Saltisford Arm, a terminus of sorts

The Saltisford Arm was once a hive of industry; now it is much quieter and full of moorings

Saltisford Arm

Saltisford Arm, taken the other day

We were moored just above the Arm on the Grand Union Canal .....

The Arm is now home to the Saltisford Canal Centre, and HQ of the Saltisford Arm Trust. The charity was set up over 25 years ago to restore the Arm. It has been restored from a derelict canal to moorings for residential narrowboats, leisure moorers and visitors. The landscaped gardens are open to visitors, but sadly we did not have time to explore. http://www.saltisfordcanal.co.uk/Saltisford_Canal/Our_Gardens.html

in 2002

The Saltisford Arm in 2002 from narrowboat Twelfth Night

The Arm was the terminus of the Warwick and Birmingham Canal, which we had turned right onto and moored. The Warwick and Birmingham Canal ran from the Digbeth Branch (http://nbepiphany.co.uk/our-boat/epiphany-blog/782-we-qdigq-digbeth) of the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) at Bordersley Junction to the Saltisford Arm. It was completed in March 1800.

The Arm continued to a basin complex and opened in 1799, joining with the new Warwick and Napton Canal at Budbrooke Junction. Much of the trade along the Arm was coal for the gas works at Saltisford. (http://www.saltisfordcanal.co.uk/Saltisford_Canal/History_of_the_Canal.html)

Saltisford Arm and mooring

Saltisford Arm and where we were moored this year taken in September 2010

In 1895 the two Warwick Canals were merged into the Grand Junction Canal. After the amalgamation of the canals into the Grand Union Canal in 1929, the Arm was used for the casting and storage of concrete piles during the 1930 modernisation of the GU Canal. It then fell into dereliction by the 1970s and restoration was begun in 1982.

Leaving mooring

Just about to leave for Hatton Locks

Hatton flight is only 21 locks so not so daunting! We have done Caen Hill on the Kennet and Avon Canal a few times and that is 29 locks in total - the middle 16 being the famous steep flight everyone thinks of as "Caen Hill" (This is a link to our video of Caen Hill - http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&v=0OzSsB1I2J0).

We will have some help with the locks again so I wonder what time we can do the Hatton Flight in?

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