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Latest Updates
* Help needed - after a very successful Skipton Waterways Festival, with some 2,100 visitors, we are now looking forwards to the Saltaire Arts Trail - Saturday 25th to Monday 27th May inclusive. This is also usually a popular weekend over the bank holiday. However currently we are weak on staffing this event and require a few people to come forwards to help for as much or little time over the weekend as possible - especially on the Sunday afternoon. This need not be onerous and would give you an opportunity to meet up with like minded "Friends" and visit the excellent Arts Trail.
There is also an opportunity to help crew Kennet on Friday 24th May from Bingley to Saltaire and returning to Bingley on Tuesday 28th May - no experience required but capable of "pushing lock gates". This is important to us if we are to continue good work which has been put into the successful start to the season.
Please help - and thanks to those who have already volunteered for this period.
* The latest Friends of Kennet Newsletter is now available more...
* Our Social Evening on Friday 19th April - free entry at Caroline Social Club, Caroline Street, Saltaire BD18 3ZX more...
* The Special General Meeting & Annual General Meeting was held on Saturday 9th March 2013 - updates shortly
* The Kennet g-mail calendar is now available more...
* Video of Bingley 5 Rise Locks at the Yorkshire Post ...
* Film makers challenged to put North-West canal heritage in the frame more...
* New web page available - Genealogy and the Leeds & Liverpool Canal - any feedback appreciated
* New email address for Friends of Kennet - friendsofkennet@gmail.com - please update your records
* Movie clip of Kennet at Saltaire available more... (Quicktime 2.7Mb)
* Newsletter of National Historic Ships with news of the grant received for Kennet and annual photographic competition more...
* The Kennet Project aims to achieve the Society's goal of ensuring Kennet is retained as an historic craft and continues to promote the heritage and traditions of the canal more...
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Origins
For 178 years the Leeds and Liverpool Canal
was a private company, leading an independent existence. But in 1948,
together with the majority of the country's canals and railways, it was
nationalised and by 1963 it was under the control of British Waterways. On 2 July 2012 all of British Waterways responsibilities for England and Wales' waterways were transferred to the Canal & River Trust. With a total length of 141 miles, including branches, the Leeds & Liverpool is the
country's longest canal. More in a Brief
History of the Canal and a Canal Chronology
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Operations
In the recent past it cost British Waterways about £2.5 million per annum
to keep the canal open. Almost £1 million of this were generated along
the canal, comprising the income from boat licences, property leases,
angling and water supply, while the rest was provided by the Government.
This works out at £18,000 per mile, about double the cost of building
the canal almost two hundred years ago. More about current operations at the Canal & River Trust
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Access & Use
Such expenditure can only be justified if
the canal is used by many people. The Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Society has been formed to help promote the canal and to encourage
greater understanding and appreciation of the canal's history and
environment. More about access and use at the Canal & River Trust
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Heritage
Historically, the canal had a great effect
on the areas it passed through. It also had its own unique traditions.
The Society will encourage the recording of these traditions, and the
conservation and preservation of the canal's environment. Many canal
side warehouses and lock-keepers cottages are listed buildings, and
there are well over 100 other listed structures, such as bridges and
wharfs, along the canal. The Society will work with those developing
land and buildings along the canal, to ensure that the distinct
traditions and heritage of the canal are continued.
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Traditional Boatman's Gansey
- A pattern for knitting a traditional boatman's gansey, taken from the
1930s gansey held by the National Waterways Museum, has now been worked
out. The Society has a leaflet about L&L clothing which includes
the pattern. There are also some boatwomen's clothes in the collection
at Liverpool Museum, and we will be investigating the possibility of
photographing and documenting them as well..
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Education
To strengthen these aims the Society has now taken ownership of the heritage Short Boat Kennet which travels along the Canal visiting local communities where it is open to the public, schools and organisations..
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Presentations – the Society has a wealth of information which can be utilised by members to give presentations about the history of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and the activities of the Society.
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The L&LCS can only develop its
objectives through an active and enthusiastic membership.
To help
promote awareness and ensure the survival of the unique traditions of
the Leeds & Liverpool Canal,
please support these efforts by joining the Society
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