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The history of the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal.

In March 1793, at the height of 'canal mania' 20 canals being authorised that year, the Stratford's act was passed. At first it was planned to build a broad canal, and work started to allow this. However by August 1797 squabbles with the Worcester & Birmingham led to the construction of the Stop lock at Kings's Norton, this was to a narrow gauge prompted by a shortage of money.

By the end of 1796 with the canal open as far as Hockley Heath the company ran out of money. The start of the Napoleonic wars with the resulting inflation and shortage of labourers had upset all their budget calculations.

However the opening of the Dudley canals and the construction of the Warwick canals which promised through traffic lead to a revival of interest. In 1799 an act of parliament authorised a change in route at Lapworth to bring it closer to the Warwick & Birmingham under construction. Cutting resumed in 1800 and in May 1802 the canal was complete to a basin at Lapworth with a branch through to the Warwick & Birmingham, with its through route to London.

In 1808 William James took charge and with considerable pressure from Stratford which wanted the canal connection so many of its citizens had invested in to serve the town interest revived and cutting resumed in 1812 and in June 1813 a new terminus at Wotton Wawen was reached.

It was suggested that the canal now terminate with a tramroad to Stratford, but the share holders were adamant and it was canal down to Stratford. Finally after 23 years and costing £300,000, (instead of the estimated £120,000 despite economies on the Southern section.), the canal was opened in Stratford in December 1815.

In 1821 a reservoir was built at Earlswood to be equip with a steam pump.

With the canal complete a tramroad was built south to Morton-on-the-Marsh by 1826 and the locks on the upper river Avon were improved both leading to a great increase in coal moving south and grain returning north, all travelling on the Stratford canal. By the 1840's the company was profitable at last carrying around 150,000 tons a year. In 1842 leasing the Upper Avon to protect this outlet for their trade.

However in the 1840's development of railways in this area led to a many cornered fight for lines and most schemes involved purchasing the Stratford canal, and some converting it to a railway. Finally in January 1856 the canal was purchased by the Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton Railway. Now part of a larger concern with its interests centred on railways the canal manager was instructed to spend as little as possible.

Then in 1860 railway transport reached Stratford. Passengers and freight rapidly moved to the railways. Finally in 1863 the Great Western Railway became the owners. Not all the traffic disappeared. Rubbish out of Birmingham, 20 tons a month of tar oil from the gas works at Stratford, limestone from Wilmocote in their own boats either to Stockton or to their wharf in Birmingham., coal for local sale, and Kendals glucose chips.

The regular if low volume traffic ensured the GWR had reason to maintain the canal. This was a permanent problem because the original construction of the canal had been done on such a low budget that much of the structure was crumbling away. However in 1877 sixteen boats were considered to be resident in Stratford.

In the late 19th century the GWR sold the second Bancroft basin to Stratford Council who promptly demolished the structures, and landscaped the basin to improve the outlook of the Memorial Theatre. Then the GWR stopped maintaining the Upper Avon, which soon became impassable which again reduced trade on the canal.

At the start of the twentieth century the canal was still in use despite the depression in 1932, 28 boats are recorded reaching Stratford all Fellows, Morton & Clayton craft. However in 1935 the last boat was recorded in Stratford and the southern section was effectively abandoned by the GWR.

In 1948 all canals were nationalised as part of the Docks and Inland Waterways Executive. Then in 1955 the canals were separated into British Transport.

Official bodies found the canal as suitable for closure, but local opinion differed. In November 1956 the Stratford-upon-Avon canal society was formed and in February 1957 they travelled the whole length of the canal by canoe, a journey taking six weeks. In 1957 they held the first boat rally on the canal at Hockley Heath.

Then in February 1958 Warwickshire County Council decided to apply to parliament to have the canal officially abandoned. A protest meeting in April 1958 was packed out. A successful boat rally added to the pressure as did over 6,000 objections, but what stopped the Council was the evidence of the toll which showed a canoe had used the canal in 1957!

In March 1959 volunteers were permitted to work on the canal. Then in May 1959 the application for abandonment was refused.

In 1960 the National Trust took over control of the canal and David Hutchings was appointed canal manager to lead the restoration. Three years of frantic work followed. Then on 11th July 1964 the Queen Mother reopened the canal at Stratford.

Throughout the mid 1960's about 300 boats a year used the canal, the tolls just about covered costs. At the end of the decade leisure boating started to really grow, the result was an increase in tolls but a far higher increase in wear. Then when the Upper Avon was reopened in 1974 usage quickly went up to over 3,000 boats a year. The loss on the canal became over £10,000 a year. So in 1977 the National Trust realised it had to hand over management.

Eventually in 1988 the canal was handed back to British Waterways together with a few hundred thousand pounds to pay for urgent work. This saved the canal but unfortunately led to the loss of much of its unique features.

Sources.

Stratford Canal by Nick Billingham, 2002, Tempus publishing, The Mill, Brimscombe Port. ISBN 0 7524 2122 0

Nicholson Guide to the Waterways.

Stratford Upon Avon Canal Guide - The National Trust.

Working Boat, Midland Canal Carriers. 1770 - 1845. By Ray Shill, Published by Heartland Press 2002. ISBN 0 9517755 2 9

Canal Companion, South Midlands J.M. Pearson. Published by Central Waterways Supplies of Rugby in 2004. ISBN 0-9545383-8-2

Some pictures of this canal?

Pictures from Stratford to Lapworth. / Pictures from Lapworth to King's Norton.

General information on the canal.

Find our information about other canals and rivers on the canal index page.

If you have any questions then do ring us on 07977 229103
or email us at martinreed@reedboats.co.uk