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Latest UpdatesLeeds & Liverpool Canal Society receives national award |
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OriginsFor 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 today is maintained by the British Waterways Board. With a total length of 141 miles, including branches, it is the country's longest canal. More in a Brief History of the Canal and a Canal Chronology |
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OperationsIt costs British Waterways about £2.5 million per annum to keep the canal open. Almost £1 million of this is generated along the canal, comprising the income from boat licences, property leases, angling and water supply, while the rest is 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 in Waterways Now |
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Access & UseSuch 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 in Leisure Access and Activities |
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HeritageHistorically, 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. |
| 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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EducationThese aims can only be achieved by education, not just of children, but of everyone. To achieve this, the Society will hold lectures, produce leaflets and booklets about the canal's history and organise rallies for the traditional boats which worked on the canal. |
| Slide presentation - the Society has a set of
slides which will allow members to give a talk about the history of the
Leeds & Liverpool and the activities of the Society. There are
about 50 slides and there will be a set of notes giving an outline of
each one. We hope that members can make use of the slides to give talks
to local groups and to encourage others to join the Society. |
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The L&LCS can only develop its
objectives through an active and enthusiastic membership. |
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