The Inglis Pipe Bridge over the Basingstoke Canal in Aldershot

Following on from my previous article about the new Holland Moorings on the Basingstoke Canal, here’s a report on the purpose of my visit to the canal.

An Inglis bridge is a portable military bridge designed by Sir Charles Inglis. Many of the Inglis bridges, by their very nature, were temporary, such that many no longer exist. There is a fine example of such an Inglis bridge over the Basingstoke canal just of Laffan’s Road in the newly created Duke’s Wood, part of the Wellesley Woodlands in Aldershot. The bridge does not have any decking, it carries a single pipe, which is shielded with a durable outer covering. There’s no information that I’ve uncovered that says what the pipe carried. The Basingstoke Canal Authority has some information on this bridge, stating that it was erected in 1915.

The Think Defence website has an excellent article on the Sir Charles Inglis, his bridge designs, and technical detail about them. In The Inglis Bridges article in Think Defence if says this about the Inglis Bridge over the canal

An Inglis Portable Military Bridge (Light Type) with the pyramidal construction is situated in Aldershot, just off Laffan’s Road near Browning Barracks. Laffan, of course, is familiar to any Sapper in the Hurrah for the CRE song, a former CRE. In WWII, Malta Barracks was on the edge of Laffan’s Road on the edge of Watts Common and was used for Royal Engineer training as well as the nearby Hawley Lake. The bridge itself is between the Claycart and Farnborough Road bridges (see the Google map at this link).

From Think Defence.

Here are my photos of the bridge – click on a photo to expand.

New moorings on Basingstoke Canal in Aldershot

Another couple of odd posts from me. My dear wife had a ladies lunch yesterday, which left me to my own devices for a good part of the day.

I’ll not be surprised if you find these two articles odd. I thought I’d walk a stretch of the Basingstoke Canal as it was gloriously warm, sunny and still. The part of the canal I wanted to walk was to pass the Inglis Bridge over the canal in Aldershot near the Farnborough Road, on the A325 where it crosses the canal. There’s a turning into a small car park by the canal off the short road joining the A323 to the A325. Primarily the car park is for those needing to access the slipway into the canal. There’s no canal towpath on this side of the canal. Just, I thought, an idea opportunity to see the Inglis Bridge in the sunshine.

What I did find was something very new and pleasing too. My photos below will show what I found – click photos to expand. There is a plaque stating that on the 26th August 2021 200m of new canal moorings were opened by Derek Holland and Kay Markham, the son and daughter of Peter and Margaret Holland with monies from a legacy from the Holland Family.

While I walked the full length of the mooring, at which I gained a close-up view of the Inglis Bridge (more about this bridge in the next blog post), I saw a group of young children gaining their first experience of canoeing.

Answer to Photo Quiz No.43: Queen’s Avenue Bridge over the Basingstoke Canal in Aldershot

David Parsons knew the answer. Good on him. It’s one of the lamp posts on the bridge over the Basingstoke Canal on Queen’s Avenue in Aldershot.

Queen’s Avenue is a long straight road, on which are many things to interest the passer by, with historic Army barracks, monuments, a museum, churches, and Army sporting facilities, including the bridge.

The bridge was in a very poor state of repair in the 1990’s, with rusting deck supports. The Ministry of Defence funded its restoration to enable the bridge to carry traffic up to 40 tons. The Basingstoke Canal Society website describes the history of the bridge, along with many photos of it. Here are my photos, click on images to expand.

Voluntary groups awarded more than £160,000 grant funding

Surrey Heath Borough Council last week announced that,

Voluntary organisations in Surrey Heath are to receive more than £160,000 of support in 2016/17 following a decision by Surrey Heath Borough Council this week.

On Tuesday 12 January its Executive approved grants to community organisations and charities dedicated to helping people within the borough. A total of £162,900 will go towards supporting groups including Surrey Heath Citizens Advice Bureau, Voluntary Support North Surrey, Surrey Heath Age Concern, and Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership.

The grants have been allocated for the past 13 years, with the funding reviewed annually by the council. The other organisations awarded grants were Surrey Heath Arts Council, Surrey Heath Sports Council, Basingstoke Canal Authority, Camberley Central Job Club and Tringhams lunchtime club, West End.

Cllr Colin Dougan, transformation portfolio holder for Surrey Heath, said: “Voluntary organisations within Surrey Heath are valued enormously. They continue to provide vital services – whether helping people in their daily lives, or enriching the community through sport, the arts or access to the natural environment. While the council’s funding resources from which to give grants are limited, we aim to recognise valuable work in Surrey Heath.”

The grants awarded were:

• Surrey Heath Citizens Advice: £80,000
• Voluntary Support North Surrey: £30,000
• Tringhams, West End: £15,000
• Surrey Heath Age Concern: £10,000
• Basingstoke Canal Authority: £10,000
• Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership: £10,000
• Camberley Central Job Club £5,000
• Surrey Heath Sports Council: £1,500
• Surrey Heath Arts Council: £1,400

A walk along the Basingstoke Canal from Frimley Lodge Park to Aldershot

In need of exercise I reckon I walked on the Basingstoke Canal towpath from Frimley Lodge Park, stopping at the Canal Centre in Mytchett for tea and maps, to the Queen’s Avenue Iron Bridge in Aldershot. Having sheltered from one heavy shower, I decided not to proceed to my ultimate destination in Fleet. Maybe another day. A generous wife dropped me off in Frimley, and collected me from North Camp at the end of my 6 mile walk.

I thought I’d tease you with a short slideshow of some of the things that I saw on my journey. A good guide to the canal is Canal Plan providing directions and photographs of the bridges and locks.

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Latest update on storm damage to Basingstoke Canal

Again, thanks are due to County Councillor Chris Pitt for forwarding this latest update on the state of the Basingstoke Canal, by Canal Manager, Fiona Shipp.

“As at 2nd Jan, 2014: Since my last update the rangers have managed to clear 15 of the biggest tree blockages. They are currently in the Hermitage section of the canal and still have another 30+ to sort out. These mainly affect the navigation but there are still a few towpath blockages mainly in the Hampshire section of the canal. We will get to these as soon as we can.

The navigation is now passable between Malthouse bridge, Hampshire (which is now back open) and Hermitage Surrey. There are still quite a few branches in the water however and a few partial blockages to go round so watch out. Once we manage to clear the trees at Hermitage today and tomorrow then the canal should be clear through to the Wey. However please remember that we are due to lift gates 15, 14, and 5 next week which will mean, Deepcut, Brookwood and Woodham lock flights will all be closed until mid February.

We are still trying to hold water levels low as yet more rain and wind is forecast.

Due to lines being felled by a falling tree in the storm before Christmas, the Canal Centre currently has no phone lines or internet access, (we are told this could be until Thurs 9th Jan at least!) so there may be a delay in responding to any messages or emails. Please call the duty ranger with anything urgent on 07894 425588.”

The Canal Manger of Basingstoke Canal reports on storms damage

A thank you to County Councillor Chris Pitt for forwarding this update by Fiona Shipp, Canal Manager, Basingstoke Canal Authority, on the state of the canal.

The weather has been bit of a nightmare to say the least and the rangers have been working throughout Christmas to keep water levels safe and trying to deal with trees as they come down. I currently have a list of 45 trees that still need to be dealt with and the canal is blocked in at least 14 locations at present. I have 2 teams working today and brought in extra staff for the rest of this week to try and deal with the backlog. It is however going to be over a week for us to clear this up and more trees are still falling!

Suffice to say I would not advise going out on the canal at the moment as you won’t get far!

The towpath is currently being blocked by numerous trees that have fallen across it. Some are passable, but many are not. I wouldn’t advise using the towpath at the moment while the winds are still high and we haven’t managed to get to all the hung up trees which could pose a danger. We will of course be dealing with these as a priority.

Water levels are currently being held low to allow us to manage the water as safely as possible.

A major landslip on Basingstoke Canal closes towpath

The Fleet News & Mail report that there’s been a major landslide on the Basingstoke Canal in Hampshire, leading to a closure of the towpath. Reading the latest Basingstoke Canal News shows that much maintenance work has been completed.  It’s surely a disappointment to them to have to deal with this.

It’s encouraging to read about the reorganisation of the Canal management structure, including the greater involvement of Surrey and Hampshire County Councils. Also, there’s a new Canal Operations Manager in Fiona Shipp.

While the maintenance work to get the canal re-opened is not complete, it does look likely to happen this year. I wish them much success in their on-going endeavours.

Canal towpath at Deepcut repaired

I know this isn’t the answer to the meaning of life, but it’s an important piece of canal maintenance to the Basingstoke Canal.

Impassable for almost four years, it’s great to see the newly repaired towpath from Deepcut Bridge to the first lock of the Deepcut flight of locks. Picture taken from Deepcut Bridge.

I walked along the newly repaired towpath and found it a bit spongy underfoot. I expect it will harden up in time.

The Deepcut lock flight repair continues, hopefully for completion this year. The Basingstoke Canal Society is always looking for volunteer help.

Canal towpath repairs underway

In my recent investigative perambulations into a Surrey Heath Countryside and Heritage Trail, I came upon the repairs to the towpath and embankment in Deepcut. This is an important part of that Trail. So, good news.

I must arrange to meet with Ian Brown, Director of the Canal Aiuthority, to discuss my idea, and learn from him the Canal authorities plans.