Updates on the progress of the canal project will be appearing regularly in the SNJ. In this first article, it is worth looking back at how it all came about.

The Stroudwater Navigation opened in 1779, connecting Stroud to the River Severn. In 1789, the Thames & Severn Canal joined Stroud to the River Thames. The two canals prospered until the coming of the railways and then declined. Both were

abandoned by 1954. Parts were soon filled in, used as rubbish tips, or blocked by roads, pipes and cables.

In 1972, a group of visionaries formed the Stroudwater Canal Society. Volunteers began restoring parts of the canals - and support swelled as people realised the potential. The Society is now the Cotswold Canals Trust, with over 7,500 members;

the largest in the country.

In 2006, a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) was successful, with a grant of £12million being made to restore the canal between Stonehouse and Brimscombe.  Work started, but stalled when British Waterways was forced to withdraw, taking

its money with it. Stroud District Council stepped in to lead the project – a courageous decision for a relatively small council.

The financial shortfall worsened when it became obvious that Brimscombe Port could not be developed and sold at a profit. As a result, HLF-funded restoration had to end at Bowbridge.  Shortage of funds also meant that volunteers would have

to play a major role – and they have. In just 4 years, volunteers contributed 138,000 hours, which can be valued at a tremendous £1.7 million.

The result is transformation. There is a ‘feel good’ factor along the canal corridor, which has produced £115 million in inward investment. The towpath has become a major commuting and leisure route. Over the bank holiday weekend, a trip

boat was running from the centre of Stroud to Bowbridge –unimaginable just a few years ago.

In future articles, I will talk about what has been achieved, and how difficulties have been overcome.   More importantly, we will be looking forward to the restoration of the canal between Stonehouse and Saul Junction – and how that exciting

work will be led by the community.