Boddy on the Towpath

@boddyonthetowpath.bsky.social

152 Followers 83 Following

Cycling the canals of Britain over 5 years, and writing a book on how to complete the rides. Also Barrow AFC and the occasional beer. http://www.boddyonthetowpath.co.uk

A disused canal is full of reeds and other plants. A narrow path to the left stretches into the distance (the old towpath)
Photo of a stone turnover bridge, built to allow horses pulling boats to change towpath sides. The Towpath curls up from the right, back on itself, and over the bridge to continue on the left
Pencil style drawing of a metal ladder rising up the stone wall of a lock. Above and behind it is a sign saying TARDEBIGGE TOP LOCK, with foliage in the background
Pencil style drawing of a stone bridge which curls to the left, the pathway passing underneath itself as it allows horses to cross the canal without being untied from their barge. In the background are cottages and trees
Photo of a brick built railway bridge over the Birmingham & Worcester Canal at Worcester. There is a distinctive round hole above a narrow arch accommodating aroadway, and a large arch over the canal to the right.
Pencil style drawing of a wide canal passing under a motorway bridge. There is stationary traffic across the bridge. A narrow boat can be seen passing under the bridge
Pencil style drawing of Granary Wharf, Leeds, where the Leeds & Liverpool Canal meets the River Aire. There is a deep lock, surrounded by modern steel and glass buildings to the right, and older stone buildings to the left. There is the arm of a lock gate in the foreground.
Pencil style drawing of a curved wrought iron fence with ornate stone posts. Inside the curve is a steep drop.
Pencil style drawing of a stone built building with a tall chimney on the left side. A stone wall and gate are in the foreground.
Pencil style drawing of a lock. The gates are open (broken). There is a narrow bridge at the far end.
Pencil style drawing of a stone milepost, with a brick wall behind. To the left it says "L'pool 63 miles" and to the right "Leeds 64 1/2 miles"
Pencil style drawing of a stone bridge with vertical slits. In front are the brick sides of a canal lock, with two gates. The towpath has shallow steps down and heads under the bridge.
Pencil style drawing of a station platform with a number of signs: To The UP TRAINS; HEBDEN BRIDGE; PARCEL OFFICE: PLATFORM 1. The wrought ironwork of the canopy can also be seen, and windows of the offices to the right.
Pencil style drawing of 2 closed lock gates, with stone walls and water either side. In the distance, below, are the outlines of factory buildings in the valley. The gates are reflected in the water.
Pencil style drawing of a railway track, looking head on at two parallel carriages. To the right is a station platform, and some station buildings.
Pencil style drawing looking up underneath an iron suspension bridge, with a stone tower visible on the far side of a gorge
Pencil style drawing of a canal in the foreground, with two large iron guillotine gates leading to water holding "buckets" into which narrow boats can sail, to be lowered to the river below. In the background are many factory buildings, in the river valley.
Pencil style drawing of a stone bridge over a canal, with the wording "Joseph Clayton" inscribed on the ironwork over the arch.
Pencil style drawing of an old windmill with no sails, surrounded by tall trees. IN the foreground are some wooden picnic benches.
Pencil style drawing of a brick built warehouse on the banks of a canal. The building has 3 roofs, and tall arched windows.
Pencil stye drawing of an arched brick railway bridge, under which passes a canal, dropping down a number of locks. Warehouses and other buildings are in the background.
Pencil style drawing of a stone bridge over a canal junction. There is a ht to the right, and a wall coping to the left. A small figure walks over the bridge.
Pencil style drawing of my cycle, complete with pannier and water bottle, leaned against a fence next to an aqueduct, with trees in the background.
Pencil style drawing of a canal to the left, and a footbridge rising to the right over a canal junction. In the background is a white building (The Kings Lock pub), and a few narrowboats moored up.
Pencil style drawing of a pair of wooden church gates, one open, one closed. They are protected by a thick wooden beamed porch. A paved walkway leads up to a church door in the mid distance. There are gravestones either side of the path.
A rotating bridge with metal handrails lies over a turntable, which rotates over a lock to the left. In the background are trees, and a couple of slightly wayward lampposts.
Pencil style drawing of a large metal bridge with a arched steel girder across a river. There is a tall gatehouse to the right, trees in the foreground and background. The bridge is set on a turntable to allow boats to pass.
Pencil style drawing of an empty canal lock with the near gate missing. Some of the metalwork remains. There is a stone bridge at the far end of the lock, and a metal fence to the right. The whole scene is surrounded by trees, long grass and undergrowth.
Pencil style drawing of am imposing mill building next to a canal which curves away to the left. There are two tall towers to the mill. There is a high stone wall curving away to the right.
Pencil style drawing of the underside of a metal and wooden wharf jutting out over a canal. Sturdy beams and girders all round, and a stone flagged towpath passes underneath. Around the bend in the canal can just be seen a white building.
Photo of a white brick canal tunnel entrance. A towpath on the left leads up to two white houses over the tunnel.
Photo of a cast iron swing bridge over a deep canal lock
Pencil style drawing of a stone milepost, with a brick wall behind. On one side the sign says L'pool 63 miles, and on the other, Leeds 64 1/4 miles
Photo of a canal lock, with the top gate missing. There is a bridge at the lower end,vans a railing to the right. It is all a bit overgrown and neglected
Pencil style drawing of a towpath and canal leading under a stone bridge, flanked by trees
Pencil style drawing of a pub to the left, a canal lock in the foreground, and an ornate iron bridge crossing behind the lock. A modern office block, and a old waterways warehouse are in the background.
A stone bridge straddles a canal. To the left is the all of a factory, and to the right a boat and a brick wall. behind the bridge are some low rise blocks of flats.
Pencil style drawing of a cast iron sign, half tubular with a rounded top, next to a wall. The visible lettering reads 1869 SAM L PARR WOODWARD WERSEER GODFREY ST OVERSEE. I suspect it was the details of the lock or bridge builder
Photo of a cycle with a pannier leaning against va stone wall. A canal curves in from the left and away again. Trees, low hills and blue skies in the background.
Pencil style drawing of an aqueduct carrying a canal. A brick wall to the left fank a few steps which lead to a footpath. To its right, a cast iron "trough" carrying the canal across the valley.
Pencil style drawing of an iron canal bridge. Underneath is the canal. Behind the iron bridge is a newer, steel bridge carrying a road. There is a rough slop on the right, leading up to the bridge
A wrought iron bridge over a canal. In the background is a newer steel road bridge.
Pencil style drawing of a canal lock, with a single gate top and bottom, and a footbridge over the far lock gate. The lock widens out to the right into a D shape. The is a paved area in the foreground and trees in the background.
Pencil style drawing of a walled ramp on the right, leading up to an iron bridge slanting over a canal. Beneath the bridge the top gates of a lock can be seen. There are a couple of narrowboats, one in the lock and one moored up
Pencil style drawing of a low bridge over a canal. In the background are two arches of a viaduct. Reflections of both can be seen in the water. There are trees in the background.
Photo of a narrow lock and gate. Behind the lock on the left is a sandstone cliff face, dappled with sunlight. A path and trees head into the distance on the right
Pencil style drawing of a stone building with a very tall chimney. There is a wall with a gate in the foreground.
Pencil style drawing of a canal. 3 boats waiting to enter a tunnel to the right, a high wall by it's entrance. Trees in the background,cand a square building to the left. A canal volunteer stands by the tunnel entrance to organise traffic
Pencil style drawing of a canal lock with built up brick sides, and a stepped slope leading down and under a low bridge.
Pencil style drawing of a canal towpaths, the top of a narrow lock, a building to the right and several buildings in the background
Pencil style drawing of a lock staircase: 3 locks rising, a pool at the bottom, and lock cottages in the background.