JOHNSODA
Active member
I have been vaguely aware of this canal for quite some time now, having visited parts of it over the years. I recently decided to try and explore the longest of 3 tunnels on its route, with only limited success.
It is a fascinating industrial achievement which really didn't perform well after what must of been an incredible project which commenced in 1842, and only operated for a short time until 1868 when the nearby railway proved a much more viable mode of transport.
The aim of the project was to connect the Bristol Channel (via the Taunton & Bridgwater canal) to the English Channel.
This part of the overall route was basically from Taunton to Chard over a distance of about 13KM,
It consisted of one lock, three tunnels,four inclined planes and four aqueducts, plus a lot of hard graft!!
I cant help wondering how many workers must of lost their lives in this incredible construction project!!
I intend to revisit more of the remaining features, and post further pictures to this thread as time permits.
If there are any readers who may have already posted this, sorry, but I would very much like to hear from anyone who has been inside the canal tunnels and see any photos. To go inside you would have to be pretty brave (and mad), as the tunnel shown below, is full of water (as you would expect). I might be tempted with a small inflatable and and safety equipment..haha
Excuse thumbnails, my first posting..
North portal of longest tunnel.
Stretch of canal which still looks like a canal!
I came across a good ole tip full of scrap from the days when disposing of rubbish in this way was the norm!! this may of been a quarry to supply stone for the construction of the tunnel?
More scrap
Funky moped
The quarry tip
BSA bicycle
How lond has this been here?
Dragon Teeth ( Taunton Stop line) guarding tunnel cutting (south)
View north towards South portal, as close as I could get.
Masonry in canal cutting.
Masonry in canal cutting.
Taunton Stop Line (4 x dragon teeth) preventing exit between the parish churches.
Ilminster photos
A stretch of canal showing what a fanatastic landmark the canal would be if it where here today!
Canal leading to base of Ilminster Inclined Plane
Stonework remains base of Incline
The Incline Plane leading up to Ilminster dual "barge tunnel"
I believe this is the brickwork Portal on the north end of Ilminster tunnel? Reports from the 70s state the roof was unstable so I guess they shovelled earth in front of it, other end reported as blocked.
It is a fascinating industrial achievement which really didn't perform well after what must of been an incredible project which commenced in 1842, and only operated for a short time until 1868 when the nearby railway proved a much more viable mode of transport.
The aim of the project was to connect the Bristol Channel (via the Taunton & Bridgwater canal) to the English Channel.
This part of the overall route was basically from Taunton to Chard over a distance of about 13KM,
It consisted of one lock, three tunnels,four inclined planes and four aqueducts, plus a lot of hard graft!!
I cant help wondering how many workers must of lost their lives in this incredible construction project!!
I intend to revisit more of the remaining features, and post further pictures to this thread as time permits.
If there are any readers who may have already posted this, sorry, but I would very much like to hear from anyone who has been inside the canal tunnels and see any photos. To go inside you would have to be pretty brave (and mad), as the tunnel shown below, is full of water (as you would expect). I might be tempted with a small inflatable and and safety equipment..haha
Excuse thumbnails, my first posting..
North portal of longest tunnel.
Stretch of canal which still looks like a canal!
I came across a good ole tip full of scrap from the days when disposing of rubbish in this way was the norm!! this may of been a quarry to supply stone for the construction of the tunnel?
More scrap
Funky moped
The quarry tip
BSA bicycle
How lond has this been here?
Dragon Teeth ( Taunton Stop line) guarding tunnel cutting (south)
View north towards South portal, as close as I could get.
Masonry in canal cutting.
Masonry in canal cutting.
Taunton Stop Line (4 x dragon teeth) preventing exit between the parish churches.
Ilminster photos
A stretch of canal showing what a fanatastic landmark the canal would be if it where here today!
Canal leading to base of Ilminster Inclined Plane
Stonework remains base of Incline
The Incline Plane leading up to Ilminster dual "barge tunnel"
I believe this is the brickwork Portal on the north end of Ilminster tunnel? Reports from the 70s state the roof was unstable so I guess they shovelled earth in front of it, other end reported as blocked.
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