A quintessentially rural canal, running for 33 miles from Nottingham to Grantham via the Vale of Belvoir

Last update 7th Sept 2008

Sponsored by:-

Welcome to the Grantham Canal Website

Grantham Canal Society Notices

The Society's AGM will take place on Wednesday 10th September at 7.30 pm in the Methodist Hall, Cropwell Bishop. All Members welcome.

September 2008 Newsletter now available HERE

The Grantham Canal Society

The Grantham Canal was opened in 1797 and for well over a century was one of the principal waterways of the Midlands, offering a reliable and cost-effective alternative to the toll-roads for the transport of goods and materials between Grantham and Nottingham.

In the mid-nineteenth century, the growth of the railways led to an inevitable decline in the use of water-borne transport but the Grantham Canal fared better than most, and it was not until the age of the petrol engine that closure finally came in the 1930s.

A lengthy period of neglect and decay ensued. Brickwork crumbled, leaks appeared, sections of the canal dried out and nature reclaimed the land. Within 30 years, the Grantham Canal had fallen into a state of grievous disrepair, its purpose and presence largely forgotten.

The Grantham Canal Restoration Society was formed in 1969 by a small group of local people who recognised that we were in danger of losing a precious piece of industrial and architectural heritage, a rich habitat for the flora and fauna of the Vale of Belvoir and a potential source of enjoyment for current and future generations.

Since that time, an immense amount has been achieved; locks have been repaired and brought back into use; bridges have been rebuilt; the towpath has been resurfaced and stretches of the canal have been dredged. Groups of volunteers have tackled the encroaching vegetation, felling overhanging trees, cutting back overgrown banks and clearing out excessive weed growth to enable the water to flow again. And at all times, care has been taken to preserve and encourage the habitats of flowers and wildlife.

Today, The Grantham Canal Society has taken up the challenge. Its purpose is to continue the restoration of the canal, thereby creating a 33-mile leisure corridor running through the glorious Vale of Belvoir: a linear park to be used and enjoyed by walkers, anglers, cyclists, bird lovers - by anyone and everyone who takes pleasure in our natural environment. Eventually, the aim is to restore the canal to its former glory as a fully navigable waterway, not for commercial use but for trail boats and narrow boats to add their own colour and vitality to the rural setting.

Would you like to help?

The Society is run entirely by volunteers, supported by British Waterways and other organisations dedicated to the restoration and preservation of canals throughout the country. If you would like to get involved, for as little or as much time as you have available, go to our Volunteering page and find out more.