Tag: restoration

Vlog 343: The Missing Link

Posted on August 30, 2024 by David Johns

Despite the name of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire canal, it doesn’t actually go through the county town of Stafford so a group of volunteers are now trying to make that happen.

Vlog 336: If you build it…

Posted on June 20, 2024August 5, 2024 by David Johns

Formed in 1969, the Grantham Canal Society is undertaking the huge task of restoring a 33-mile canal dating from the Industrial Revolution, over 200 years ago. I went up to see how they’re getting along.

Vlog 331: Hull’s Angel

Posted on April 30, 2024August 5, 2024 by David Johns

This time, I’m looking at the question of what do you do if you want a custom-designed boat to live on but don’t have the budget to buy a new-build?

Vlog 310: Routemasters

Posted on September 8, 2023February 24, 2024 by David Johns

In 2019, I made a video about the restoration of the Lichfield canal, which had been ongoing for several decades, powered largely by volunteers and donations. So many people asked me for an update that I’ve now gone back to see what’s changed and whether the pandemic brought things to a halt.

Vlog 300: The Full Monty

Posted on June 16, 2023February 24, 2024 by David Johns

The Montgomery canal which runs from Shropshire into north Wales is absolutely beautiful but only parts of it are in water and useable by boats. Efforts are underway to connect the whole length and this video covers the latest developments.

Vlog 294: Ship’s Getting Real

Posted on April 15, 2023February 24, 2024 by David Johns

A return visit to ML1392 Sarinda on the Wirral to see how Simon and Gemma are getting on with their painstaking restoration of this historic ship.

Concrete bridge with canal bed underneath

Vlog 258: Bridge over Tunneled Waters

Posted on February 20, 2022February 24, 2024 by David Johns

In October last year, I produced a video documenting the restoration efforts of the Cotswold Canals Trust. One of the major projects they were facing was the need for a tunnel / bridge to let their canal go under a railway line at Stonehouse near Stroud. That was done over Christmas so I popped back for a quick update.

Vlog 248: When the ship hits the fans

Posted on September 15, 2021February 24, 2024 by David Johns

This is not a video about canals or narrowboats but it’s a project which I found very interesting and the couple taking it on are absolutely lovely and worthy of your attention.

Vlog 187: Digging Deep

Posted on August 28, 2019February 24, 2024 by David Johns

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.

Vlog 80: Brothers in Arms

Posted on March 5, 2017February 24, 2024 by David Johns

There is a surprising amount of unused bits of canal across the UK, in varying states of decay. In this vlog I take a look at two separate projects which are digging out and restoring parts of the original route of the North Oxford canal.