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Sightseeing at a canal stoppage


Waterscape editor, Odette Williamson, visits the stoppage open day on the Grand Union Canal at Marsworth to see what the bottom of the canal really looks like.

What better way of spending a cold, blustery grey day could there be than going to see the empty pounds on the Grand Union Canal at Marsworth? After promoting the British Waterways’ stoppage open days for a few months now on waterscape it was high time I actually visited one.

After wrapping up warm in a ski jacket and thick scarf, accessorised beautifully with mud covered walking boots I drove down to Startops End Reservoir to be met by the welcoming British Waterways’ tent. Tours started at 11am and word of the open day had got around as, despite the gloomy conditions, a good number of people had arrived to see what was going on

Marsworth sits at the summit of the Grand Union Canal in Hertfordshire. Lying next to and being fed by the four Tring Reservoirs this section of the canal is a haven for boaters, anglers, wildlife, walkers and cyclists (listed in no particular order). The stoppage, taking place from locks 39 to 45 over a two week period, is being carried out to replace the top set of lock gates, fix new water tight seals along the edge of the lock gates and repair the brick work on the lock chamber walls.

"It's not as deep as I thought it would be"

Our tour was led by British Waterways’ team leader, Barry Bradding. Having worked for British Waterways for 40 years (or 200 depending on who you speak to) Barry was the perfect person to fire questions at. Also helping out with visitors' questions on were Dick Pilkington of The Tring Anglers and Keith Evans from Friends of Tring Reservoirs.

After a short walk from the car park we found ourselves next to the stoppage works and an empty pound. The phrase I overheard most on the tour was “It’s not as deep as I thought it would be,” which is exactly what I was thinking. In one sense the bottom of a canal pound does look like I thought it would - brown and sludgy – although there’s plenty more to see.

When you see the empty pound, you suddenly get a real sense of how old the canal is. You can clearly see the 200 year old workmanship, which has been painstakingly repaired over the years. There were giant mussels on the canal bed and not a shopping trolley in sight. Bricks, an old bicycle and tyres made up the majority of waterway trash. “My biggest bugbear is tyres. A lot of boaters use them as fenders. When they fall off they can get stuck in the lock paddles,” grumbled Barry.

As we reached the first fenced off lock we could see where the British Waterways’ team was busy replacing bricks. The inside of the canal wall is sunken in places with certain areas needing repointing and new brickwork installing. The workmen were also relining the lock gates. One problem that lock gates face is damage from modern narrowboats with square hulls. They can sometimes have a lip on the edge of their base where they have been welded and this rubs on the lock gates as they pass. By relining the gates and putting in new seals, leakage can be reduced.

Fish rescue

At the next empty pound we were lucky enough to watch a fish rescue take place. The operation is carried out by two experienced men in waders. One climbs into the lock and uses a rectified DC current (this doesn’t produce heat) to stun the fish. The fish then float to the surface, are scooped into a large bucket and taken to the nearest full pound. Roach and perch are the most common finds on this stretch of canal, although a pike and bream were also pulled out while we were there.

Being shocked by a 240-volt current doesn’t distress the fish, although it’s always best to carry out the procedure in cold weather. The ‘stunning’ can last anywhere from 30 seconds to 20 minutes. Once the fish have been relocated they can float for a bit. The fish rescuers stick around to make sure no opportunistic bird takes advantage. On average around three fish in every 1,000 are lost.

The last lock we arrived at had received new lock gates the day before. The lock gates are all made to order and although they are all roughly the same, there’s no standard size any more. The gates are made in British Waterways’ own factory from unseasoned Welsh oak as it’s more sustainable than steel, which was previously used. The other great thing about using wood is that they absorb shock more readily when lock doors are slammed shut. The gates are expected to last about 20 years and at around £25k for a set you can see why they need to last so long.

The tour lasted about an hour and was well worth the visit. I’m now very keen to go and see the same section once it’s up and running again, as were many of the others on the tour.

If you’re looking for a day trip with a difference take a look at the other stoppage open days taking place across the country. For further information visit www.waterscape.com/canalopendays.

Last updated: 02/03/2011

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