Cotswold Canals Camp 2023 – week 1

Where is it? 

Located in the scenic Cotswolds near Stroud the Cotswold Canals consists of the Thames & Severn Canal and Stroudwater Navigation. It is one of the UK’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 

What will I be doing? 

Volunteers will be at the start of this exciting project – both preparing the former Westfield Lock ready for the restoration, then investigating and repairing the structure. Above the lock the canal must pass over Oldbury Brook; this brook will eventually be channelled under the canal in pipes with inlet and outfall structures at either end. However, to enable the restoration works on the lock we need to perform some temporary works to divert the brook away from the lock. This will both protect the initial lock works and enable some further investigation of the entrance to the lock. Once these initial, temporary works are complete and the lock is protected from the brook then we will move on to restoring the lock walls. Whilst it is expected that the first week (CC2023-02) will include some investigation of the original structure, all three weeks (CC2023-02/03/04) will include restoring the original features of the lock. Expect lots of brickwork (preparation, repair and rebuilding).

Why is it important? 

Phase 1B is the four mile gap between the recently restored canal at the Ocean, Stonehouse and the rest of the connected network at Saul Junction on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. This section of the Stroudwater Navigation closed in 1954. Over the subsequent years, structures deteriorated and one mile of the canal was obliterated by the construction of the M5 and its slip roads. Westfield Lock is the start of the ‘missing mile’ with the restoration of this lock acting as the gateway to further restoration work.