Restoration of the canal

The fact that the once derelict Basingstoke Canal was restored and is alive today is entirely due to the founding and work of the Surrey and Hampshire Canal Society, and the restoration of the canal is widely regarded as one of the most successful canal restoration projects in the United Kingdom. Before restoration had started, one proposal was to fill it in and then try and sell the land for building development... See Cost comparison The national London-based newspaper The Times on 6th March 1972 said - "....the stretch of country between Byfleet and Basingstoke is one of very rapid housing and employment growth.... It will need all the recreation space and opportunities it can find. The canal is too valuable an asset to destroy by filling in and piecemeal development".

Dereliction The state of the canal when the Canal Society was formed back in 1966, and the colossal amount of work needed to restore the waterway back to navigational standard. Lock restoration There are 29 locks on the canal (one in Hampshire and 28 in Surrey), most of which needed complete rebuilding and re-gating. Canal railway To facilitate the removal of silt from dredging, the rebuilding of locks, and the repuddling of parts of the canal, a narrow gauge railway was used at Lodge Copse, Swan Cutting, Deepcut and Ash embankment. Western end The roof collapse in Greywell Tunnel effectively put a stop to any use of the canal to the west. It was abandoned, the land sold, and in some places built over. But the possibility of re-opening this end of the waterway has never gone away. Working parties Although 32 miles of the canal have been restored and the The Royal Re-opening took place in 1991, there is an ongoing need for maintenance and various other work of a rewarding and challenging nature for volunteers to accomplish. Jungle bashing While the canal was still privately owned, several unofficial working parties were active along the canal, mostly clearing the towpath which was almost impassable in places. Bridges Among the most attractive features on any canal are the brick-arch accommodation bridges. Often found in remote parts of the waterway, they served to link small communities whose tracks and footpaths were severed when originally the navigation was cut. This section is to be expanded to form a useful guide to the canal. Dredging Clearing the water channel of thousands of tons of accumulated silt, several feet deep, was a major undertaking, with land-based mechanical excavators being used in places, as well as the Canal Society's aptly named steam-powered floating dredger "Perseverance". Last 5 miles The prospect of restoring the last five miles, or at least part of the way, to Basingstoke has always been the Canal Society's aim. But the project presents some difficulties. BACK

Last updated August 2004