West Vale Branch
Introduction

• What are Canals
• How West Vale Branch started
• The Branch's stretch of canal

Canals played an important part in the development of the industrial revolution. They were the motorways of their day. Most of the canals were built as narrow canals taking boats up to a maximum size of 70ft x 7ft, carrying about 35 tons - the same as a modern lorry. However, travelling at 4mph makes narrowboat transportation very uneconomical at present. Nevertheless, in today's leisure age they have uses that are vitally important.

Canals are multi-functional amenities - the primary function of commerce has now been replaced by pleasure boating. Both traditional type narrowboats and the newer fibreglass cruisers are common.

Purpose built narrowboats can be up to 70ft x 7ft, have up to 12 berths and can be used as floating caravans. Hire boating is becoming more and more popular - there are more boats on the system NOW than there were at the height of the canal-age.

Less than 25% of the people who enjoy canals do so through powerboats - there are canoes and other non-powered craft. There are walkers - the towpaths can provide long distance footpaths. There are 2000 miles of canals, each with its own towpath, though these are not always passable.

There are anglers, fishing is the most popular participation sport in the country. Many of the associated structures - bridges, locks, warehouses etc. were built in the late 1700's or the early 1800's, therefore the canal system acts as a living museum. The water channel brings an aquatic character to the landscape and it teems with life - boats and marine life can live quite happily together.

Canal Restoration At the height of the canal age there was about 4000 miles of navigable canal and river. This has now shrunk to about 2000 miles, most of which is administered by British Waterways. Over the last 30 years many miles of canal and river have been brought back to navigable standard, the drive for restoration being led by volunteers. The southern Stratford Canal was the first restored canal in the 1960's, the Cheshire ring was completed in the 1970's, the Kennet & Avon and Basingstoke Canals were completed in 1990, the Huddersfield Narrow, the Rochdale and Montgomery Canals should be restored in the not too distant future. 

Third Generation Canal Restoration Schemes and the Wilts & Berks Canal Attention is now turning to third generation canal schemes such as the Wey & Arun, the Stroudwater, Thames & Severn and the Wilts & Berks. These canals were, in general, abandoned before the days of nationalisation and, because the canal bed has now reverted to the original owners, are politically more difficult than the early restoration schemes. The Wilts & Berks Canal bed is now owned by about 200 landowners.

Construction of the canal started from the west in 1795. Shrivenham was reached in 1803 and Longcot in 1805. Between South Marston and Uffington there were ten lift bridges, two arch bridges, two locks (at Longcot), two aqueducts and wharves at Bourton, Shrivenham, Longcot (busiest because of Faringdon) and Uffington. The canal also passes through two impressive cuttings.  Shrivenham Arch Bridge is the only original bridge still in daily use on the entire canal.

The West Branch was formed in May 1991 and started with great expectations. The original members were, without exception, total novices in canal restoration, however, they were eager and totally committed to their task. Expert advice forthcoming from the Group was - "stick to the easy bits first! Leave the difficult bits and structures until you have more experience." Our first plan was to restore the Stainswick Lane to the B4000 [Station Road] towpath. The landowner was known to us and when contacted, was keen on the idea. The towpath was still there and although virtually impenetrable with shrubs, brambles and nettles, it was considered possible to reclaim it quickly and easily. It would then make a very pleasant walkway between the two roads to complete a circular route.

Work began in late summer 1991 with a grand 'scrub bash' and tidy up around Shrivenham Arch Bridge. Then in October 1991 we had all unexpected overflow work party from the 'Big Dig' site at Wantage. As complete innocents to canal restoration until then, we had no idea that literally thousands of volunteers from all over the country were available to help us. This enabled us to broaden our horizons speedily and dredging was soon mentioned! If we could raise the money and permissions could be obtained, then we might be able to start in summer 1992, just one year after we began. In fact, all went to plan and the work was done.

Since then much has been achieved and plans for further major restoration work, for the new millennium are at an advanced stage.

The branch has grown in numbers and expertise - we now have a membership of about 60 - some get 'stuck in' to the physical restoration work, whilst others assist with equally important paperwork and fund raising activities, for without cash we cannot hire the essential equipment.

The Branch meets at 8pm on the second Wednesday of each month at Shrivenham Bowls Club. Please contact the webmaster with any queries. To become a member of the Trust visit the Official Wilts & Berks Canal Trust website. A membership form is available here.