Old Waterway Photograph (6)

Collecting postcards, or Deltiology as it is known, is a fascinating hobby. Our recent history has to a point been documented by postcards. It's curious in a way even with all the wonderful advances in technology. It's hard to believe that the good old picture postcard is still with us and still going strong. I did a posting on collecting old photographic postcards. Which gives some simple background information about what is an interesting hobby.  Click Here

This is the sixth  in a series of old waterways postcards or photographs. The postcard is identified as 'The Louth Canal'. The canal obtained its Act of Parliament in 1763 (although the canal had been planned as far back as 1756) and construction started in 1767. The canal opened in 1770. The canal cost £28,000 to build and was able to carry seagoing boats. For much of its life the canal was leased by the Chaplin family who were able to run it at something of a profit with estimated tolls getting as high as £5000 a year in the late 1820s. The coming of the railways lead to a decline in the use of the canal and the First World War killed what traffic was left. The final blow was the devastation caused by the Louth Flood of 1920 to the Riverhead area, the terminus of the canal. The canal closed in 1924.

Unidentified Location

The Louth Navigation Trust have since restored the tow path which may be walked and parts of the canal are in shallow water. They are currently engaged in an ambitious scheme to restore the full length of the canal by 2020. 
 

Louth Canal at Keddington

The Louth Navigation, unlike many other disused canals is in water throughout its length and has not been in-filled or built over as it is important for drainage of the surrounding land. Several formerly movable bridges have since been replaced with fixed bridges. The 8 locks are in varying states of repair, two have been completely obliterated, Alvingham lock is the best surviving example.