The real problem with "London's Lost Route To The Sea" was that too many seperate companies were involved. From London to Littlehampton you had the following. 1) Thames Commissioners. 2) Wey Navigation. 3) Godalming Navigation. 4) Wey & Arun Canal. 5) Arun Navigation. If you wanted to go to Portsmouth you had to use the services of another company. 6) The Portsmouth & Arundel Canal. Whilst there were attempts to reach agreements on tolls over the entire route they were not very successful. Where as the London Brighton South Coast Railway linked all of these places (and many more besides) as a single entity. The reason that there are no surviving locks in Sidney Wood were the canal crosses the watershed between the Wey and the Arun as well as the border between Surrey and West Sussex is because they were removed in the late 1920's & early 1930's to help to provide local employment. This was particularly true over the very cold winter of 1929-1930. The bricks recovered were then reused. As for Orfold Aqueduct (Lordings Lock) the Arun Navigation Canal didnt drop to river level. It actually continued running parallel to the river to Pallingham which was the traditional northern terminus of navigation on the river Arun. With a history of navigation going back to 16th Century. The canal entered the river via a double lock. The only example of such a structure in Sussex. Whilst the lock keepers house survives the lock itself was filled in at least 60 years ago. I would urge you to read Paul Vine's seminal book 'London's Lost Route To The Sea' as it explains all of this . Also Middleton Press (The late Vic Mitchell's excellent publishing enterprise) has published four books by Paul Vine on Inland Waterways in South East England with volumes on Hampshire, Surrey, West Sussex and East Sussex & Kent. 'London's Lost Route To The Sea' being covered by the volumes on Surrey and West Sussex. Again this book provides a good reference point.
@@paulmessis1094 That must have been a very time ago as it was certainly filled in by 1970. I know that because I had lunch with my parents at the lock keepers cottage. We were taking to its location and were told that it had been filled in and grassed over some "10 -15 years earlier" They were not sure exactly when I would guess between 1958 and 1964 approximately. However I have not been to Pallingham Quay for over 20 years. So the lock could have been re excavated easily in the time.
@@nicholaskelly6375 Hi Nicholas, weird, I went maybe a 10 years ago and although it was turfed and they had a table on the base, the lock chamber was very much evident - there wasn't water so I suppose it was filled.
@@paulmessis1985 Interesting I guessed that the owners had done some work to excavate the lock chambers. As noted when I saw them it was nearly impossible to work out exactly where they were. Apart from the locks on the Southwick Ship Canal. The Pallingham Double Lock was by far the largest such structure in Sussex. All The Best Nick.
Currently in Chiang Mai, in Northern Thailand, but came across your wonderful video via the Wey & Arun Canal Trust (with whom I am a lifelong member - they do a brilliant job and deserve all the support they can get). I loved your video and it was great to see that beautiful scenery again (despite the awful weather during filming!), but it would have been good to have shown some of the parts of the canal that have been restored too. Well done - great job! I will look out for more...
There is so much industrial infrastructure abandoned in Britain that should be preserved for the nation. Greenaway are a start in reclaiming these treasures. Great work Paul & Rebecca👍
A provocative title! Any canal could be described as pointless if it no longer serves the purpose for which it was originally constructed. This can apply to all UK narrow canals. However those extraordinary early engineers have left us with an amazing historical legacy which we are now repurposing into fantastic leisure and wildlife landscapes. All disused canals should be brought back to life. PS I have been a member of the Wey and Arun canal trust since it’s inception 50 years ago!
Home stomping ground for me. Although I now live in Cornwall, I the early part of my childhood was spent in Hampshire and Surrey, later West Sussex and mother still lives about 4 miles east of the Arun-Wey Navigation. . I've walked the entire length of the canal from Godalming to Arundel. My favourite canal route by far, but whether it is prudent to continue with it's revival is open to question, given rising sea levels that will end up innundating the Sussex Weald eventually. Flooding is already an issue in parts. . The Cranleigh branch line closed on 14 June 1965 four months before its centenary, the only Surrey railway closure in the mid-1960s stripping-out known as the 'Beeching Axe', officially termed "The Reshaping of British Railways". This closure was not popular locally. I've walked most of its length too from Peasmarsh Junction to Bramley, Cranleigh, Baynards and on to Rudgewick (where the family home was located at the time) as far as Stammerham Junction at Christ's Hospital, where it joined the Arun Valley Line to up to Horsham. So many of these glorious rural branch lines were to feel the axe fifty-odd years ago... Such myopic thinking, . This is quinessential pastoral English home counties.
So glad to you guys walking the W & A Junction Canal I have been fascinated by this canal since reading L G Pine book 'Londons lost route to the sea ' long before restoration started & I even wrote a novel about a journey along it from Littlehampton to London set just after it opened
Remember doing a sponsored walk to raise funds for the restoration of this canal ‘Wey’ back in the eighties. Thank you for giving the history for its existence.
Hi from Australia. In the 60's I was brought up in and around Pulborough, West Chiltington to be precise. Myself and a few friends at the time tried to get a group together to consider restoring this canal after we learnt of its existence in the 19th century. Great to learn that there is a dedicated team now at work doing just that!
Fascinating stuff. Glad the canal is being restored - it's still a valuable asset. It's ironic that the railway that forced the canal's closure was itself closed 100 years later.
Well, the You Tube algorithms are getting increasing more accurate. The bridge at the beginning, "Tannery Lane Bridge," I walked over that this morning! It is an interesting bridge due it being two bridges in one. The original part, a cross over canal bridge is still largely intact with a railway bridge being build over the top of it, with it's arch to one side. The railway did literally destroy the canal at this point The best way for anyone who wants to view it would be to park at the abandoned railways station at Bramley in Surrey, (also worth a look.) and walk up what would have been the track, now a pleasant walking path. Not far south of Bramley I found volunteers working on two more bridges, Lift bridges in this case, the bases looked complete and they were close to installing the lift parts which are being made off side somewhere. Fast bridge is a particularly pretty bridge as you showed, access is very easy as it is yards from the A281 near Dunsfold. Stanley wood is an absolute beauty spot, and would be a treat when the canal is restored through there. Thank you for showing some interesting spots on the canal, I am trying to complete the walk of the entire length of the canal, (Just over half completed of the bits that are accessible.) so I know the effort you have put in.
Dedicated to your art. Rain holds no fears (maybe your camera). Nice video and very informative. Well done to the society and best of luck to getting the waterway back open.
Hi Paul & Rebecca. A fascinating video. Lordings Lock & Waterwheel a clever and ingenious water powered invention. Should they finish it I would think this would become a massive attraction and a boon for tourism in the area. Looking forward to more videos on this obscure and unique waterway.
i live locally to this canal and it has facinated me for a long time thank you for doing teh walk and teh river you said you didnot name teh name of is the Rother navigation and there used to be a wharf at Midhurst for the small boats to use
Interesting area, in the past, I've visited other parts of the Wey Navigation, around the Woking & Guildford area, parts of it round that area are in daily use by narrow boats, a particularly nice area is Pyrford Lock, where there is a narrow road bridge over the canal & a waterside pub, called the Anchor. The canals in Southern England never enjoyed the commercial success of the network up in the Industrial North of England, before the Railways took over!
Paul and Rebecca - I almost enjoy your canal walks more than your railway walks - all the detective work you do is just so fascinating - well done - and I look forward to your discovery of why that aqueduct was built across the river it was intending to join. Of course, many canals were acquired by railway companies, either for conversion, such as the Paisley and Aberdeenshire Canals; or to sink any attempts to compete, as with the Forth & Clyde. And rivers were diverted too. I made such a discovery myself just the other day while walking the stretch between Dollar and Tillicoultry in Clackmannanshire and coming upon the curious site of 'Tait's Tomb' - a cemetery, that forms an island in the middle of a field... Seems a loop of the meandering River Devon was diverted when the parallel railway was constructed! Thanks for sharing your discoveries, too.
Just to the north of Cranleigh, the line of the canal (just a depression in the ground) passes under a bridge carrying a minor road. The arch of the bridge is scored by barge towropes. What makes it interesting is that the old Guilford to Horsham railway was built alongside the canal at this point and the original canal bridge had a 'new' , higher, bridge built over it to overpass the railway. It's fascinating to see a bridge over a bridge, both crossing long gone transport routes!
Fascinating story behind this! (And an ongoing one thanks to the restoration efforts - I love that something pointless can be restored, too) Really enjoyed it and, as always, the great music.
I know this canal and I was on a train from Shoreham and Steyning to Guildford via Cranleigh on the Sunday, the day after the Cranleigh line closed. So I was struck by your opening shots of the remains of the bridge over the canal.
Canals nearby Rother navigation with a seperate branch to Petworth aka the petworth canal, try and find this, its virtually returned to nature.... The Portsmouth and arundel canal.... The baybridge canal and the coldwaltham cut if the arun navigation.... Thats your next schedule guys
There was also a plan to have a canal from Chichester to London ... you'll find the remnant beside Chichester Marina with house boats on it ... Great history Paul and Rebecca I never knew about this Arun canal
Actually not a plan, it`s part of the Portsmouth to Arun canal, the route crossing Langstone harbour north of Hayling across Chichester harbour. The canal basin end in Portsmouth is now under the Post Office adjacent to the Town station. The railway line running in the former canal.
My local canal (and one of the disused railways). They do a great job restoring it. Well done with coping with the awful weather. There are bits I haven't seen before.
It occured to me, whilst watching this, that normally items of great architectural significance get hidden from view for a good many years, once they fall into disuse. It also occured to me that the Victorians, who constantly show a great deal of thinking in problem solving, failed to see, to some extent, the coming of the railways. But then they designed some fantastic pieces of railway architecture that survives to this day, such as bridges, tunnels, stations and viaducts.
I was just thinking that.... 😊 I didn't really notice watching on my phone or streaming to my TV, but I'm just rewatching it while listening on a nice set of headphones and the music is wonderful. Just a shame 99% of people probably won't notice the effort put into it!
Brilliant..l find these interesting...and at the same time sad... However, grateful that a group of dedicated volunteers take there time to return some to visual history...
In "The Colonies", they cut a canal from the Chesapeake Bay through the Great Dismal Swamp to Albemarle Sound. It still functions to this day. It's part of the Intercoastal Waterway, allowing smaller vessels to travel the Eastern Seaboard without needed to travel open ocean. Amazingly untouched for over 150 years. The swamp continues to shrink in a small part because of the canal.
You caught me out, I have to admit, I have not watched it yet, I like to save them for the right cosy 'me time' when I can fully appreciate the friendliness of your creations...bless you both...need more of your legs...lol
Watching it and thinking "I do hope the weather is not as soggy as in your video" ... when I'll next be exploring disused canals, inspired by your videos! 🤞🥾⛅ Thank you for today's video, the maps / graphics were appreciated.
For people's information, there is an actual physical lock in the sidney wood area but its in the garden of a private residence... There are a number of disused locks on the canal and brudges just awaiting restoration....it is a truly beautiful canal especially in spring...I got the hardham tunnel grade 2 listed, looking forward to the coldwaltham cut vid.... Be sure to go to where it joins the arun as remains of the lock cottage and lock are still there
Apparently, the biggest stumbling block to the restoration of the canal is that so much of the canal bed is now privately owned and the land owners are refusing to allow the restoration volunteers to work on their land.
@@MrKeithblair Hi Keith, there was a survey done about 20 odd years ago, which determined that full restoration is a possibility - but yes I guess landowners are a stumbling block - I think as the restoration efforts grow, a few of the landowners would maybe be more open to it and obviously in some places as exemplified by where I mentioned in my original post above a re-route would need to occur. But I suppose with anything, time will tell, maybe some of the landowners could make more money opening a marina on their land than farming and who knows what futures could be in store for the Wey and Arun. They've got enough on their plate right now though with some key restoration potentially on the horizon, if their current planning gets the go ahead, that would make full restoration I guess easier on paper in the future. Irregardless, I fully recommend people visit this canal in both the restored and unrestored parts, its a really lovely thing especially in Spring and Summer and the trust does good for the local area and wildlife, so thats great too.
Just found your channel a week ago and now I'm totally hooked on your awesome videos. I'm from New Zealand and i can relate to your channel as in the Early 1990s the government privatized the railways and we lost some stunning branch lines almost overnight. Luckily communities started turning these lines into walkways and cycleways and repurposing old stations. A few groups decided to lease disused lines and are now running trips on them using modified golf carts with the longest tour journey being almost 100 miles long. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Very, very happy you did this, it's proof that unlike wot some think, the South DID have canals, they just didn't have the traffic to sustain them. From my memory of reading about it, one of the issues with the Wey and Arun is it used to dry out.
Loving your films as I make my way through them one a day, this was fascinating as are all your videos. We live on the Wirral Way, so if you ever need accommodation to explore this railway just get in touch. Loved the history around Radstock and Bath, used to be a copper there many years ago, now a happy artist doing bugger all really. I do appreciate how you go out in our lovely British weather, brolly akimbo.
The real problem with "London's Lost Route To The Sea" was that too many seperate companies were involved. From London to Littlehampton you had the following.
1) Thames Commissioners.
2) Wey Navigation.
3) Godalming Navigation.
4) Wey & Arun Canal.
5) Arun Navigation.
If you wanted to go to Portsmouth you had to use the services of another company.
6) The Portsmouth & Arundel Canal.
Whilst there were attempts to reach agreements on tolls over the entire route they were not very successful.
Where as the London Brighton South Coast Railway linked all of these places (and many more besides) as a single entity.
The reason that there are no surviving locks in Sidney Wood were the canal crosses the watershed between the Wey and the Arun as well as the border between Surrey and West Sussex is because they were removed in the late 1920's & early 1930's to help to provide local employment. This was particularly true over the very cold winter of 1929-1930. The bricks recovered were then reused.
As for Orfold Aqueduct (Lordings Lock) the Arun Navigation Canal didnt drop to river level. It actually continued running parallel to the river to Pallingham which was the traditional northern terminus of navigation on the river Arun.
With a history of navigation going back to 16th Century.
The canal entered the river via a double lock. The only example of such a structure in Sussex.
Whilst the lock keepers house survives the lock itself was filled in at least 60 years ago.
I would urge you to read Paul Vine's seminal book 'London's Lost Route To The Sea' as it explains all of this .
Also Middleton Press (The late Vic Mitchell's excellent publishing enterprise) has published four books by Paul Vine on Inland Waterways in South East England with volumes on Hampshire, Surrey, West Sussex and East Sussex & Kent.
'London's Lost Route To The Sea' being covered by the volumes on Surrey and West Sussex.
Again this book provides a good reference point.
separate
I don't think the lock at Pallingham is filled in, i once asked the owner if i could see it and they allowed me to stand in it, twas huge
@@paulmessis1094 That must have been a very time ago as it was certainly filled in by 1970.
I know that because I had lunch with my parents at the lock keepers cottage. We were taking to its location and were told that it had been filled in and grassed over some "10 -15 years earlier" They were not sure exactly when I would guess between 1958 and 1964 approximately.
However I have not been to Pallingham Quay for over 20 years. So the lock could have been re excavated easily in the time.
@@nicholaskelly6375 Hi Nicholas, weird, I went maybe a 10 years ago and although it was turfed and they had a table on the base, the lock chamber was very much evident - there wasn't water so I suppose it was filled.
@@paulmessis1985 Interesting I guessed that the owners had done some work to excavate the lock chambers. As noted when I saw them it was nearly impossible to work out exactly where they were.
Apart from the locks on the Southwick Ship Canal. The Pallingham Double Lock was by far the largest such structure in Sussex.
All The Best Nick.
It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful and full of surprise Old Blighty can be.
The area between the North Downs and South Downs is stunning in places.
I have to agree - even though I live here - and there is so much of it I know nothing about!
We have pretty much everything here!
Amazing how much was carried out, industrial heritage is certainly neglected!
I spent 5 years at a boarding school near Cranleigh. Loved the canal, it borders our school and sports field. Good to see its being restored.
Elmbridge boy! Me too!
good that they are restoring that canal.
Currently in Chiang Mai, in Northern Thailand, but came across your wonderful video via the Wey & Arun Canal Trust (with whom I am a lifelong member - they do a brilliant job and deserve all the support they can get). I loved your video and it was great to see that beautiful scenery again (despite the awful weather during filming!), but it would have been good to have shown some of the parts of the canal that have been restored too. Well done - great job! I will look out for more...
There is so much industrial infrastructure abandoned in Britain that should be preserved for the nation. Greenaway are a start in reclaiming these treasures. Great work Paul & Rebecca👍
very true Thomas, I have only just discovered this subject in depth because of this lovely couples videos.
A provocative title! Any canal could be described as pointless if it no longer serves the purpose for which it was originally constructed. This can apply to all UK narrow canals. However those extraordinary early engineers have left us with an amazing historical legacy which we are now repurposing into fantastic leisure and wildlife landscapes. All disused canals should be brought back to life. PS I have been a member of the Wey and Arun canal trust since it’s inception 50 years ago!
Home stomping ground for me. Although I now live in Cornwall, I the early part of my childhood was spent in Hampshire and Surrey, later West Sussex and mother still lives about 4 miles east of the Arun-Wey Navigation.
.
I've walked the entire length of the canal from Godalming to Arundel. My favourite canal route by far, but whether it is prudent to continue with it's revival is open to question, given rising sea levels that will end up innundating the Sussex Weald eventually. Flooding is already an issue in parts.
.
The Cranleigh branch line closed on 14 June 1965 four months before its centenary, the only Surrey railway closure in the mid-1960s stripping-out known as the 'Beeching Axe', officially termed "The Reshaping of British Railways". This closure was not popular locally. I've walked most of its length too from Peasmarsh Junction to Bramley, Cranleigh, Baynards and on to Rudgewick (where the family home was located at the time) as far as Stammerham Junction at Christ's Hospital, where it joined the Arun Valley Line to up to Horsham. So many of these glorious rural branch lines were to feel the axe fifty-odd years ago... Such myopic thinking,
.
This is quinessential pastoral English home counties.
Whilst sat in an East berkshire hospital, watching you two wandering through the wilderness is wonderful
these guys videos are so peaceful and interesting to watch, hope you are out and about soon Robert
So glad to you guys walking the W & A Junction Canal I have been fascinated by this canal since reading L G Pine book 'Londons lost route to the sea ' long before restoration started & I even wrote a novel about a journey along it from Littlehampton to London set just after it opened
Thanks John.
Boom Sunday, rain & canals 👍
Remember doing a sponsored walk to raise funds for the restoration of this canal ‘Wey’ back in the eighties.
Thank you for giving the history for its existence.
Fascinating. Many thanks again.
Hi from Australia. In the 60's I was brought up in and around Pulborough, West Chiltington to be precise. Myself and a few friends at the time tried to get a group together to consider restoring this canal after we learnt of its existence in the 19th century. Great to learn that there is a dedicated team now at work doing just that!
Wonderful people braving the great British weather to give a good documentary... liked, commented and subscribed.
What a fascinating video. Thank you for making it in such aweful conditions. History brought back to life.
Fascinating stuff. Glad the canal is being restored - it's still a valuable asset. It's ironic that the railway that forced the canal's closure was itself closed 100 years later.
Well, the You Tube algorithms are getting increasing more accurate. The bridge at the beginning, "Tannery Lane Bridge," I walked over that this morning!
It is an interesting bridge due it being two bridges in one. The original part, a cross over canal bridge is still largely intact with a railway bridge being build over the top of it, with it's arch to one side. The railway did literally destroy the canal at this point
The best way for anyone who wants to view it would be to park at the abandoned railways station at Bramley in Surrey, (also worth a look.) and walk up what would have been the track, now a pleasant walking path.
Not far south of Bramley I found volunteers working on two more bridges, Lift bridges in this case, the bases looked complete and they were close to installing the lift parts which are being made off side somewhere.
Fast bridge is a particularly pretty bridge as you showed, access is very easy as it is yards from the A281 near Dunsfold.
Stanley wood is an absolute beauty spot, and would be a treat when the canal is restored through there.
Thank you for showing some interesting spots on the canal, I am trying to complete the walk of the entire length of the canal, (Just over half completed of the bits that are accessible.) so I know the effort you have put in.
I love your videos on canals!
Filmed two today!!
Thanks for another excellent video.
Our pleasure!
Very well presented and very interesting. Pete (Manchester UK)
Dedicated to your art. Rain holds no fears (maybe your camera). Nice video and very informative. Well done to the society and best of luck to getting the waterway back open.
Awesome video as always Guys. Absolutely fascinating subject more please. Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful canal work on it many a time as a volunteer with wrg
Thanks, guys, really enjoyed that.
Hi Paul & Rebecca. A fascinating video. Lordings Lock & Waterwheel a clever and ingenious water powered invention. Should they finish it I would think this would become a massive attraction and a boon for tourism in the area. Looking forward to more videos on this obscure and unique waterway.
couldn't agree more Leroy!
We are working on the lock and the wheel hopefully the wheel will be operational again soon
The country is bulging at the brim with history and beautiful countryside. Another informative video.
Most Kind George.
i live locally to this canal and it has facinated me for a long time thank you for doing teh walk and teh river you said you didnot name teh name of is the Rother navigation and there used to be a wharf at Midhurst for the small boats to use
Thanks for another great tour. Cheers.
Interesting area, in the past, I've visited other parts of the Wey Navigation, around the Woking & Guildford area, parts of it round that area are in daily use by narrow boats, a particularly nice area is Pyrford Lock, where there is a narrow road bridge over the canal & a waterside pub, called the Anchor. The canals in Southern England never enjoyed the commercial success of the network up in the Industrial North of England, before the Railways took over!
Paul and Rebecca - I almost enjoy your canal walks more than your railway walks - all the detective work you do is just so fascinating - well done - and I look forward to your discovery of why that aqueduct was built across the river it was intending to join. Of course, many canals were acquired by railway companies, either for conversion, such as the Paisley and Aberdeenshire Canals; or to sink any attempts to compete, as with the Forth & Clyde. And rivers were diverted too. I made such a discovery myself just the other day while walking the stretch between Dollar and Tillicoultry in Clackmannanshire and coming upon the curious site of 'Tait's Tomb' - a cemetery, that forms an island in the middle of a field... Seems a loop of the meandering River Devon was diverted when the parallel railway was constructed! Thanks for sharing your discoveries, too.
What an amazing channel. I love the adventures you both take us on.
Thanks Thomas
As usual, completely fascinating. Thanks you two!
Really interesting video, thanks. Lovely British weather too 😂
This was fascinating and well made. Back in the 1970s I used to live close to the Knightons Lane/Sidney Wood section. P.S. The music was perfect.
Just to the north of Cranleigh, the line of the canal (just a depression in the ground) passes under a bridge carrying a minor road. The arch of the bridge is scored by barge towropes. What makes it interesting is that the old Guilford to Horsham railway was built alongside the canal at this point and the original canal bridge had a 'new' , higher, bridge built over it to overpass the railway. It's fascinating to see a bridge over a bridge, both crossing long gone transport routes!
Interesting, thanks
Fascinating story behind this! (And an ongoing one thanks to the restoration efforts - I love that something pointless can be restored, too) Really enjoyed it and, as always, the great music.
Thanks Josh, I tend to start with the music and build the video thereafter!... Probably a very backwards way of doing things!
Good work Chap and chapette. Near where I grew up.
Great video if rather rainy and wet....
Always a treat to be taken on a fascinating walk in a part of the country that I'm not familiar with. Thank you.
Another great one! Thanks!
And where's Rebecca's umbrella then ?
I love your video's guys . Thank you for taking me along with you !
I thought that too but I think both Paul and Rebecca are seasoned rainwalkers - the umbrella is for the camera!
Awesome work both👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧
Really enjoyed that have just watched the Blisworth tunnel video as well and you have gained another sub, I love a bit of investigative history
Welcome to the channel Martin.
I know this canal and I was on a train from Shoreham and Steyning to Guildford via Cranleigh on the Sunday, the day after the Cranleigh line closed. So I was struck by your opening shots of the remains of the bridge over the canal.
Canals nearby Rother navigation with a seperate branch to Petworth aka the petworth canal, try and find this, its virtually returned to nature.... The Portsmouth and arundel canal.... The baybridge canal and the coldwaltham cut if the arun navigation.... Thats your next schedule guys
There was also a plan to have a canal from Chichester to London ... you'll find the remnant beside Chichester Marina with house boats on it ... Great history Paul and Rebecca I never knew about this Arun canal
Actually not a plan, it`s part of the Portsmouth to Arun canal, the route crossing Langstone harbour north of Hayling across Chichester harbour. The canal basin end in Portsmouth is now under the Post Office adjacent to the Town station. The railway line running in the former canal.
Enjoyable video. Thanks.
Great to see you out and about on another exploration.
Thanks Natasha
I don't know how I stumbled upon your videos but I love them! You have a new subscriber! 👍
Great vid guys once agsin. You saved our Sunday as always .All our love from Hamburg Germany.
Our pleasure!
My local canal (and one of the disused railways). They do a great job restoring it. Well done with coping with the awful weather. There are bits I haven't seen before.
Great videos you guys, love the drone shots .
Pub Landlord, good British people in good British rain. Have a pint !
Wonderful video as ever guys. Absolutely love the Hangdrum music! 😊
What pretty countryside for a nice walk and examination of old structures.
It occured to me, whilst watching this, that normally items of great architectural significance get hidden from view for a good many years, once they fall into disuse. It also occured to me that the Victorians, who constantly show a great deal of thinking in problem solving, failed to see, to some extent, the coming of the railways. But then they designed some fantastic pieces of railway architecture that survives to this day, such as bridges, tunnels, stations and viaducts.
Its a curious thought indeed especially as Outram was saying in 1805 that railways could well be the future! (As he was building a canal!)
Thanks for sharing, very interesting.
That was just fantastic. Love your countryside. Enjoying the history too it’s just so good. Thanks for the share. Please stay safe and take care
Glad you enjoyed it
Exelelent video so interesting love watching you talk about old canals and railway's
Those pesky people with the iron horse destroying another canal😄. Another enjoyable and informative video. Thank you both.
Nice choice of music by the way
I was just thinking that.... 😊 I didn't really notice watching on my phone or streaming to my TV, but I'm just rewatching it while listening on a nice set of headphones and the music is wonderful. Just a shame 99% of people probably won't notice the effort put into it!
Another great video! Looking forward to seeing the video on the tunnel!
Brilliant..l find these interesting...and at the same time sad...
However, grateful that a group of dedicated volunteers take there time to return some to visual history...
I have enjoyed it..
Excellent News mark
Great video, and brings back memories of spending a week on a canal restoration camp on the Wey and Arun some years back. Love the moody music too!
you'd be most welcome to come again if you would like to
Sweet in depth videos man !
In "The Colonies", they cut a canal from the Chesapeake Bay through the Great Dismal Swamp to Albemarle Sound. It still functions to this day. It's part of the Intercoastal Waterway, allowing smaller vessels to travel the Eastern Seaboard without needed to travel open ocean. Amazingly untouched for over 150 years. The swamp continues to shrink in a small part because of the canal.
Great explore guys
You caught me out, I have to admit, I have not watched it yet, I like to save them for the right cosy 'me time' when I can fully appreciate the friendliness of your creations...bless you both...need more of your legs...lol
My legs!.... now that's not a pretty sight!
Wot, no Doobrydoos. Excellent video.
Ahhhh.... completely forgot.
Enjoyed. Thanks
I love discovering the hidden byways of England through your eyes. Great videos of a stunning country.
Watching it and thinking "I do hope the weather is not as soggy as in your video" ... when I'll next be exploring disused canals, inspired by your videos! 🤞🥾⛅
Thank you for today's video, the maps / graphics were appreciated.
Another lovely one. Very informative and insightful. :D Also loved the GoPro-bits of Paul talking into the real camera. :)
Fantastic Guys!! most enjoyable, many thanks.
You might as well start another series called "every disused canal lock"! 😁
Thoroughly interesting video, going to check out the rest of your channel, but you got me with this one. Thanks guys. Subbed.
For people's information, there is an actual physical lock in the sidney wood area but its in the garden of a private residence... There are a number of disused locks on the canal and brudges just awaiting restoration....it is a truly beautiful canal especially in spring...I got the hardham tunnel grade 2 listed, looking forward to the coldwaltham cut vid.... Be sure to go to where it joins the arun as remains of the lock cottage and lock are still there
Thanks Paul and we'll done on the Tunnel. Love to see relics listed.
Apparently, the biggest stumbling block to the restoration of the canal is that so much of the canal bed is now privately owned and the land owners are refusing to allow the restoration volunteers to work on their land.
@@MrKeithblair Ah, that explains the sign at 08:44. Thanks.
@@MrKeithblair Hi Keith, there was a survey done about 20 odd years ago, which determined that full restoration is a possibility - but yes I guess landowners are a stumbling block - I think as the restoration efforts grow, a few of the landowners would maybe be more open to it and obviously in some places as exemplified by where I mentioned in my original post above a re-route would need to occur. But I suppose with anything, time will tell, maybe some of the landowners could make more money opening a marina on their land than farming and who knows what futures could be in store for the Wey and Arun. They've got enough on their plate right now though with some key restoration potentially on the horizon, if their current planning gets the go ahead, that would make full restoration I guess easier on paper in the future. Irregardless, I fully recommend people visit this canal in both the restored and unrestored parts, its a really lovely thing especially in Spring and Summer and the trust does good for the local area and wildlife, so thats great too.
@@MrKeithblair Force them out with pitchforks & firesticks !
Beautiful scenery and a lovely walk. Thanks for sharing this interesting subject with us.
Used to cycle much of that track bed as a kid pre it being an established public route. Good memories
Another fantastic video, and lots to learn about my old area. Thank you Paul and Rebecca.
Another fascinating video. Thanks, Paul and Rebecca. Keep 'em coming!
It's a pity so little remains but good that so much restoration is going on.
Cannot believe you put that sign in around 8:43 but it is still hilarious to look at, lovely video of the Wey and Arun Canal
Does that mean No crapping in the woods?
That was one of your most interesting ever! Thank you so much. John
Ah thanks John, very kind.
@@pwhitewick My pleasure guys, it's worth a rewatch!
Facinating!
Great trip..that wheel was fantastic.
Would love to see it working!
Great Music
Just found your channel a week ago and now I'm totally hooked on your awesome videos. I'm from New Zealand and i can relate to your channel as in the Early 1990s the government privatized the railways and we lost some stunning branch lines almost overnight. Luckily communities started turning these lines into walkways and cycleways and repurposing old stations. A few groups decided to lease disused lines and are now running trips on them using modified golf carts with the longest tour journey being almost 100 miles long. Thanks and keep up the good work.
At last!
Proof that I’m not the only eejit to take an umbrella on a long walk!
Thanks guys as always very interesting
So looking forward to seeing this.
I like that you call it the Cut , it's something I name the river Erewash
Very, very happy you did this, it's proof that unlike wot some think, the South DID have canals, they just didn't have the traffic to sustain them. From my memory of reading about it, one of the issues with the Wey and Arun is it used to dry out.
Very interesting thanks for the vlog
Very very enjoyable!
Loving your films as I make my way through them one a day, this was fascinating as are all your videos. We live on the Wirral Way, so if you ever need accommodation to explore this railway just get in touch. Loved the history around Radstock and Bath, used to be a copper there many years ago, now a happy artist doing bugger all really. I do appreciate how you go out in our lovely British weather, brolly akimbo.
Your videos are getting even better. Thank you for continuing to improve your content and style.
Glad you like them!