Grand Western Canal Tiverton. Lowdwells Lock to Tiverton 2019
Grand Western Canal
Grand Western Canal opened in 1814 between Tiverton and the limestone quarries at Westleigh. By the 1960s the Canal`s life looked as it was coming to an end. But was bought by the Devon County Council in 1971 and declared it a Country Park.
Tiverton the largest market town in Mid Devon. Prosperity came to the town from the Wool trade then Silk. Fine fabrics are still being made in Tiverton today.
Grand Western Canal Fun Day for Age UK
THE Grand Western Canal hosted all the fun of the fayre at an Age UK fundraising event.
The day saw stalls selling food and craft, inflatable slides and entertainment from groups such as majorettes and Take Note Community Choir.
Organisers have been working closely with canal managers to make sure the day was a success.
Money raised will go towards helping those who may need help with the challenges people face in later life.
Fundraising and develop manager at Age UK Mid Devon, Julian Chidgey said: “We have been supplied with a great site just outside the town centre which is absolutely perfect for community events.
“'It's a great opportunity to bring the community together, whilst raising money for a very worthy cause.
“In recent years, a lot of funding for organisations such as Age UK Mid Devon has been cut. The services provided by the organisation are vital for older people living in the local area.”
As well as arts, crafts and food, the charity also brought its new funfair based games which were built by members of Age UK’s Men in Sheds project.
The project supports older men who want to get together, share and learn new skills - all in the welcoming space of a ‘Shed’ and aims to encourage men over 50 to take part in both the restoration of old tools and equipment, and the construction of new pieces of wooden art and craft.
“We want to get across the message of the hard work of Age UK in this area and hopefully get some donations to help us continue it,” Julian added.
Mayor of Tiverton Councillor Sue Griggs said that there was plenty to see and do: “It’s all very interesting to see the local stalls and use the canal this way.
“This is a fantastic tourist attraction for Tiverton and we should make more of it.
“Tivertonians always turn out for good events in the town and it’s great to see so many people here today enjoying themselves.”
Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Tiverton & Honiton, Neil Parish, official opened the event. While exploring what was offer, Mr Parish even participated in having a go on the inflatable slide: “I didn’t half come down fast – faster than I was expecting,” he said.
“I think it’s great that we’ve got so many people helping with a local charity, raising money, working with local traders and having a lovely fun day.
“I’d just like to thank everyone for coming along to support a great charity. Government unfortunately can’t support everything so we need people who will give to charity and work for charity.”
Tiverton Grand Western Canal 360
Take a trip down the Grand Western Canal on the last horse-drawn barge in the West of England.
Client: Visit South Devon
Video produced by soundviewmedia.co.uk
Westland Classic Motorcycle Club Spirit of the Sixties - Grand Western Canal Tiverton
OVER 200 motorcycles from pre-1974 came to Tiverton from Yeovil on a round trip around the south last week.
On a bright and breezy Sunday 8 May 228 motorcycles from the Westlands Classic Motorcycle Club (WCMCC) took in the sites of West Bay, Bridport and finishing at the Grand Western Canal basin in Tiverton.
The route was marshalled by over 100 volunteer motorcyclists on their own machines and raised £1800 for Yeovil Freewheelers Emergency Volunteer Service known as the Blood Bikes.
The money will go to assist in the cost of maintaining their motorcycles, ensuring their cargo of urgent medical supplies arrive at its destination quickly and intact.
On the way the bikers stopped for mid-morning tea at the West Bay Seafront, where spectators had an opportunity to look over all the bikes and re-live some Days of Yore with the owners.
The second and lunch time stop over was at Tiverton Canal Basin where hundreds of spectators took interest in the machines and ample food and beverages for the hungry riders were supplied by the Ducks Ditty.
Despite a few short showers, the entrants and marshals returned to Ivel Barbarians Rugby Club for the presentation of Event Awards, happy, dry and relaxed.
The Westland Classic Motorcycle Club would like to thank Officials, businesses and staff at Yeovil Barbarians RFC, West Bay and Tiverton Grand Western Canal, for their hospitality and assistance in making this event possible and for the warm welcome we received during the organisation and on the day.
The club also extend thanks to the many spectators they met on the day and hope everyone went away with some happy memories. Finally, thanks went to all the volunteer marshals, without whom the event would not be possible without.
Our next event, The Sunflower Run is on 22 May 2011 in aid of St Margarets Hospice. This event is open to any age motorcycles from veteran to modern and follows a course around the Somerset Countryside.
Westland Classic Motorcycle Club meets on the second Tuesday of every month at West Coker Recreation Club, near Yeovil, 8pm start. Any prospective members always welcome. For further details, go to wcmcc.org.uk
Grand Western Canal -Tiverton - Devon
It's spring 2014 and Bex takes a look at the Grand Western Canal in Tiverton, Devon.
Grand Western Canal - Tiverton Devon
Walk along towpath of canal from Tiverton. Footage includes horse drawn pleasure barge.
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Grand Western Canal Visitor Centre Opens in Tiverton
Four years since plans were first approved, and with a design that has challenged archaeologists and conservationists alike, Devon County Council's Grand Western Canal visitor centre has now officially opened.
The Chairman of Devon County Council, Cllr Jerry Brook was joined by local Olympic athlete, Jo Pavey, who regularly trains on the canal's towpath. The canal, it's said, is one of the attractions that led Jo to settle in Devon.
The new visitors' centre includes high-tech interactive touchscreen displays with information, film and photographs celebrating the canal's history and local wildlife.
Some older photographs of the canal have been donated to the centre by local people following an appeal last year.
For the first time, visitors can now explore the canal using a series of 360 degree photographs, taken at points along its length. And with on screen controls, take in views all around, including local landmarks off the immediate tow-path.
Designed by the Council's property agents NPS South West Ltd, and built by Devon-based Skinner Construction, the visitor centre is elliptical, using natural and traditional materials including green oak cladding and terne-coated steel that will weather to look like lead; all helping the building to quickly settle into its landscape.
Below ground, the centre is built on a subterranean Grade II-listed limekiln.
Considerable archaeological excavation had to go into work to first pinpoint the exact location and size of the protected limekiln, and to ensure that the visitor centre's foundations did not damage in any way the kiln beneath.
Twelve piles, driven 6 metres (almost 20 feet) into the ground provide foundations for the building with a sophisticated steel frame, sitting across the pile caps, that supports a substantial section of the building with a cantilever.
The building above ground is environmentally designed and insulated in ways that mean no heating or air conditioning is required.
A 'green' roof provides a habitat for a range of insects, and soaks up rainfall to feed it back into the canal.
The £305,000 project has been funded by Devon County Council from proceeds of the sale of Exeter International Airport, including contributions from Tiverton Town Council and The Friends of the Grand Western Canal.
The new centre has already been well received by local residents and visitors.
The Council's Chairman, Cllr Jerry Brook, said: I am delighted to officially open this incredible building, from which the entire length of the Grand Western Canal can be enjoyed. It is packed full of information about the canal's local environment, while being entertaining and educational for visitors of all ages.
Devon has a glorious heritage, and the Grand Western Canal has played, and still does play, a vital part of it.
With this centre we are celebrating that heritage, and as we approach the canal's 200th birthday, I am sure that people's appreciation and love for it will continue for generations to come.
Tiverton Canal Company's New Grand Western Canal Shire Horse
Ever heard the one about the heavy horses that grew too big? No? Well, it's no joke – Britain's heavy horses are getting too large for some of the jobs they used to do. Like pulling canal barges…
Enter young, frolicsome, petite Westfield Spencer. That is the passport name of this moderately sized foal at the moment, although he should soon have a more straightforward stable-name in the near future, after the Tiverton Canal Company staged a Facebook competition asking its followers to come up with something more user-friendly.
Apparently size really does matter.
The breeds of the big heavy horses have been dying out, says company owner Philip Brind. What's happened is that we are left with the 'heavies' that are winning the shows – they look good, but they are just too big for a lot of the jobs they used to do.
In the old days you could get a good Shire at around 16 hands, but now we seem to be following the American influence – everything is so big. The sizes have gone silly. The few heavy horses that are left are being bred the wrong way, which means they are no good as working horses.
Mr Brind told the Western Morning News: When you are working a horse on a day-to-day basis you need short legs and muscle – something that's lower to the ground. Certainly from the point of view pulling a barge that is what you need – partly because a lot of canal bridges are very low.
The Tiverton Canal Company has been operating barge trips along the Grand Western Canal for 40 years and is one of only four in the UK still using the traditional horse-drawn technology. So the increasing size of the animals has been giving Mr Brind something to worry about in recent years.
For the first time ever we've pushed the boat out, if you'll forgive the pun, and bought a yearling – simply because there is a lack of smaller Shires, said Mr Brind. What happened is that a friend said he had something rather special – a registered Shire with a mum who is not too big and a dad who, equally, isn't large.
So it all looks good, we're hoping to bring him in at 16 hands – although he won't be working for a while yet. We have up to three or four horses here at any one time – two main horses and then one on its way to retirement or one coming in. So we'll be allowing this foal to grow and put on weight – and we will be training him using dead-weights like old tractor tyres around the yard.
It seems that the massive Shire type horses were not always the ones used by bargees 200 years ago: It is a bit of a myth that these huge Shires used to pull the barges, said Mr Brind. There's a myriad of stories about the types of horse that would have been used – I've heard of donkeys, mules, pit-ponies – you name it.
But we wouldn't create half the interest if we used a donkey. It's not a problem on this canal as the bridges here are large. But people love the heavy horses – and in turn they love doing the work.
Barge rides at Tiverton resume in April after a winter break. For more information see tivertoncanal.co.uk or visit the Facebook page facebook.com/tivertoncanal
Ultralight fishing on the Grand Western Canal
Conditions were not favourable for LRF so I stayed inland to pester a few Perch and Jacks.
Despite the fact it was very windy, there were a few spots that were sheltered from the worst of it and these were the areas a targeted.
I only captured half the days action as I forgot my spare battery!
Hopefully get back to the coast next time out :)
Tiverton, Devon, UK: lovely hidden town with history and farming
Tiverton Canal , Devon Uk 2012 by adr films.
Horse Drawn Barge at Grand Western Canal, Tiverton 360 VR
Ride on a horse drawn barge along the Grand Western Canal in Tiverton in this 360 VR video.
'Tivertonian' horse drawn barge along the Grand Western Canal at Tiverton, Devon
Paddling the Grand Western Canal with the GroomeBarkes
Tiverton Grand Western Canal Steam Boat Rally 2012
STEAM boats were hoping to enjoy a sunny afternoon on the Grand Western Canal this weekend.
Five of them were expected to get to the basin on Canal Hill from Sampford Peverell, but unfortunately it didn't go to plan as only two of the boats made it.
The problem -- according to the boaters -- was weeds further up the canal, and despite saying that area is one of the most visually attractive in the county, the vegetation put a dampener on an otherwise beautiful spring afternoon.
[Huw Brading -- Steam Boat enthusiast]
Canal rangers have said that despite their best efforts to keep the canal free of weed, conditions have been perfect for them to grow more than usual over the last few months.
[Craig Saunderson -- Grand Western Canal Ranger]
So, fingers crossed that they will make a return in the Autumn and that the issue surrounding weeds has been dealt with for next year.
Horse Drawn Barge UK
Made by The BBC, One of the Last Horse Drawn Barges in the UK
Video Taken on:
The Grand Western Canal or Tiverton Canal (as it is referred to by locals) in Devon UK.
For lots more information, videos and pictures on the horse-drawn Barge Google: Tiverton Canal Co.
going to the grand western canal
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Tiverton, Devon, Snow & Winter Scenes - January 6th 2010 (1/3)
Starting off at home, brushing the snow off the bonet of my car, and seeing how the cat the likes the snow - which turned out to be not much.
Then heading through the Great Western Way Roundabout, and into Amory Park, where people are making a snowman, and kicking a football about.
Then I headed into the town centre, and Lowman Green. The statue of Edward the Peacemaker looked like he had caught a cold, and the ducks were in the snow.
Then I headed up past Castle Street and St Peter's to People's Park.
West Pitt Farm, near Tiverton, Devon, UK
Travel writer Tim Saunders gives a guided tour of West Pitt Farm and the Farmhouse. The farm is home to seven properties all of which enjoy stunning views of east Devon and Sidmouth. travelwriter.biz.
GOPRO - Tiverton Town Centre
View from my GoPro of Tiverton Town - Filmed a Helmet Cam