The Stroudwater Navigation, part of the larger Cotswold Canals network, is a historically significant waterway that weaves through the picturesque Cotswolds in Gloucestershire. Built in the late 18th century, it was one of the earliest English canals, completed in 1779 to link Stroud with the River Severn at Framilode. This important connection provided an essential trade route for the wool, stone, and coal industries, facilitating commerce between the thriving industrial Stroud Valley and the wider waterways network.
Stretching approximately 8 miles from Framilode to Wallbridge in Stroud, the Stroudwater Navigation has 12 locks, which were designed to raise and lower boats between different levels of the canal. These locks were originally tailored to accommodate the wide-beamed Severn trows, the flat-bottomed boats once common on the River Severn. Today, they are a distinctive feature of the canal, offering boaters a glimpse into the waterway’s industrial past.
The canal also has a series of basins and wharves, most notably at Stroud, which served as hubs for loading and unloading cargo. Restoration efforts over the years have helped preserve these historical elements, with significant parts of the canal reopened for leisure boating, walking, and cycling.
One of the most interesting aspects of the Stroudwater Navigation is its connection to other waterways. It links with the Thames and Severn Canal at Wallbridge, forming part of a larger project to create a continuous route between the River Thames at Lechlade and the River Severn. This once vital artery allowed boats to traverse from London to Bristol, but the decline of the canal network in the 20th century led to its closure in the early 1900s. Ongoing restoration efforts by the Cotswold Canals Trust are bringing these canals back to life.
Some notable features along the Stroudwater Navigation include the Ocean, a wide expanse of water near Stonehouse, originally used for turning boats and storing water. There are also several historic mills along the route, remnants of the area’s cloth-making heritage, as well as aqueducts and bridges, such as the unique skew bridges, where roads cross the canal at an angle rather than perpendicularly.
Today, the Stroudwater Navigation is a beautiful blend of history and natural beauty. It offers a serene route through the Cotswold countryside, with restored sections now open to boaters, walkers, and cyclists, giving a new lease of life to this once-bustling industrial artery. The canal provides an enchanting way to explore the scenic landscape, while ongoing restoration continues to uncover and celebrate its rich heritage.