Guided walk of the New Cut: 30th July 2021

The walk will start at Cattle Market Road, near the eastern end of the large railway bridge close to Brocks Bridge (the Blue Bridge to Temple Island). It will end at Cumberland Basin. Lasting between two and two and a half hours, the walk, will be led by Ed Hall, famous for his colourful shirts, so not difficult to spot. Ed Hall came to Bristol over forty years ago, after university and living in Birmingham. Ed has past experience of living on a canal boat and has had a lifetime interest in canals and industrial archaeology. On arrival in Bristol he became involved with the Bristol Packet’s narrow boat Redshank and ever since then has worked as a tourist boat skipper doing endless commentary tours of Bristol’s watery centre. For the past 15 years Ed has taken to the city’s streets doing his well regarded conducted tours, thereby extending his deep knowledge of the city.

The New Cut is an artificial waterway which was constructed between 1804 and 1809 to divert the tidal river Avon through south and east Bristol. We will learn about the tides and their restrictive effect on Bristol Docks and the Cut’s function as part of the Floating Harbour construction. The New Cut is Bristol’s forgotten waterway, the navigation that the City has tended to turn its back on, but as we walk along we will find plenty of interesting sites and landmarks, along with the opportunity to discuss the area’s fascinating local history.

The walk starts at 1pm. Members can book a place when they receive the event email.

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