Weekly Meeting (Hallmark) - Cotswold Canal Trust - Clive Field

Cotswold Canal Trust - Clive Field

The Cotswold Canals Trust was formed in 1972 as the Stroudwater Canal Society by Mike and Beryl Ayland, when they discovered the Stroudwater Navigation in the process of being filled in after it had fallen derelict, having closed in 1954.  Clive, accompanied by his wife, Jill, gave us a fascinating talk about the history of the restoration programme and the current state of the project.

The Trust is concerned with two canals; the original Stroudwater Navigation and the Thames and Severn Canal which connects to the Stroudwater to create a 36 mile canal linking the Severn at Saul Junction with the Thames at Lechlade.  The ambition is to restore the whole waterway including its fifty‑six locks.

Clive told us that the Stroudwater was opened in 1779 to bring coal and corn to Stroud:  the coal fed the engines of Stroud