A quintessentially rural canal, the 33 mile long Grantham traverses three shire counties

Landing Stages ~ June 2009

A new landing stage has been installed during May just above Lock 18 at Woolsthorpe. This is a simple piled structure of about 20m long and designed to make for easy access to boats on the canal.

Lock 18 landing stage - Woolsthorpe

At Harlaxton, in conjunction with the local community, the village wharf has been cleared of brambles, fenced and is now a presentable area. The wharf now has a piled edge and has been surfaced along the water-frontage. In both locations the society has used experts to advise on the soil structure and wild-life habitat, looking particularly for water voles. None were found at either site.

Harlaxton Wharf

At Harlaxton we called in the Grantham Archaeological Society to investigate and whilst their only discoveries were unexciting they were able to confirm that the wharf originally had a wood surface and that some still remains. Funding for these projects which cost in excess of £50k has been provided by WREN and emda with support from British Waterways. Further work will be undertaken at Harlaxton if funding can be achieved.

The photos were taken by Kevin Mann.