This evening a friend and myself took a little walk along the Grand Western Canal (I've put a few pics up before of the canal). We started from Tiverton, Devon (not too far from where I live) and made our way to East Manley Bridge, about 2 and a half miles from Tiverton (on this map it's just beyond the second little "P" underneath the word "Grand".)
A little bit of history / timeline for the canal:
- The canal was built in 1814 (all 12 miles dug by hand) and served as a major route of frieght into and from Tiverton. Until the Tiverton Railway Branch Line was built in 1838, the canal served as the main means of frieght transportation into the town.
- Originally the canal ran from Tiverton to Taunton, but the 14 mile strecth from Lowdwells (end of current canal) to Taunton is dry.
- Shipping ceased in the canal in the 1840's as the railways began to import lime to Tiverton Lime Kilns to make housing.
- On 21st November 1961, an RAF English Electric Canberra crashed in the canal killing both crew members onboard (more to come later).
- Now the canal is a Country Park and preserved well with regular tourist trips from a horse-drawn barge.
Anyway enough talk, here are the pictures:
On a bridge in Tiverton, looking east.
The second of 24 bridges on the canal - "Tidcombe Bridge", named after the area of Tiverton it's situated at (Tidcombe)
The same bridge from a bit further eastward along the canal.
"Tidcombe House", the largest house in the area (and I believe it's home to those who own the horses that pull the barge)
This was taken not so far from "Warnicombe Bridge", the third of 24 bridges.
Part two here, with a picture of the memorial to the Canberra crew.
