.

Just over 200 years ago an Act was approved. To limit undue expenditure, it was agreed a short, income generating stretch would be built between Tiverton and the Somerset/Devon border where there were both stone quarries and limestone sources, both of which were vital in the building and agricultural work of the period. The wide canal, proposed by Rennie soon hit troubles with massive rock cutting between Westleigh and Whipcott near the Devon/Somerset border which virtually absorbed all their finances, and a halt was called. The 11 miles had cost nearly £225,000.

When the Bridgewater and Taunton Canal was opened in 1827, bringing coal from Bridgwater, it was urgent that the Grand Western Canal Company reconsider a connection to Taunton, despite a further 11 miles to cut and a drop of over 270 feet [80.0m]. What followed represented a unique chapter in canal development, a pioneering piece of canal construction without parallel in the UK, and one which should be protected wherever possible. And it is in Somerset, and until recently, virtually unloved.

James Green was the engineer who volunteered himself to the Canal Company as one who could give them their canal to Taunton at only about £60,000. He proposed a tub boat canal, just wide enough for two tub boats to pass in opposite directions and, where overbridges and footbridge crossings were needed, it would narrow to just 7 foot width. Each tub boat would be 66" wide and 25 feet long, almost a quarter the size of conventional barges, and a rake of six could be connected together and drawn by one horse. The depth of the canal would be minimal, and to the use of water greatly reduced by using mechanical aids to lift and lower the tubs over the drop of 270 feet. James Green was taking advantage of developing colliery machinery in utilising vertical lifts and rail inclines. He had already completed a similar canal at Bude, using water driven inclines, but on this canal he would combine seven lifts as well as an incline. There had also been experimental instances, notably at the Somerset Coal Canal, in using these devices, but here was a chance to put them all to practical, commercial use. In 1831, work started at Taunton, and proceeded towards Bradford, Nynehead and Greenham to meet up at Lowdswells and the water filled canal to Tiverton. The lifts worked reasonably well, taking just over fifteen minutes to lift each tub through a counterbalanced system of operation.

The long incline at Wellisford, (presently being privately investigated) raises the tubs over 80 feet (24.0m), but never proved satisfactory whilst water driven and had to be adapted to steam drive. The canal operated satisfactorily, albeit slowly, for over 20 years, but the coming of the railway, which could deliver goods between Tiverton and Taunton in a matter of an hour or so meant that there was no commercial future in the Grand Westem Canal.

In 1867/68 it was dismantled, and the land returned to the original owners. The idea of mechanical assistance to canal craft in the form of lifts and inclined planes was developed further both in North America and Europe where, to this day extensive networks of canal rely upon the ideas first dreamt of by James Green. However, his contribution in Somerset has lain largely forgotten until some three years ago when a group of enthusiasts persuaded the Grand Westem Canal Trust, which had already fought to preserve the Devon section, to enlarge its remit to include the dry Somerset section.

Much of the groundworks remain, and it is still possible to trace much of the line of the canal. There are partial remains of only one lift, at Nynehead, and even here only three walls survive. Two fine aqueducts remain, and two overbridges. A public footpath traces much of the line of the canal, until approaching Taunton where it resumes alongside the River Tone. There is little trace of the line of the canal into Taunton which took it through Silk Mills and close to Staplegrove Road to link with the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal at Firepool.

Two sections of the canal are currently being restored. At Nynehead a 300 yard stretch of canal is being cleared of undergrowth and restored to its design dimensions, whilst at Greenham, another 300 yards length of spectacular cutting is being restored as well as the original towpath.

Obviously the Trust is keen to expand its membership, and if you feel your energies need further outlets than just the garden, why not consider a real and rewarding dig'.

September 10, 1999