The Water Road

In this episode of The Water Road, we walk a couple of minutes from the Shropshire Union Canal in Cheshire to the Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker . This underground building was on permanent alert in the 1980s and 90s, standing by to become the seat of government for north west England in the event of a nuclear attack. We learn about the site's history, and about the museum it has become. Back on...

In this episode of The Water Road we're at Cholmondeston Lock on the Middlewich Branch in Cheshire, where members of the local branch of the Inland Waterways Association are working boaters through the lock during a fundraising and awareness raising weekend. Hear from volunteers and boater's they've helped. We'll also try to get to the bottom of how the lock's name is pronounced. The Water Road is...

In this extra episode of The Water Road, we examine the issue of the moment -- extreme water shortages which have led to canal and lock closures in the north of England and the Midlands. We hear from businesses affected, including Kingsground Narrowboats on the South Oxford, Braidbar Boats on the Macclesfield Canal, Chamberlain Chandlery on the Middlewich Arm, and Grand Union Narrowboats in Northa...

In this episode of The Water Road we travel along the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. We visit the Bratch Locks near Womborne, which look like a staircase but aren't. We speak to Craig Williams from the Birmingham Anglers Association who was hosting a Let's Fish event, and we hear from the owners of a house which has a lock bywash flowing underneath it. The Water Road is produced a...

In this episode of The Water Road we visit a floating market on the Shropshire Union Canal, and hear from some of the people trading from their boats. Guests include Julie Tonkin of the Roving Canal Traders Association who tells us about her canal art ; Helen Tidy of Wild Side Preserves ; the artist, Emma Bradley ; Kate Newman who makes glass items; and Paul Partridge from the Baked on Board pizza...

This episode of The Water Road comes from Beeston in Nottinghamshire, where the Beeston Cut leaves the River Trent. The main focus of the episode is the Canalside Heritage Centre , a buzzing community hub in a row of canal cottages. We hear from Stewart Craven, who masterminded the project to save the buildings from dereliction -- and he tells us about the latest attraction, which shows one of the...

In this episode of The Water Road we investigate the world of electric propulsion boats, with a visit to the Electrika boat show . We hear how the show came about, learn about the different types of hybrid systems, drill down into the green credentials, and discuss some of the challenges for the future. Guests include Rob Howdle and Caroline Badger from the boat builders, Ortomarine ; Ricky Lee fr...

In this episode of The Water Road we reach Foxton Locks, where we have quite a wait to get down Britain's longest flight of staircase locks. A volunteer lock keeper tells us why it's so important to operate the paddles in the right order, and gongoozlers tell us why they decided to visit the site. Plus we hear about the history of the inclined plane boat lift, which replaced the locks for a while...

In this special edition of The Water Road, we talk to Richard Parry, who's stepping down this summer as Chief Executive of the Canal and River Trust. He answers questions about the performance of the charity, and warns that funding cuts means there's potential jeopardy for the canals in the future. The Water Road is produced and presented by Adam Porter.

In this bumper episode of The Water Road we visit the Crick Boat Show in Northamptonshire -- the biggest show of its kind for the inland waterways. We talk to boat builders, Aquavista Marinas, the Inland Waterways Association, Emma Culshaw Bell one of the stars of Narrow Escapes, CRT's head of boating Matthew Symonds, and Paul Knox-Johnston from the insurers Haven Knox-Johnston, and the show&#...

Join us as we continue our travels on the waterways of England and Wales. In this episode we reach the end of the Caldon Canal. While our boat can't fit through Froghall Tunnel, we find a trip boat which can -- and we experience the Churnet Valley steam railway. The Water Road is produced and presented by Adam Porter. If you have any boating questions, leave them in the comments and I'll try to an...

Join us as we begin a journey along the Caldon Canal in Staffordshire in our narrowboat. We ascend the Beford Street staircase locks in Stoke, and travel on to Cheddleton where we learn about the fascinating history of Cheddleton Flint Mill with its two waterwheels. The Water Road is produced and presented by Adam Porter.

Join us at our mooring on the Trent and Mersey Canal at Westport Lake in Stoke-on-Trent. We hear from the boat builder, Tim Tyler, about how narrowboats are fashioned out of steel; and we talk to the co-ordinator of Stoke's Green Door project, which runs an accessible cycling scheme at Westport Lake. The Water Road is produced and presented by Adam Porter.

Join us as we set off on our narrowboat, and travel through the Northamptonshire village of Stoke Bruerne. We speak to a volunteer lock keeper and hear about the history of some of the canal side buildings, before entering Blisworth Tunnel. Produced and presented by Adam Porter.