Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
19 Bridgwater & Taunton Canal
Distance
23km from the River Tone to the River Parrett
Highlights
Taunton Castle, including the Somerset museum
Someset Spacewalk
Blake Museum
Albert Street Cutting
Bridgwater Docks
Navigation Authority
Canal & River Trust
OS 1:50,000 Sheets
182 Weston-super-Mare
193 Taunton & Lyme Regis
The Bridgwater & Taunton Canal links the River Tone at Taunton with the tidal River Parrett
at Bridgwater. It was once part of the Parrett, Tone, Chard and Grand Western navigations,
from which there were plans for a link to Topsham, connecting the north and south coasts. The
line from Taunton to Huntworth was opened in 1827. Bridgwater Dock was added after the
completion of the canal in 1841 by Maddocks. Most revenue came from through traffic going
to the Grand Western and Chard Canals. In 1866 it was sold to the Bristol & Exeter Railway
Company, whose line closely follows the canal between the two towns.
Commercial traffic ceased in 1907 and the locks fell into disrepair. Somerset County Coun-
cil purchased the dock for recreational purposes. The Somerset Inland Waterways Society was
formed in 1965 to undertake the restoration, two years after British Waterways took over the
canal, which is wide, open and clean.
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