History of the Exeter Ship Canal
The City of Exeter is built on the banks of the River Exe that was navigable, giving the city a prosperous port. In the late 1200s, the first of two weirs were built by local landowners, which provided water power for Fulling Mills, but prevented navigation. Restoration only happened in 1550, when the river silted up. Subsequently, the city traders employed John Trew of Glamorgan to build a canal to bypass the two weirs. This was 1 ¾ miles long with the first pound locks in Britain and joined the river just below Exeter Quay. The construction of a new weir on the river maintained the water level and as a result, provided water to the new canal. However, the opening in 1566 was not a great success and therefore was improved and lengthened.
Canal Basin
Building the Canal Basin in Exeter during 1830 improved facilities unaffected by flood water. In 1998, the Countess Weir carried out the last commercial traffic on the canal carrying sewage sludge. The Exeter Ship Canal runs for 5 miles from Exeter Canal Basin to the tidal Turf Lock on the River Exe. The Exeter City owned this as they financed the original project. Meanwhile about 1½ miles south of Exeter, the sole lock known as Double Locks can take two ships side by side, which is the only passing place on the canal. The lock keepers cottage is now a popular pub and the A379 crosses the canal at Countess Wear with a unique combination of both a swing bridge and a lift bridge.
Photo: Moored boats and rowers at Exeter Basin on the Exeter Ship Canal by Peter Nickol.
