Lydney Canal
{{Short description|One-mile canal in Gloucestershire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2017}}
{{Lydney Canal}}
File:River Lyd through Lydney - geograph.org.uk - 582177.jpg
File:DM2025 Lydney Harbour from the swing bridge, looking towards Sharpness.jpg
File:DM2025 Lydney Harbour and Lydney Harbour Estate, looking WNW.jpg
The Lydney Canal is a one-mile canal in Gloucestershire that runs inland from the River Severn to Lydney. It was opened in 1813 to trans-ship iron and coal from the Forest of Dean. It was once connected by a horse-drawn tramroad to Pidcock's Canal{{Cite web |url=http://www.lydney.org.uk/publications/Harbour_brochure.pdf |title=Lydney Harbour brochure |access-date=11 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907090742/http://www.lydney.org.uk/publications/Harbour_brochure.pdf |archive-date=7 September 2008 |url-status=dead }} which brought materials down to the wharves by tub-boat.
In the 1960s imported wood was still being brought in by barge from Avonmouth.[http://www.francisfrith.co.uk/search/england/gloucestershire/lydney/photos/lydney_L200036.htm Photo in Francis Frith Collection] It remained in commercial use until the 1980s. The entrance to the canal consists of an outer tidal gate opening into a wide basin. From there a lock opens into the one-mile canal cut. Immediately above the lock, a pair of gates points the other way as protection against a high tidal flood in the estuary. There is one swing bridge across the canal.
The docks were restored between 2003 and 2005, using money from the Heritage Lottery Fund and others, to create a marina and harbour area for seagoing yachts and motor boats.{{Cite web |url=http://www.lydney.org.uk/project_lydney_docks.shtml |title=Lydney Area in Partnership website |access-date=11 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109233851/http://www.lydney.org.uk/project_lydney_docks.shtml |archive-date=9 November 2007 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=https://www.ports.org.uk/port.asp?id=224|title=Lydney|website=Ports and Harbours of the UK|access-date=18 April 2025}} Despite dredging, both the inner and outer lock gates became stuck at times due to more silt.{{cite web|url=https://ourtour.co.uk/home/quirky-motorhome-aire-at-lydney-near-the-severn-estuary/|title=Quirky Motorhome Aire at Lydney, near the Severn Estuary|website=Our Tour|access-date=18 April 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ftg.org.uk/devils-chapel-lydney-harbour/|title=Friends from Home and Abroad visit the Forest of Dean.|website=Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Tour Guides|access-date=18 April 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://lydneyyachtclub.org/were-back/|title=We’re back!|website=Lydney Yacht Club|access-date=18 April 2025}} The harbour was declared tidal by the Environment Agency in 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.pbo.co.uk/news/leaking-harbour-gates-impact-yacht-club-festival-22946|title=Leaking harbour gates impact yacht club festival|website=Practical Boat Owner|access-date=19 April 2025}} An Environment Agency-backed plan to restore the harbour area, dredge the silt, refurbish the sea gates and implement the 'Destination Lydney Harbour' project began in 2020 to make the area a visitor attraction.{{cite web|url=https://news.fdean.gov.uk/news/gbp-2-1m-lydney-harbour-regeneration-project-begins|title=£2.1M Lydney Harbour Regeneration Project begins|website=Forest of Dean Council|access-date=4 April 2025}} Artists were engaged to create sculptures by the shore and the A48 road, a visitor hub and café were installed and the access road resurfaced.{{cite web|url=https://news.fdean.gov.uk/news/designs-for-two-new-public-artworks-at-lydney-harbour-have-been-released|title=Designs for two new public artworks at Lydney Harbour have been released|website=Forest of Dean Council|access-date=4 April 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://news.fdean.gov.uk/news/harbour-road-resurfacing-sees-completion-of-destination-lydney-harbour-regeneration-project|title=Harbour Road resurfacing sees ‘Destination Lydney Harbour’ regeneration project near completion|website=Forest of Dean Council|access-date=4 April 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://news.fdean.gov.uk/news/from-the-forest-to-the-sea-art-trail-complete-at-lydney-harbour|title=From the Forest to the sea art trail complete at Lydney Harbour|website=Forest of Dean Council|access-date=4 April 2025}} The 11-metre steel sea gates were removed in April 2023, refurbished in Bridgend and reinstalled in September the same year. The silt build-up was dredged from the tidal basin and the harbour walls renovated.{{cite web|url=https://www.jackson-civils.co.uk/news-item/team-collaborates-to-install-giant-sea-gates/|title=Team collaborates to install giant sea gates|website=Jackson|access-date=4 April 2025}} The next stage, to focus on the piers, new pontoons, safety and access improvements was scheduled to begin in spring 2026.{{cite web|url=https://www.theforester.co.uk/news/environment-agency-in-formal-discussion-with-historic-england-about-access-to-lydney-harbour-piers-652491|title=Environment Agency in formal discussion with Historic England about access to Lydney Harbour piers|website=The Forester|access-date=5 April 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/further-work-planned-on-lydney-harbour-in-gloucestershire|title=Further work planned on Lydney Harbour in Gloucestershire |website=GOV.UK|access-date=4 April 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c627kgl2dg5o|title=Improvements and new pontoons planned for harbour|website=BBC|access-date=4 April 2025}}{{cite book|editor-first1=c.R.J.|editor-last1=Currie|editor-first2=N.M.|editor-last2=Herbert|last1=Baggs|first1=A.P.|last2=Jurica|first2=A.R.J.|url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/glos/vol5/pp46-84|title=A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 5, Bledisloe Hundred, St. Briavels Hundred, the Forest of Dean|pages=46-84}}{{cite web|last=Allen|first=J.R.L.|url=https://www.bgas.org.uk/tbgas_bg/v119/bg119027.pdf|title=The Landscape Archaeology of the Lydney Level, Gloucestershire: natural and human transformations over the last two millennia|website=Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society|access-date=6 April 2025}}
Timeline
- 1809 – The Lydney and Lidbrook Railway Act 1809 (49 Geo. 3. c. clix) enabled construction of a tramroad from Lydbrook to Lydney.[http://www.forestofdeanrailways.info/history1.htm Forest of Dean Railways] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120131013/http://www.forestofdeanrailways.info/history1.htm |date=20 November 2008 }}
- 1810 – A second act, the Severn and Wye Railway and Canal Act 1810 (50 Geo. 3. c. ccxv), changed the company name to the "Severn and Wye Railway and Canal Company" and (amongst other things) authorises the building of the canal to the River Severn at Nass Point.{{cite book
|url=http://www.jim-shead.com/waterways/sdoc.php?wpage=PNRC0581#PNRCLYDN
|title=Historical Account of the Navigable Rivers, Canals, and Railways of Great Britain
|author=Joseph Priestley
|year=1831
|access-date=23 February 2009
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215034534/http://www.jim-shead.com/waterways/sdoc.php?wpage=PNRC0581#PNRCLYDN
|archive-date=15 December 2007
|url-status=live
}}
- 1810 – Josias Jessop (son of William Jessop) was appointed consulting engineer and designed plans for the canal.
- 1811 – Thomas Sheasby (son of Thomas Sheasby senior) was taken on as resident engineer.
- 1813 – The canal was opened by the Severn and Wye Railway and Canal Company.
- 1821 – The outer harbour was completed and the tramway extended all the way down.{{cite web |title=Lydney Harbour |url=https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=434&resourceID=108 |website=Heritage Gateway |access-date=23 July 2020}}
- 1825 – The north pier was extended to aid ships' passage into the harbour.
- 1868 – The tramway was converted to broad gauge.
- 1872 – Converted to standard gauge.
- 1893 – Severn and Wye Railway and Canal Company went bankrupt.
- 1894 – Purchased by the Great Western and Midland Railways and administered by a Joint Committee of the two companies.{{cite web |url=http://ww3.gloucestershire.gov.uk/DServe/dserve.exe?&dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=show.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqPos=0&dsqSearch=(AltRefNo='D2460/22/8') |title=Lydney Docks |website=Gloucestershire County Council |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121223191135/http://ww3.gloucestershire.gov.uk/DServe/dserve.exe?&dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=show.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqPos=0&dsqSearch=(AltRefNo='D2460/22/8') |archive-date=23 December 2012 |df=dmy-all }}
- 1948 – The railway and docks passed to the Western Region of the Railway Executive on nationalization.
- 1950 – Transferred to the Docks and Inland Waterways Executive.
- 1960 – The last coal was shipped from the harbour.{{Cite web |url=http://www.lydney.org.uk/project_lydney_docks.shtml |title=LAiP Projects - Lydney Docks |access-date=11 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109233851/http://www.lydney.org.uk/project_lydney_docks.shtml |archive-date=9 November 2007 |url-status=dead }}
- 1977 – The harbour was closed.
- 1985 – The section from the swing bridge to the Severn was scheduled as an ancient monument {{Cite web |url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/ConBar.6912 |title=English Heritage |access-date=11 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100223190259/http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/ConBar.6912 |website=English Heritage|archive-date=23 February 2010 |url-status=live }}
- 1988 – The swing bridge was scheduled as a Grade II listed building.{{Cite web |url=http://www.lydney.org.uk/publications/Harbour_brochure.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=11 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907090742/http://www.lydney.org.uk/publications/Harbour_brochure.pdf |website=Lydney.org.uk|archive-date=7 September 2008 |url-status=dead }}
- 1996 – The Environment Agency took over management of the docks.
- 1997 – Inner gates collapsed and were replaced by a dam to reduce flood risk.
- 1998 – The Lydney Docks Partnership was established to create a sustainable future for the canal.
- 2005 – Re-opened after a two-year project of restoration and enhancement.{{cite web |title=Lydney |url=http://ports.org.uk/port.asp?id=224 |publisher=Ports and Harbours of the UK |access-date=23 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115122747/http://ports.org.uk/port.asp?id=224 |archive-date=15 January 2020 |url-status=live }}
- 2015 – The harbour was declared tidal by the Environment Agency.
- 2020 - 'Destination Lydney Harbour' commenced to make the harbour a better tourist attraction.
- 2022 - Harbour-themed art trail completed by Denman and Gould.
- 2023 - Lock gates repaired and reinstalled.
See also
{{Portal|United Kingdom|Transport}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
- [https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=lydney&sll=45.707138,-61.807709&sspn=0.421962,0.918732&ie=UTF8&ll=51.711661,-2.517242&spn=0.0117,0.02871&t=k&z=15&iwloc=addr&om=1&msa=0&msid=106543479448646397932.000001125d2435357e478 Satellite image from Google Maps]
- [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_eUqIucVmZjwC/page/n572 Historical Account of the Navigable Rivers, Canals, and Railways, Joseph Priestley]
- {{NHLE |num=1338556 |desc=Grade II Swing-bridge and abutments.}}
{{Canals of Britain}}
{{Transport in Gloucestershire}}
Category:Canals in Gloucestershire
Category:Ports and harbours of Gloucestershire
Category:Canals linked to the River Severn