Ripon Canal facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ripon Canal
Ripon Canal basin, at the end of the Ripon Canal
Specifications
Maximum boat length	57 ft 0 in (17.37 m)
Maximum boat beam	14 ft 3 in (4.34 m)
Locks	3
Status	Operational
Navigation authority	Canal and River Trust
History
Original owner	River Ure Commissioners
Principal engineer	William Jessop
Date of act	1767
Date of first use	1773
Date closed	1956
Date restored	1996
Geography
Start point	Ripon
End point	Oxclose Lock
Connects to	River Ure

The Ripon Canal is a waterway in North Yorkshire, England. It was built by a smart engineer named William Jessop. The canal's main job was to connect the city of Ripon to the River Ure. From the River Ure, boats could travel all the way to York and Hull.

The canal first opened in 1773 and was quite useful for many years. Later, in 1847, it was sold to a railway company. By 1906, it was hardly used because it wasn't looked after properly. The canal was officially closed in 1956. However, people worked hard to bring it back to life. It was fully restored and reopened in 1996. Today, the Canal & River Trust manages it.

History of the Ripon Canal

Why Was the Canal Built?

Building the Ripon Canal was approved by a special law passed on April 15, 1767. This canal was the last part of a bigger plan. The goal was to make the River Ure easier for boats to use. This would allow goods to travel from Ripon to places like York and Hull. The whole project was expected to cost about £9,000.

The law created a group called "Commissioners." Their job was to borrow money to pay for the work. The plan was to make the waterways wide enough for boats called "keels." These boats were about 58 feet long and 14.5 feet wide.

Building the Canal: Who Helped?

Work on the lower parts of the river started first in 1767. William Jessop surveyed the path for the canal. Building the canal itself began in 1770. Jessop was the main engineer, with John Smeaton overseeing his work. John Smith was the engineer who managed the daily tasks.

The canal was finished in early 1773. It cost £16,400 to build. Regular boat services between Ripon and York began in February of that year. The canal got its water from the Rivers Laver and Skell in Ripon. One of the main reasons for the canal was to bring coal to Ripon. It also helped move lead and farm products out of Ripon.

How Did Trade Change?

Trade on the canal slowly grew. But by the 1820s, there were money problems. The original Commissioners hadn't paid back the loans. So, a new group of creditors formed a company. They got a new law passed in 1820. This law allowed them to raise money to fix the canal.

Improvements were made, and by the 1840s, bigger boats could use the canal. Boats could carry up to 70 tonnes of goods. However, the canal was never wide enough for the very large "Humber sloops." These boats were about 15.8 feet wide and needed deeper water.

Even with railways starting to appear, the canal was still busy. In the 1840s, a lot of coal was still shipped along the Ure Navigation. The canal company was making good profits.

Decline of the Ripon Canal

When Did Things Change?

The year 1844 was a big turning point for the canal. A railway company, the Leeds and Thirsk Railway, wanted to build a new railway line. They decided to buy the Ure Navigation, which included the Ripon Canal. They hoped this would help them get support for their railway plans.

The railway company bought the navigation in January 1846 for £34,577. The law said the railway company had to keep the canal open and in good condition.

Why Did the Canal Stop Being Used?

Railways grew very quickly. The Leeds and Thirsk Railway became part of bigger railway companies. Because of this, the canal was not looked after. The railway company didn't dredge the canal, which means they didn't clear out the mud and dirt from the bottom. This made the canal too shallow for boats to carry full loads.

There was a small increase in trade in the 1860s, but then the decline continued. By 1892, no boats were using the Ripon Canal. The railway company tried to close the canal in 1894, but local people stopped them. The canal was offered as a gift to the city of York, but they didn't accept it. By 1906, the canal was reported to be impossible to use.

Most canals in Britain became government-owned in 1948. But the Ripon Canal was not included. With no boats using it, the canal was officially closed in 1956.

Restoring the Ripon Canal

How Was the Canal Saved?

Even though the canal was closed, many local people didn't want it filled in. In 1961, a group called the Ripon Canal Company Ltd was formed. Most of these people were from the Ripon Motor Boat Club. They wanted to lease the canal and slowly reopen it.

After 25 years, the lower half of the canal was restored. This section went from Oxclose Lock to Littlethorpe. To help restore the rest of the canal, a group called the Inland Waterways Association got the idea included in a local council plan. The council suggested that a restoration group should lead the effort.

When Was the Canal Reopened?

So, the Ripon Canal Society was formed in 1983. They worked hard, and the full restoration was finished in 1996. David Curry MP officially opened the canal at a ceremony on September 8, 1996.

Once their job was done, the Ripon Canal Society closed down in 1997. They gave their remaining money to help repair Linton Lock on the River Ure. The management of the canal was first given to British Waterways. In 2012, it was transferred to the Canal & River Trust, who manage it today.

Features of the Ripon Canal

What Makes the Canal Special?

For a long time, Ripon was thought to be the most northerly point of Britain's connected canal system. This meant it was the furthest north you could go by boat on the main canal network. However, when the Ribble Link opened in 2002, the Lancaster Canal became connected. Now, Tewitfield, at the northern end of the Lancaster Canal, holds that title.

The Ripon Canal ends at a basin very close to the center of Ripon. A "basin" is a wide area where boats can turn around or stop. One of the old warehouses there has been fixed up. There are new houses built nearby that fit in well with the area.

You can't moor your boat in the main basin itself. But you can find short-term mooring spots just south of it. There's also a marina near Ripon Racecourse. The canal is only about 2.3 miles (3.7 km) long. You can walk along the entire length of the canal on a path called a "towpath." However, cyclists are not allowed on the towpath.

Points of interest