Louth Navigation Trust

A frosty January morning down the Louth Canal

2012-01-17T15:37:00.001Z

Yesterday, took my camera and wandered off down the canal to see what I could capture, was not too disappointed at what I found, hope you like the wintry shots.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T10:50:00.003Z

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our readers.

Access Improvement - New Kissing Gates on the Canal

2011-10-04T21:44:00.001+01:00

LCC have added two new kissing gates to replace old stiles on the canal near Marshchapel.

Going north towards Tetney Lock &

Going south towards Alvingham.

Please send us your comments on the type of gates you would like to see installed as the old stiles are replaced.

Walks brochures updated

2011-04-19T14:32:00.000+01:00

All the site walks brochures have been updated to the latest versions and can be downloaded here

Alvingham Water Mill brick tunnel

2011-03-24T17:08:00.003Z

Some very interesting pictures of Alvingham Water Mill tunnel being cleared of silt. Contractors from The Environment Agency have pumped out the sediment which they do from time to time and LNT member Alan Beaven from Lock farm sent in some interesting pictures which can be viewed on the web site

BBC and Alvingham Lock

2011-01-24T14:43:00.000Z

I did an interview for BBC Radio Lincolnshire and a precis of the interview has appeared on their web page here. I would like to thank them and everybody else, including the press, for helping draw attention to this problem. The Trust is currently in negotiations to carry out repairs and we will keep you informed as matters develop.

Frost Damage at Alvingham Lock

2011-01-08T11:48:00.009Z

Winter has taken its toll on the canal and it appears that Alvingham has come off the worst, although we haven't had the opportunity as yet, to survey all the navigation. The main damage is due to frosting of the already fragile brickwork.

At the next meeting we will be discussing the best ways of tackling the damage and looking for solutions to stop this lock becoming even more unstable.

The problem has been very neatly summed up by the Trust's archivist Stuart Sizer "The frost damage could be quite a problem. As you may know the walls are built on the lateral timbers which are supported by the plies. Tim knows this from the work we did on Ticklepenny Lock. The loss of support around the base could weaken the walls considerably, which in the worst case could lead to collapse. Who is responsible? I'm not sure. We could end up with part of the structure having to be dismantled."

This must be avoided at all costs, and we would appreciate the public's help in getting the authorities to help us repair the damage sympathetically and to English Heritage standards.

Your comments and suggestions are very welcome.

Louth Christmas Market 2010 - New Date Sunday, 19th December

2010-12-06T15:37:00.002Z

The ELDC has announced the new date for the enlarged and postponed Louth Christmas Market: East Lindsey District Council Release . The market will now take place on Sunday, 19th December from 10am to 4pm.

The LNT stall will be in its usual place in the Cornmarket in front of Broadgate & Thompson.

Louth Christmas Market Cancelled

2010-12-03T12:25:00.000Z

Update: 12.10 3rd December 2010 - ELDC have issued a statement to say Louth Christmas Market cancelled for Health & safety reasons. Revised date may be announced when a decision has been reached.

Louth Christmas Market 2010

2010-11-25T12:15:00.005Z

Don't forget the Louth Christmas Market this year is on Sunday 5th December. The market thould be bigger than ever and the Louth Navigation Trust stall will be in its usual place in the Cornmarket; with info, leaflets a Christmas cake to be won and the usual mince pies and mulled wine to help you stave off the cold, right in the centre of the action.

Here's a reminder of the stall in 2008, and Paula and Tim will be there this year with the usual volunteers:

Louth Navigation Trust - Willow's Lock Survey May 2010

2010-10-30T22:36:00.001+01:00

In May this year Tim Hawson and I did a survey of Willow's Lock and this is a short video record of that. The reason for the survey was to evaluate the state of the lock and to check for water erosion on the lock floor and undercutting of the original lock walls. Since the lock doors were removed there has been a constant flow of water over the cill and it is important to note how fast erosion is taking place. This is just one of the activities the LNT undertakes and we are always looking for volunteers to help us.

Update to Website

2010-07-26T18:44:00.000+01:00

Find it hard to believe nobody other than LNT members have posted to this blog and then the last entry was in March. Have just updated the site homepage to incorporate a mini slide show, hoping this is an improvement on the static page style previously. Comments about the site are welcome and new posts would be a bonus. (Webmaster)

2010 LNT Bridge Drive.

2010-03-25T22:57:00.005Z

This years Bridge Drive was the most successful so far. Many thanks to everyone who contributed to the success, most are listed in the video above, and many thanks to the shops, businesses and individuals who contributed prizes for the raffle. The video shows just a little of the behind the scenes preparation for this years event.

Keddington Lock

2010-03-16T21:41:00.002Z

The current state state of Keddington Lock is looking in a poor state these days, the winter has not been kind to it either. A member has sent me a few photos of the damage done to the Lock, and as you can see from the photograph, the side structures are being washed away. It would appear that the responsible authority is not taking this damage on board. If nothing is done soon it will be too late to save this Lock from collapse.

Festive Season

2009-12-21T12:14:00.000Z

May I take this opportunity to wish all our readers a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, hope that you all have a splendid time and enjoy a healthy and prosperous New Year 2010.

Ode to 'Billy'

2009-12-08T15:46:00.002Z

My children and I, we are so sad,
Daily walks to Riverhead that we've had,
Your majestic beauty, your eager gaze,
Where is Billy? My little boy says.
The ducks may be relieved at last,
How you bullied them so as they tried to feast,
We forgave you though Billy, we fed you our bread,
Alas now we feed ducks and moorhens instead.
We felt sure you were lonely and longed for a mate,
But to be a lone swan was to be your sad fate,
We'll remember you fondly as we go on our way,
We loved coming to see you; you made our day.
Sheila and Floss, they cried when they heard,
You were a naughty but lovable bird,
The walks to Riverhead will not be the same,
The children loved you; like moths to a flame.
The news travelled fast "Billy's gone" they all said,
How could we believe that you'd been found dead,
Rest in peace dear Billy the swan,
Riverhead is so empty now that you are gone.
The Lord Family

Potential sell-off of properties owned by British Waterways

2009-12-04T16:10:00.001Z

Further to recent announcements concerning the potential sell-off of properties owned by British Waterways by the Treasury, we petition the Prime Minister to give assurances that our canals will be protected and recent levels of investment, a credit to Labour, is maintained.
Our canals are great source of pleasure for many people in the country, providing a source of employment through tourism and associated businesses. They're also home to many forms of wildlife. Without proper management this will ebb away and the network return to a state of decay and ruin.
We urge the Government to allow British Waterways to retain its property portfolio, protecting its essential source of revenue and ensure the sustainability of its work.

If you would like to voice an opinion and protect our waterways, you can sign the 10 Downing Street petition here

Lacey gardens pupils visit the LNT Warehouse

2009-11-27T20:02:00.002Z

Thurs 26th November 2009

LNT Presentation to Lacey Gardens pupils at the Navigation Warehouse where pupils learned about the history of Louth Canal and how to tie knots with assistance from John Stanbridge and Tim Hawson. I believe that they had a most enjoyable afternoon. More photographs on site here

Rotary Club of Louth 'Leisure in Louth Exhibition' 2009

2009-10-19T19:19:00.004+01:00

The Rotary Club of Louth voluntarily organises an exhibition about every seven years to enable local sporting, cultural, hobby and leisure clubs and societies to present their particular interests and activities to the public. Once again this was held at the Louth Town Hall on Saturday 17th October from 10a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 18th October from 11a.m. to 4 p.m. Louth Town Council has kindly given some financial assistance and admission was free, for this none trading event. Here is a photograph of the LNT Stand at this event. By all accounts a very successful event, with lots of interest and new members joining the Trust.

Towpath Maintenance

2009-10-02T20:17:00.002+01:00

Tim Hawson completed the mowing contract of the tow-path today with the final cut on the tow-path. The Boules Piste was also mown. The cutter will now be overhauled in time for next years contract with the LCC. Stiles have been cleared and we will be informing the LCC which ones need repair. LNT way-markers need to be replaced in some areas and we hope to organise this before the walking season gets under way in 2010.

Membership

2009-07-20T19:04:00.003+01:00

Why not become a member of the Louth Navigation Trust
Please give us your support: the greater our membership the more chance we have of success. You can read and download an application form here

LNT Management Meeting - Thursday July 16th

2009-07-17T11:42:00.002+01:00

The meeting was the first since the AGM so the election of officers was the main business of the meeting.
John MacDonald is confirmed as Hon. Chairman; Paula Hunt is confirmed as Hon. Secretary and Andrew Stratford is confirmed as Treasurer. John Stanbridge was proposed and accepted as Vice Chairman and Development Officer.
There will be an all day working party for the Boules Piste on Sunday 6th September, Dave will be posting further details on the main web site. Please come along and help!
There will be a further survey of damage to the locks at Keddington and Alvingham, and hopefully some progress will be made towards partial restoration of Keddington.
The next management meeting is 7.30 pm Thursday September 17th at the Warehouse.

Annual General Meeting - 2009

2009-06-29T13:05:00.002+01:00

The AGM on Thursday, 25th June was well attended and passed smoothly. The new committee was elected and will meet in July to confirm posts. The Chairman John MacDonald gave an excellent report followed by the Treasurer, Andrew Stratford who reported that the Trust's finances were reasonably healthy but we would need more income this coming year. Phil Ellis gave a short talk on his brewery at the old gasworks in Riverhead and Stuart Sizer gave a lively and informative talk on the Riverhead in its heyday. The meeting finished at 9.30pm. Many thanks to the secretary Paula Hunt for organising such a smooth running event.

Boules Piste Restoration - Phase 2

2009-06-11T23:31:00.003+01:00

The second phase of the restoration was carried out tonight after the mountain of rubble at the far end of the site had been flattened by Mr D. Brocklebank. The site was purchased earlier this year and a full scale resotration is underway. Tonight a team of four (Tim Hawson, Roger Subden, Steve Malonry & myself), cleared away the bricks from the newly flattened area levelled and raked it as best we could with hand tools. Grass will be sown after the area has been properly flattened.

The final scheme will be to put new seating round the playing area and leave a grassy area for picnics etc. Hedgeing will be planted to the right of the picture to shield the piste from the road. It will be planted with all native Lincolnshire species. Many thanks to the other members of the team and we will keep you updated on progress.

Annual Louth Navigation Walk 2009

2009-06-03T13:38:00.005+01:00

Annual Louth Navigation Walk: Tetney to Louth

The walk on Saturday 30^th May was the best yet with thirty-five walkers attending from various parts of the country. We set off from the Crown & Anchor in Tetney Lock at 1.30 pm and arrived back at the Navigation Warehouse at around 6pm after a leisurely walk and three stops on the way. The field got fairly strung out for the last third but everyone seemed to have a good time and the monitoring form returns so far seem very positive.

Transporting people to Tetney, although not a problem this year, will have to be looked at for next year if numbers increase. A minibus might be the solution and sponsors will have to be looked into.

The weather was excellent and several walkers brought cameras, and various pictures have already appeared on Facebook, and other sites. We managed to see several Herons, swans and various other wildlife, as well as looking at the industrial architecture and a long stop in Alvingham churchyard.

I would like to thank all those who supported me on the walk as well as those who turned up to ferry people to Tetney, including my backmarker Roger Subden, and Chris Hunt, Andrew Stratford, Tim Hawson & Malcolm Beaumont who volunteered for taxi duties. Special thanks as always to the Louth Navigation Trust secretary, Paula Hunt, for organising the paperwork, taxiing and providing the support vehicle.

The walk got off to a good start with the news that Lincolnshire Wolds Country Service has received funding to sponsor the Lincolnshire Walks Festival for a further four years. So we hope to see regulars and new walkers next year on the same walk.

Article submitted by the walk Leader John Stanbridge

Louth Canal Walk

2009-05-26T16:54:00.003+01:00

The Louth Canal Walk..........

Sat 30 May 2009 Louth Canal Walk

This linear walk starts from the Crown and Anchor at Tetney Lock at 1.15pm.

Transport can be arranged from Louth to Tetney Lock for the start, please contact the secretary on 01507 610539

Louth Leader article

2009-03-24T14:13:00.002Z

Louth Leader article on the LNT 18th March..........A nice article indeed, so would like to thank the Louth Leader for publishing, it gave a bit more insight into what goes on at the Trust, and of course this can be followed up by visiting the website. There is some fascinating history on the site, and well worth a read, you could learn some interesting facts about the canal and it's many Locks.

Louth Leader

2009-03-14T13:37:00.001Z

Louth Navigation Trust..........to feature in the Louth Leader 18th March. Make sure you get your copy.

Louth Canal in the Snow

2009-02-15T17:09:00.004Z

Just recently we have been sent some lovely pictures of Louth Canal in the snow, a couple out walking their dog, took a few photographs of their walk.

The photographs can be viewed on the LNT website

Walking Festival Louth Canal

2009-02-14T20:01:00.003Z

Check out the Website Calendar.... for upcoming events and meetings. There is a Walking Festival: Louth Canal Walk scheduled for Saturday 30th May 2009. Get the old walking boots out and prepared for the occasion.

Apologies

2009-02-06T21:36:00.002Z

Apologies.........to folks who posted comments on this blog, the email notification to alert me to comments made, did not work as set up. Have corrected this now and all should work correctly.

Damage to Keddington Lock

2009-02-06T21:20:00.005Z

Keddington Lock.........from what I have been told, there has been a fair bit of damage done to Keddington Lock since the Louth Floods and it is in need of repair. The issue is being addressed and hopefully there will be some restoration done in the near future. Do not have enough detail of what is involved yet, but will update folks on the website news page when I have all the information to hand. You can view more pictures here

Merry Christmas

2008-12-24T16:01:00.001Z

Wishing everyone a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year................from all at the Louth Navigation Trust. May your festive season be what you want it to be.

Boules

2008-12-21T13:52:00.005Z

Purchase of Boules Piste..........Louth Navigation Trust have purchased the Boule Piste situated at Cowslip Lane, Louth, this should prove valuable for future tournaments throughout the playing season. I personally have never played the game, but believe it is fun. Are there any enthuiasts for the game out there?

Web Site Published

2008-12-02T15:22:00.002Z

Re-worked website........Today sees the publication to the web of the re-worked Louth Navigation Trust Website, a bit behind schedule, due to other commitments. More work is in hand to enhance the map content. New content will be added as and when it becomes available.

Web Site

2008-11-26T22:06:00.002Z

Louth Navigation Tust Website.....the revamped website is now nearer completion and should go live sometime this weekend. There will be fine tuning needed to iron out any problems, and new pages added from time to time.

Louth Navigation Trust Blog

2008-11-26T17:37:00.000Z

Today.....marks the launch of the Louth Navigation Trust Blog. Looking forward to reading and commenting on future posts. Feel free to comment on anything related to the Trust.