Vlog 187: Digging Deep
A few weeks ago, I cruised past what remains of the Lichfield canal, now used by the Lichfield Cruising Club, and mentioned that the canal is under restoration. In this vlog I’ve been to meet the team who are heading up that restoration and see the scale of the works underway.
To donate to the Lichfield & Hatherton Canal Restoration Trust, click here:
lhcrt.org.uk/mobile/m.donate.html
For more about the restoration, see their website at www.lhcrt.org.uk
Location (Fosseway Heath basin): https://goo.gl/maps/9YXrHCnochjTbGxT6
Thanks for making this special Vlog David. My $100 CDN donation is a pittance in the big scheme but it is important work these folks are doing.
They will appreciate it immensely, I know so thank you on their behalf.
You have mentioned the split bridge at a lock being for the rope attaching a narrow boat and the horse that pulled it to pass through. I can’t imagine how this worked. Any chance you might find the owner of a horse willing to join you in filming a demonstration of how this worked? Love your vblogs. Thank you.
Hi. There are very few horse-drawn boats on the system and none that I know of on the few bits that retain the bridges with the split in the middle so it’s very unlikely I’d do a video showing it. Plus it wouldn’t really make an entire video. But, consider that the horse pulls a rope which tows the boat but it’s approaching a lock over which there is a bridge. As the horse goes up to the side of lock the rope would get dragged over the bridge and down to the boat. In other words, the bridge would get in the way of the rope. By having a split from one side of the bridge to the other, the rope can pass through and the horse remain attached instead of it having to be unhitched and the rope passed from one side of the bridge to the other by hand. Cheers
Love seeing old becoming a new again. Interesting vlog.
Wow David! A whole lot of effort went into the making of this fine video, perhaps quite easily, your very best to date. I found this quite interesting to say the least, and it coincided with my first-ever experience cruising the cut myself on the Llangollen Canal. I was amazed to see not only the tunnel which was placed under the round-about, but aquaduct really impressed me. As the gentleman stated, what is really needed to make this come to fruition is a whole lot of money and I have to say, I do feel inspired to contribute. It would be a Godsend if the Lottery comes through with a grant to help fund this huge project. As an American, I see a huge value in England preserving their historic system of Canals and Locks, there is nothing like this America. Having just rented a boat for five days, the tremendous source of revenue these canals bring to the British economy is not lost on me. I do hope this canal restoration can be completed in the near future. Thanks so much for this one David, the quality of this documentary is unsurpassed, well done !
Thank you Michael. Yes, it was a bit of a bigger production than the usual fare, with several filming locations, interviewees, drone, graphics etc. Took a while to edit too. I’m glad you had a good time on your boat!
From Barbados. Very good work indeed.