Grantham Canal (as featured in Nicholson's Guides)

[magpie patrick]

Other threads have revealed my proclivity for old canal guides, well the latest batch of not so old guides purchased from @JimEon this very forum provided quite a surprise.

 

One of the reasons I pick up different editions of the same guide is the differences between them, but this one was specatular - I have had several copies of no 6 (below),,,

 

But none of the others have featured the Grantham Canal! Within the printed pages are maps and text of the Grantham Canal in the same style as all the others that area actually navigable. Splendid

 

It surprises me how much basic information I didn't know - I think I knew 33 miles and 18 locks, but not that there is a 20 mile pound between locks 11 and 12, nor how much of it passable and where the major blockages are, and the mess that is the Nottigham end. I think I might have guessed that it is largely rural and that explains why it is so intact, plus that whilst it closed in the 1930s (?) that's 30-40 years later than other rural canals such as the Wilts and Berks. It also somehow ended up being nationalised so was presumably in railway company ownership in 1948. 

 

But finding this out makes me realise I know relatively little about it.... Anyone care to add some "go to" facts?

[Chris Lowe]

The Waterway Routes map of the Grantham is pretty good as well, it even shows the proposed diversion at the Nottingham end.

[Momac]

https://www.granthamcanal.org/

https://gcsguide.co.uk/

 

[Naughty Cal]

You have reminded me that we have not been to Denton Wharf for a long time now.

 

Lovely stretch of canal and a nice easy walk along the canal to the pub.

[Momac]

Members of this forum should consider a visit to accessible parts of the Grantham Canal although not of course travelling  by boat. It perhaps gives an idea of C&RTs idealised image of the future of all canals which of course means boats are conspicuous by their absence.

 

[haggis]

We have actually boated on the Grantham ! 

Many years ago the Grantham Canal Society was holding an event to publicise the canal and we, the Bridge 19-40 Canal Society ( in Scotland) trailed our little trip boat, Roseann,  down to Grantham to do trips. We also took down a couple of caravans ! We did trios for 2 or 3 days and we discovered when we got home that hauling the boat onto the trailer had made a few holes in the base plate. 

We persuaded BAE in Glasgow to repair the boat but when they saw the state of it they got their apprentices to build a new one for us. 

She still does trips ! 

[Heartland]

Is there a time line for completion ?

Or is that hidden by a proclivity

[Momac]

43 minutes ago, Heartland said:

Is there a time line for completion ?

There is a plan but not a completion date as such

https://www.granthamcanal.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/GCS-Restoration-Plan-2021-2030.pdf

 

[PeterScott]

On 29/10/2025 at 17:07, haggis said:

We have actually boated on the Grantham !  Many years ago the Grantham Canal Society was holding an event to publicise the canal and we, the Bridge 19-40 Canal Society ( in Scotland) trailed our little trip boat, Roseann,  down to Grantham to do trips....

 

 

 

 

 

 

above Woolsthorpe Locks Grantham Canal  26May2007

 

 

[haggis]

Thank you, Peter. I don't have any photos of Roseann at Grantham so I will pass these onto the canal society. That is me, the chinless wonder , in the red T shirt and iain is at the front of the boat in the first photo (wearing a blue T shirt).