The Basingstoke Canal, almost a secret waterway

Monday, 25 July 2011 20:02

We left our mooring at Pyrford early as we had arranged to meet the Basingstoke Canal Ranger at the bottom of the Woodham flight of locks.

We were soon turning onto the canal at Woodham Junction ......

The Basingstoke Canal was built to increase trade between Hampshire and London, via the Wey and Thames.

Cut to Woodham Locks

200 men constructed the 37 miles with little more than shovels in 6 years. They created 29 locks, a tunnel, 69 bridges, 5 lock houses, 4 wharves and 3 warehouses. The canal was opened in 1764, but was destined to struggle. The materials for building the London to Southampton Railway were carried on the canal, but the railway signalled the demise of the canal. Sadly it fell into dereliction.

Woodham Bottom Lock

We could see Chris, the ranger and his van waiting for us. He is employed by the Basingstoke Canal Authority, an amalgamation of the Surrey and Hampshire County Councils and 6 Borough Councils, which now manages the canal. In the mid 1970s, after a campaign by local residents who formed the Surrey and Hampshire Canal Society, the volunteers restored the canal, with funds and technical back up from the councils.

Duke of Kent plaque at Woodham Bottom Lock

The canal was opened again in 1991 and is now watched over by a team of Rangers, carrying out maintenance and protecting wildlife. Sadly it was announced on Friday that four of these are being made redundant and the Rangers will have to share vehicles, because costs need to be cut.

Now that the history has brought you up to date, I think our cruise will be better illustrated by photos - I took so many!

New Lock gear (above) is gradually being installed - someone fell in whilst using the old type (below), which cause the operator to lean over the canal.

In the pounds above Woodham Lock s1 and 2 there are lots of residential houseboats, the moorings leased from Surrey Council.

They are in a varying state of repair and styles

It is very shallow before Lock 2 - the water is very clear and I could see all the rubbish thrown in from Scotland Bridge and the car park

It is so strange for people to see moving boats - this postman helped us at Lock 2

We knew there was another narrowboat on its way down - helped by the other Ranger on duty, Pete

Nb Vega is a local boat and such was the attraction and rarity of two boats passing on this end of the "Bassy" there were lots of gongoozlers at Woodham Lock 3. Walkers, cyclists and others gathered. The towpath is very busy as it it a cycleway and a quick route into Woking. Many were obviously walking for pleasure too and many photos of us have been taken! We had a slight delay below the lock, as John had to go down the weed hatch - fishing wire and black tape came off and out!

At Lock 4 Chris caught up with us - the locks are caulked up after boats have passed through to save water loss

Basically a long pole with a spade end is used to scrape silt into the gap between the top gates and along the cill - if you look carefully at the above photo you can see the pole floating by the gates, left by Chris whilst he collects some extra sealing compost from the van.

Sheerwater Bridge and Lock 6

Once we got to the top lock, lock 6, we moored on the lock landing. John took a walk to do a bit of shopping and to meet Dom (our great nephew) who was coming for a few days - our new crew member I mentioned. I think that here it is a good time to have a break.

To be continued ......