Capel’s Mill to Inglesham

The Cotswold Canals Trust has made major progress restoring the route from Capel’s Mill to Inglesham, reconnecting the Cotswold Canals with the River Thames.

Highlights include creating a new channel at Capel’s Mill, restoring locks and bridges such as Siddington, Boxwell Springs, and Wildmoorway, and preserving rare features like side ponds. At Inglesham, the historic Thames connection has been secured through national fundraising and partnership efforts.

While full navigation isn’t yet complete, each phase moves us closer to a fully restored waterway for heritage, wildlife, and local communities.

Achievement Summary: West to East

CAPEL’S MILL
(2012-2013)

Around a quarter of a mile of canal was infilled in 1987 to make way for a new road bypass. In 2013, the canal was reopened through Capel’s Mill when a diversion was built around the blockage. When the new route was being designed, not only was the East/West bypass to be avoided, but an old tip had to be skirted around, with piling holding back a 1960s tip in the ground above. In 2013, nearly two thousand people came to walk the new channel before it was filled. The canal here has become a popular place to visit and is often used by the local canoe club for sessions on safe still water.

STROUD DISTRICT THREE LOCKS
(2010-2017)

The scope of the funded Phase 1A restoration was reduced but volunteers vowed to restore the three locks between Bowbridge and Thrupp.

Bowbridge Lock was restored by CCT volunteers and visitors from the Waterway Recovery Group. In 2015 the original bridge by the lock was uncovered when a 1960s widened section was removed. The bridge is now navigable.

Griffin’s Mill Lock was also adopted by Cotswold Canals Trust volunteers as a restoration project and was complete and gated by Summer 2014.

Ham Mill Lock was the third volunteer restoration project on this section, mainly undertaken by CCT Members from the Trust’s Western Depot. The whole lock was covered with a scaffolding and tarpaulin structure to accommodate work in all weather.

BRIMSCOMBE
(2009-2011)

Gough’s Orchard Lock was restored by volunteers as part of the Phase 1A restoration scheme, undertaken mainly by visiting restoration groups such as the Waterway Recovery Group. The canal above here was infilled for around 50 yards in the 1960s as far as the Ship Inn at Brimscombe. This will be excavated to accommodate the canal.

SAPPERTON TUNNEL PORTALS
(1976-1996)

Sapperton Tunnel’s western, castellated Daneway Portal was restored in 1996 by local stonemasons. This isolated structure had suffered from vandalism over the years but the stonemasons were able to retrieve most of the dislodged masonry from the canal bed.

Nineteen years earlier, the eastern portal at Coates had been repaired. The grand reopening was performed by Lord Bathurst in 1977 and 19 years later, his son, Lord Apsley, was kind enough to do the same at the newly restored western Daneway Portal.

LATTON AREA
(1997-2011)

Latton Bridge was built in 1997 under the new A419 dual carriageway. The road could have created a serious obstacle but, after protracted protesting, lobbying and with a last-minute funding package, a navigable culvert was incorporated under the road. Today, it is out of sight, but filled with gravel, waiting for restoration of this section when it will be brought into use.

Eisey Lock and Rucks Bridge are on private land but restoration of the structures was undertaken, mainly by volunteers from the Waterways Recovery Group and complete by 2012. Although isolated at present, it was considered a worthwhile project to prevent further deterioration. The lock and bridge lie a hundred yards or so apart.

INGLESHAM LOCK
(2010-2019)

Inglesham Round House & Lock stand alongside the River Thames at the junction with the Thames & Severn Canal. Almost three miles of the canal cross private farmland until the last quarter mile which is owned by the Cotswold Canals Trust. The round house was bought by British Waterways when they were lead partner of the Cotswold Canals Partnership. After withdrawing from the partnership, the house was sold but the lock was acquired by the CCT and the structure was restored by the Waterway Recovery Group. There’s currently no public access.