250. A new canal? That’ll be £100 million, please

Built in the late 1700s but abandoned in the mid-20th century, the Stroudwater Navigation and the Thames & Severn Canal are currently undergoing a mammoth, volunteer-led programme of restoration. This is their story. For those curious about the video title, a Trow was the type of boat that used to sail up the River Severn and along the Stroudwater Navigation to unload at Stroud, so the title is a gentle play on the phrase “True Believers“ and references the dedication of all the volunteers making this project happen. See also my video about the Lichfield & Hatherton Canal Trust restoration here: