What can we find when we go looking for a lost canal? The Chard Canal - 1 

What an utterly fascinating episode! A lost canal with quite a bit of infrastructure! None of it still visible. All the more fascinating for the mystery surrounding a lot of it! Thanks for that, Paul.

Hi Paul another fascinating episode, your enthusiasm to share these places and features with us, shines through it all. Ron

Ah thanks for linking. We really did skim this canal in a day. I would like to go back and explore some more one day. Cheers for the info, very enjoyable. You did well to avoid Liledown southern portal. The route down was quite severe and the portal itself is something else!!

Hi Paul, excellent exploration, thoroughly enjoyed watching, well done!! The aqueducts were great finds, maybe the one the farm more so as it was such an unexpected place to find one. Aren't cows inquisitive, I hope one or two have become subscribers!! You did right to avoid those steep slippy paths, especially near to the portal. I've been searching for the devils tunnel recently and started off down a marked path between precipices but it was just simply not worth the risk especially being on your own, so I turned around. That I think concludes my explorations until it's cooler. I did find photos of it!! I see the WCW official swan mascot made an appearance today, perfect timing!! Thanks for keeping going despite the weather and look forward to part two. After which I will watch the PW version!! Have a great weekend!!

Although you have been disappointed by what you didn't see, I was amazed by what you did see, it was not easy. You were somewhat held back by cattle & steep slippery slopes. Great video Paul.

Hi Paul nice walk ,nice to see the cows and have a good weekend 😊

Cheers Paul interesting l bet the aqueduct looked impressive in it's day across the road 👍👍👍

Enjoyed your walk to the Chard / Bridgewater & Taunton canal . My passion is the Cotswold Canal which was also , almost lost due to the railway competition . I lived in the Brimscombe valley when the original Polly Basin as it was known went rafting on it in the summer & skated on it in the bad winter of early 1960s . Now live only 4 miles from the Leeds & Liverpool in East Lancs .

I guess times do change and infrastructure does become unused, but really some of these amazing places are ripe for the discovery and bring back for all to re-enjoy once again.

Very nice walk Paul. Yes, it's always best to let caution be your guide when exploring some areas. A nasty fall would make for a bad day. As for the cows, you should have told them to mooove out of the way😊👍

Some great finds, especially the wonderful canal bridge and picturesque aqueduct, the outlines of an inclined plane and the remains of another aqueduct at the farm. Frustrating not to get a clear view of the tunnel portal, but who knows what you might find on your next visit. Very enjoyable exploration. Thank you.

Really fascinating Paul and very enjoyable. I am especially looking forward to the next episode as I Iived in Chaffcombe till I was 12 and cycled past the reservoir everyday after I started going to school in Ilminster. (Not all the way on my bike). I also cycled over a small hump bridge just before the main road and had no idea why it was there. I left my bike just around the corner at the Ship Inn and couldn’t understand why it was called that being well inland. Wonder if the hump is still there. I also didn’t know the canal went past the end of the field where we had to play hockey in Ilminster and could have escaped and explored if I had known. (Nor really. Too scared to duck out). Thank you. 🌻

thanks Paul. frustrating. caroline

Excellent video & this seems like an extremely interesting canal! Presumably the inclined planes would have a winch house at the top of the slopes? Wonder if there are any remains or stone foundations still evident?

3.16k Hi Paul as usual an enjoyable , well researched video .Is there any plans to fix that wall from the 1st canal and bring it in to use ? I do hope so , hope all is well with you and yours

This was such a fascinating video. I like it when you become a sleuth- that does seem to be your ‘metier’ - you draw us all into your research!! It will always be Creech St Thomas to you! I know what it’s like to have an idee fixe. Do you think that comes from Cricket St Thomas also Somerset?? Ah love the cows - these looked inquisitive & happy to see you BUT & you can guess what I am going to say! They kill lots of people/ year. Saw the actual statistic the other day- & it is frightening. A retired GP living in the next village was trampled to death a few years back. I love the finger post signs- sadly seeing them less & less. As there was such a lot to take in I had to watch twice! And in the 1st run though you had made the provision for ads none were put in; 2nd time 2 adverts so no rhyme or reason!! I wasn’t consciously going to compare the 2 runs- just more awake than usual! I know of Paul Whitewick- would sub to him but as it is I find myself behind with the channels I do subscribe to !! Can I make a request if you do try again to find the route of this canal please please take someone with you!! You suggested Autumn and the slippery leaves & mud,rocks etc make me nervous after what we saw in the video!!! Thanks for an adsorbing 36minutes!