The Ripon Canal was built in the great era of canal building, opening in 1773 to connect Ripon with the navigable section of the River Ure and thence the Ouse, from where boats could continue to York and Hull. Its usefulness declined with the coming of the railways in the 1800s. By 1900 it was effectively impassable and it was finally abandoned in 1956. A pressure group contrived to get it restored and reopened in 1996. Some of the old warehouses at the canal basin have been restored and new housing designed to blend in sympathetically. It seemed a really nice area, and apparently (in 'normal' times) is used for markets and events. The three little lads were fishing with nets though I didn't see if they caught anything. I was tempted to have a ride on the trip boat but it was just leaving. Another time, maybe...
I really like the photo above. To me, it looks like France or somewhere a good deal more exotic than Ripon. Whereas the one below... quintessentially British!
Jenny you are right, your photo really could be the Canal du Midi in Southern France!
ReplyDeleteLove your pic with the boat!
ReplyDeleteIt's good that it's been preserved.
ReplyDeleteI love to read the word "restored" and not demolished ! I hate when old beautiful buildings are neglected and then finally distroyed ! This looks very nice and I can imagine that people enjoy to go there in "normal times" ! as our life for the moment is everything else then normal ! I feel like a bank robber with my mask and it's hard to breath ! And then you can't travel or go where you want ! We are all prisoners of a Virus !!
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