Nailsea Lodge Exploring the Grand Western

Here is a question: “What is the last kind in the West Country and one of only 4 in Great Britain today?” Answer: “A horse- drawn canal barge”

Members of Nailsea Lodge took a step back to the days when the were the heart of our industrial transport system. Tiverton Wharf is the start of an 11 mile stretch of the built in 1814 for the primary use of transporting lime and for over 100 years transported stone from the quarries at Whipcott to the Tiverton Wharf. The limekilns consisting of the bowl and grate is still visible where the stone was burned in to produce lime for use in farming and in house building.

The canal was constructed to avoid the long and dangerous voyage around Lands’ End by linking the Ship Canal with the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal.

The Canal was taken over and now managed by County Council in 1971from its previous owners the British Waterways Board. The whole of the canal lies within a conservation area comprising of grade II listed bridges.

The Tiverton Canal Co. looks after three heavy horses (Taffy, Dandy and Ross) who take it in turns to pull the Horse-Drawn Barge. Photo Tiverton Canal Co.

Known as “Dandy”, he is a Clydesdale breed born in 1999. He is one of three horses employed throughout the summer in pulling the passenger barge. This breed of horse is normally seen in the Household Cavalry carrying the big drums. It is a rare breed and classified as 'at risk' by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Dandy is unique in that he has blue eyes and unique colour, "red roan".

A novel way of transporting provisions across the canal to Ducks Ditty the floating café and bar.

Staff dressed in traditional nineteenth century costume moor the wide beam, 75 seater Horse- Drawn Barge to the Wharf following a 2 and a half mile trip along the canal.

Tiverton Canal Co. The Wharf Canal Hill Tiverton Devon The 11 miles of canal is home to a variety of EX16 4HX wildlife from Grey Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Reed and Sedge Warbler. Moorhens, Mute Swans and Mallard Ducks are a common sight. T: 01884 253345 E: [email protected]