Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust facts for kids

The Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust is a British group working to bring the old Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal back to life. It started as a canal club in 1983 and became a special kind of organization called a Trust in 1992.

History of the Canal Restoration

The Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal stopped being used in 1883. This happened because a railway, the Ledbury to Gloucester Railway, was built right over parts of its path between 1881 and 1882.

Starting the Restoration Idea

Almost 100 years later, in the early 1980s, a person named Atilla Katona suggested restoring a small part of the canal near Newent Lake. This idea was about 400 meters (or 400 yards) long. This news got attention and was written about in magazines that focus on waterways.

Work actually began on this small project after a study showed it was possible. However, another group called the Inland Waterways Protection Society found some problems, and so the plan was stopped.

Forming the Canal Society

In 1980, a long letter about the canal was printed in the Hereford Times newspaper. This led to a group of people forming a special committee in late 1982. After many articles about the canal's history appeared in local newspapers, a public meeting was held on April 13, 1983. At this meeting, the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Society was officially started.

At first, the society mostly wanted to teach people about the canal's past. But soon, chances to restore parts of the canal came up. The society then became a group that actively worked on bringing the canal back.

First Restoration Projects

One of the first places they worked was at Monkhide. This included a special bridge called Ballard's skew bridge and two other bridges. The land here was owned by Major Robert Barnes, whose family had helped build the canal many years ago.

The society managed to get Ballard's skew bridge officially protected as a Grade II listed structure in January 1986. This means it's an important historical building. This section of the canal was opened in 1987.

However, the society couldn't arrange for the public to visit this restored part. Because of this, they decided that from then on, they would only restore parts of the canal that they either owned themselves or where they could get permission for people to visit.

Becoming a Trust

The way the society was set up wasn't quite right for their bigger goals. So, in 1992, it changed and became the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust. Their new goal was much bigger: to restore the entire 34 miles (55 kilometers) of the canal, all the way from the River Severn at Gloucester to Hereford.

The Trust is registered as a company in the United Kingdom, but it's a special type that doesn't have shares.

Clever Ways to Restore the Canal

The Trust has used some smart ideas to reach its goals.

Wharf House at Over

At a place called Over, where the canal meets the River Severn, the Trust made a deal with developers who were building on an old hospital site. The deal was that the Trust had to build a canal basin (a wide area for boats) very quickly. If they finished it on time, the developers would give them the land for the basin. The developers also agreed to build the basic structure of a three-story building.

This building is now called Wharf House. It has a restaurant that has won awards and a bed and breakfast (a place to stay overnight) that has been given four stars.

Aylestone Park Restoration

Another part of the canal was restored along the edge of Aylestone Park, near Hereford. The local council got the land for the park. In a great example of teamwork, the Canal Trust, with help from the Waterway Recovery Group, built the park. At the same time, the Council worked on restoring the canal section next to it.