Trees Overhanging The Abandoned Tamar Manure Navigation Canal Cornwall

Title

Trees Overhanging The Abandoned Tamar Manure Navigation Canal Cornwall

Artist

Richard Brookes

Medium

Photograph

Description

Autumnal trees overhang part of the long abandoned Tamar Manure Navigation Canal where it meets the River Tamar near Gunnislake in Cornwall. The background trees are in Devon (near to Wheal Russell) across the river which is the county border.

According to various web sources, the canal was developed from about 1794 and was to be built by the Tamar Manure Navigation Company. Construction started in 1796 after approval by an Act of Parliament to improve and manage navigation on th eriverfrom Morwellham Quay to Boat Pool at Blanchdown just upstream of Gunnislake. The initial intention was to connect this furthermost reach of the tidal River Tamar and extend navigation some 30 miles upstream to Tamerton Bridge in North Tamerton, near Launceston also linking to the Bude Canal.


However by 1808 work stopped with only about two miles were completed (with only this 500 yds of canal being man-made) due to funding issues as well as difficulties with landowners over accessing land. The canal intended to make the river navigable by bypassing ancient weirs. For example, the Weir Head bypass here used a wide lock enabling sailing barges up to 30 tons to access a wharf (now derelict) just upstream near New Bridge at Gunnislake. Remains of the lock, this part of the constructed or man made part of the canal, wharf buildings and a lime kiln can still be seen. Other quays associated with the canal are downstream at Morwellham, Impham and Netstakes. It is believed that these other quays probably pre-dated the canal.

Manure was the term used to refer to lime and fertiliser such as beach sand brought inland to improve impoverished soils. Coal was also brought upstream to power steam engines used by local mines. Bricks from local brickworks, for example, the adjacent Bealswood brickworks could also be transported out of the area.

The canal continued to be used to supply coal to Gunnislake Gas Works until 1914. The river ceased being navigable in 1929 and the company was liquidated in 1942. The canal is listed as an Ancient Monument.

Because of its importance in the the Industrial Revolution due to the techniques, developments and engineering of the nearby mining industry, much of the area is included within the UNESCO World Heritage Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape (no 1215).

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December 23rd, 2020

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