Droitwich Canal

Droitwich Canal

Excavation of the canal bed at Salwarpe during WRG Summer Work Camp, 1978

The Droitwich Canal is a synthesis of two canals in Worcestershire, England; the Droitwich Barge Canal and the Droitwich Junction Canal, in England. The barge canal is by far the older of the two with work on building the canal having started in 1767. The canal opened in 1771 linking Droitwich Spa to the River Severn at Hawford Mill, Claines. The Droitwich Junction Canal on the other hand was not opened until 1854 making it one of the last canals built in the canal mania era. The junction canal was built to carry salt from Droitwich to the Worcester and Birmingham Canal. As with so many canals the coming of the railways spelt their economic doom and an Act of Abandonment was passed in 1939. The last boat to use the barge canal went through in 1916. The last boat to use the junction canal went through a few years later in 1928.

In 1973 The Droitwich Canals Trust was formed and began to work towards the restoration of the canal. Progress has been steady with a recent boost from the involvement of British Waterways. In 2004, the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded around £4,600,000 for a restoration project.

See also

• Canals of Great Britain
• History of the British canal system

External links

• The Droitwich Canals Trust homepage

Donate to Wikimedia