Rescued from Obscurity – Edition 2 of the Book now available!
David Bick, writing in 1979, described the Hereford and Gloucester Canal as being more ‘lost in obscurity’ than any other major navigation in England.
This book tells how much has changed in the last 35 years. This waterway, running through some of the most beautiful countryside in England is now the subject of one of the leading canal restoration projects in Britain spear-headed by the Hereford and Gloucester Canal Trust.
In this richly illustrated book a former Chairman of the Trust tells the story of the building and operation of the canal, not as a textbook of industrial archaeology but as a narrative drawing on the words of those involved with the Navigation Company itself or watching from the side-lines.
In the second half of the book Dick Skeet describes how the Hereford and Gloucester Canal Society and later the Hereford and Gloucester Canal Trust has set about the enormous task of restoring the 34 miles of this historic canal, reconnecting two ancient Cathedral Cities.
A 210 page paperback book with over 200 illustrations and photographs.
The first edition of Rescued from Obscurity is now out of print.
October 2023 Update – Author Dick Skeet has been hard at work and the new, updated second edition is now available.
The first chapter has been rewritten to focus more on the barge traffic on the Wye which was superseded by the canal, and soon after, by the railway.
The second part of the book updates the progress on restoration, especially in Gloucestershire where there has been considerable progress.
There are some additional chapters that fill in some gaps in the first edition. There is a new chapter about some of the accidents and crimes which occurred during the operational life of the canal, another on commercial and environmental sustainability and another important chapter that focuses on the increasing use of the canal by the community.
We are confident that the updated book will be a really good read for anyone interested in the Hereford and Gloucester Canal, its history and ongoing restoration.
The new book costs just £12.00 plus £3.00 P&P (UK only).
Please click the button to order.
Please get in touch before ordering from overseas and we will quote specific P&P costs.
Canal Walks – A Series of eight Leaflets describing Guided Walks
A series of walks leaflets, now increased in number to eight, are available covering parts of the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal through the two counties.
The series is proving very popular with both local people and visitors to the area. Each walk is illustrated with photos of points of interest and a clear map of the route.
A set of all the leaflets is available in return for seven second class stamps and an SAE sent to 18 Coningsby Court, Coningsby Street, Hereford HR1 2DF, or alternatively, can be purchased online via our Paypal portal for £6.00 (including P&P to UK address only) by clicking the button below…
Your purchase will be dispatched by Royal Mail second class post.
Summer boat trips on the canal at Over Basin
Want to do something different? Need some fresh air? Like to enjoy some time on the water? Learn something new and entertain the kids for a while?
Come to Over Basin and see how the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust are restoring the former Hereford and Gloucester Canal and take a twenty-five minute trip along a re-created section of canal.
You will be able to see our restored heritage narrow boats, other craft, wildlife, historic sites and our next stage of restoration on towards Hereford. On site is Over Lock which was used to link the canal basin to the River Severn close by.
Canal trips at Over Basin operate on our very own crewed trip boat Mister Maysey and our partner organisation Sailing4Disabled’s wheelyboat Sir Charles Morrison which can, as you might expect, accommodates wheelchairs.
Whilst the trips operate, we will be serving refreshments next to the water, or you could have lunch in The Lock Keepers, the award-winning bar and restaurant overlooking the river Severn, or perhaps explore one of several walks along the canal and the river in the surrounding area which are detailed in a range of leaflets produced by the Trust – see above.
The 2024 programme of Summer Boat Trips at Over Basin has now concluded.
Please watch this space for announcements about other opportunities to see the restored Hereford and Gloucester Canal by boat.
