The Water Road

On our journey south on the Grand Union Canal we've reached Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire. Next to Batchworth Lock is the Rickmansworth Waterways Trust, and we'll find out about their work in promoting the waterways and educating people about how they work and how important they are. We'll also hear about the Trust's historic wooden narrowboat, Roger, and how a whole family lived in its tiny back cabin.
For more information about the Rickmansworth Waterways Trust, visit their website.
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The Water Road is produced and presented by Adam Porter.

The Aylesbury Arm, which branches off the Grand Union main line, is only just over six miles long but it's packed with interest. It starts at Marsworth Junction with the only staircase locks on the southern section of the GU, and it has sixteen locks in all. The Aylesbury Canal Society has spent decades promoting the arm and giving people a reason to head down it. In this episode we find out about the history of the society, and hear about the facilities at its base, Circus Field Basin, which incudes one of the best wet docks around, a dry dock, boaters' facilities, and a conference room.
The Water Road is produced and presented by Adam Porter.
If you like what you're hearing, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi.

Braunston is at the heart of the canal network, and in this edition of The Water Road we explore its waterways history, including how the working boatmen adopted the village church as the Cathedral of the Canals. Plus we hear how the Braunston Canal Society does voluntary work on the canal and towpath, and we learn about making fenders.
The Water Road is produced and presented by Adam Porter.
If you're enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting me via Ko-Fi.
Useful links: Braunston Marina; All Saints Church; Braunston Canal Society; Tradline Fenders.

Hatton Locks are known as the Stairway to Heaven -- twenty-one wide locks on the Grand Union Canal just outside Warwick. In this epsiode, a volunteer lock keeper gives his tips on how to work the flight in the most efficient way, and we learn about the candlestick paddle gear which are unique to this part of the Grand Union.
The Water Road is produced and presented by Adam Porter.
If you like the podcast, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi.

Our previous travels saw us on the Macclesfield Canal, but now we've turned onto the Trent and Mersey and are tackling Harecastle Tunnel. It's more than a mile and a half long and the roof is so low in places that you have to crouch down to steer your boat. It's unusual because there are huge fans to keep the air moving, and doors on the southern portal. We experience the tunnel on electric propulsion for the first time, and speak to one of the tunnel keepers about its history and its current day use.
The Water Road is produced and presented by Adam Porter.
If you like what I do, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi.