The Newsletter of the IWA in the North East and Yorkshire
River Foss Update on New Lock Gates
York – Dragon Boat Race
The story of the FBW cruise 2025
Canal
Take a look at our Region, Branches and Rivers
The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee. Registered in England no. 612245 Registered as a charity no. 212342
Take a look at our Region, Branches, Rivers and Canals.
As this is our inaugural newsletter, it is fitting to begin with an overview of the region, its four branches, and the rivers and canals that serve our area.
The region currently comprises 386 memberships, with each membership representing one or two members. It is divided into four branches, most of which are presently inactive. Given the region’s wide geographical spread, meetings will, where possible, be held at venues within individual branch areas to improve accessibility.
The first regional meeting was held on 10 February at Strawberry Island Boat Club in Doncaster, within the South Yorkshire and Dukeries branch. The next meeting will be hosted by the West Riding branch at South Pennine Boat Club, followed by meetings in the North Riding and East Yorkshire branches.
Membership numbers by branch are as follows:
• East Yorkshire (EY): 69
• North Riding (NR): 64
• South Yorkshire & Dukeries (SY): 111
• West Riding (WR): 142
In future editions of this newsletter, I will take a closer look at the navigable rivers and canals within each branch, beginning with the branch that hosted our first regional meeting.
South Yorkshire and The Dukeries Branch
The South Yorkshire and the Dukeries branch currently has 111 memberships. The River Trent forms the main regional boundary, defined as the west bank of the river along its tidal length from Trent Falls to Cromwell Lock.
For those unfamiliar with the term “The Dukeries,” it refers to an area of Nottinghamshire historically associated with four ducal estates. Located south of Worksop, the area was once part of Sherwood Forest and includes estates such as Thoresby Hall, Clumber House, Welbeck Abbey, and Worksop Manor.
South Yorkshire and The Dukeries Branch
River Navigable length
Barnsley Canal –Royston to Dearne & Dove Canal
14.5 miles (23.2km)
The length of the Barnsley Canal.
Not Navigable
Further information.
The Barnsley Canal and the Dearne & Dove Canal were built separately, but together provided a connection from the Aire & Calder Navigation through to the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation. Both canals were closed shortly after World War II and have been the subject of restoration proposals. The Dearne & Dove Canal has arms to Worsborough and Elsecar.
Chesterfie ld Canal
Dearne & Dove Canal
46 miles from the River Trent to the middle of Chesterfiel d. It links Nottingham shire, South Yorkshire and Derbyshire with 9 miles of the canal under active restoration.
No longer navigable.
In June 2003, the entire canal from the River Trent to the eastern entrance to the collapsed Norwood Tunnel became navigable when the section between Shireoaks and the tunnel was re-opened. At the western end of the canal the stretch from Chesterfield to Staveley is also completely restored.
The Dearne and Dove Canal ran for almost ten miles through South
River Don The River Don flows for a distance of approximat ely 71 miles. (114km)
Yorkshire, from Swinton to Barnsl ey through nineteen locks, rising 127 feet (39 m). The canal also had two short branches, the Worsbrough branch and the Elsecar branch, both about two miles long with reservoirs at the head of each. The Elsecar branch also has another six locks. The only tunnel was bypassed by a cutting in 1840.
The Don can be divided into sections by the different types of structures built to restrict its passage. The upper reaches, and those of several of its tributaries, are defined by dams which were built to provide a supply of water to the public. The middle section contains many weirs, which were built to supply mills, foundries and cutlers’ wheels with water power. The lower section contains weirs and locks, designed to maintain water levels for the navigation of boats.
Dutch River the “Dutch River” isn’t a separate natural river but a man-made channel created from the lower
The Dutch River forms the final section of the River Don, running eastwards after Doncaster and ultimately joining the River Ouse at Goole. Before this work, the Don flowed into the River Trent; the diversion permanently changed its outlet.
course of the River Don. Not Navigable.
River Idle 10.9 mile (17.5km)
The length of the River Idle that is meant to be navigable.
New Junction Canal
Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation
5.4 miles, it has 1 lock and 6 movable bridges
48.4 miles (77.9km)
The length of the Sheffield & South Yorkshire navigation that is navigable.
River Trent (West Bank) –Trent Falls to Cromwell Lock
94.8 miles (151.6km)
The length of the River Trent that is navigable.
The River Idle is virtually unnavigable. However, there is a right of navigation for the River Idle from Bawtry Bridge in Bawtry to Stockwith, where it connects with the tidal Trent. With access to and from the Trent through the flood-control sluice gate, only by appointment.
The New Junction Canal runs between the Stainforth & Keadby Canal at Bramwith Junction and the Aire & Calder Navigation at Southfield Junction.
The Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation runs from Sheffield to Keadby, to Goole via the River Don Navigation and to join with Aire & Calder Navigation via the New Junction Canal.
The navigable River Trent runs from Wilden Ferry (Shardlow) to the Yorkshire Ouse and Humber Estuary at Trent Falls.
Boats at Strawberry Island line up ready for the FBW cruise 2025
Summary South Yorkshire and The Dukeries Branch
The branch area centres on the city of Sheffield and extends southwards into Nottinghamshire and north east Derbyshire. Its main waterways are the Chesterfield Canal, a stunning example of what well lead enthusiasm can achieve, with its 2,000 member trust and thriving restoration program. The river Idle, technically navigable to Bawtry, but with access to and from the Trent through the flood-control sluice gate, only by appointment. The Sheffield and South Yorkshire navigation, with the runt of the Rother in Rotherham. The Dearne and Dove, almost a lost cause due to mining subsidence and overbuilding. Its Elsecar Branch remains largely in water, but is gently decaying into oblivion. The SY & D branch was placed in “suspension” and funds passed to the Chesterfield Canal Trust, by the then committee in 2018 due to lack of physical support from its relatively substantial membership. It is likely, however, that the effects on the population of the Covid affair would have lead to its demise anyway.
River Foss – New Gates
Essential Works Planned for Castle Mills Lock on the River Foss
The River Foss was historically navigable for nearly 12 miles up to Strensall and had six locks.
The Foss Navigation opened in 1796 and was extended in 1804. It was sold to York Corporation in 1852, and all
but the last mile and Castle Mills Lock closed in 1859. Rowntrees bought the wharf and warehouse that had originally been part of Leethams Mill at the junction with the Wormalds Cut which was in use until the 1980s, and barges were bringing 200 tonnes of news print per week into York from Goole until 1997.
Plans to replace the aging timber lock gates at Castle Mills Lock on the River Foss are moving forward, with essential works now scheduled to begin in April 2026. Unusually the Navigation Authority responsible for the lock remains with the City of York Council. The project, estimated at £1.36 million, has attracted public debate, but council officers continue to stress that the works are necessary to protect the river, surrounding infrastructure, and the wider environment.
Aging Infrastructure Reaches End of Service Life
The existing lock gates were last replaced in 1986 and have now exceeded their expected 25–30 year lifespan. Significant leakage has been recorded, and the gates are described as being in very poor condition. While the lock remains operable, continued deterioration raises the risk of sudden failure, which could lead to a rapid drop in river levels, damage to riverbanks, harm to wildlife, and potential
impacts on nearby buildings that rely on stable water levels.
City of York Council has stated that replacing the gates is essential in order to meet its statutory duties and to prevent a future safety or environmental incident.
Previous Delay and Revised Programme
A planned navigation closure was announced last year, originally scheduled to run from 28 April to 31 October, to allow the replacement works to take place. The new lock gates were made and prepared ready for fitting. Unfortunately, due to the unusually
low River Ouse levels last summer, the original plan to use the Foss Basin for access to install the gates was not been possible. An alternative of using large cranes and a temporary bridge was proposed but proved unacceptable as it would have involved closing the inner ring road for several days and would have caused severe disruption in the peak summer visitor period. As a result, the closure notice was withdrawn and the lock remained in use.
A revised programme is now in place, with works due to commence on Tuesday 7 April 2026 and a contract completion date of 3 July 2026. The council has indicated that the full closure period may not be required and that the lock will reopen to navigation as soon as the installation is complete.
Preparations Already Underway
The new lock gates which were manufactured last year are currently being stored underwater to stabilise the timber prior to installation. This preparatory work is intended to ensure the gates are ready for fitting once site access is established.
Balancing Cost and Long-Term Protection
While some critics have questioned the cost of the project and the limited level of navigation on the River Foss, council representatives maintain that the works are about more than boating use alone. The lock plays a critical role in managing water levels through this part of the city and forms part of the wider York Castle Gateway area, where long-term environmental management and regeneration are key considerations.
Officials argue that delaying replacement further would increase the risk of emergency failure, potentially resulting in higher costs and more severe disruption in the future. The forthcoming works are therefore considered being presented as a necessary investment in the resilience and safety of York’s historic waterways.
POCKLINGTON CANAL
Coates Lock Update: Progress, Setbacks and the Road Ahead
The Pocklington Canal Amenities Society (PCAS) long-term plan to extend navigation along the canal by reopening Coates Lock has seen both encouraging progress and unexpected challenges over the past two years.
Stage One: A Successful Start
The project was designed as a two-stage operation. Stage One focused on dredging the winding hole above Coates Lock, enabling boats to turn around safely. This work was carried out in November 2023 and proved to be a great success. The dredging was completed on schedule, with excellent work delivered by the contractors, and marked a significant milestone for the project.
Investigating the Lock
Stage Two aimed to identify why Coates Lock was unable to hold water particularly puzzling given that the gates themselves were relatively new. Working closely with the Canal & River Trust (CRT), temporary dams were installed to allow staff to work safely inside the lock chamber. Initial investigations went well and the sources of water loss were identified.
However, the following morning brought an unexpected setback. The offside upper wing wall collapsed overnight and the upper dam was breached. While the precise cause remains unclear, the result was a complete suspension of works from early March 2024, as CRT began their own investigations into the failure of the dam above the lock.
PCAS has since been invited to meet with CRT’s engineers to agree on a way forward. Our clear intention is to proceed with the full repair and restoration of the lock once it is safe and appropriate to do so.
Why Coates Lock Matters
Since 2017, PCAS has successfully restored Thornton Lock and Walbut Lock, and—working alongside CRT and supported by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant has overseen the dredging of the canal between Melbourne Arm and Bielby Arm. This has resulted in approximately 7½ miles of navigable canal.
Although the stretch between Bielby Arm and Coates Bridge was dredged at the same time, it could not be officially opened. The reason was simple: boats had nowhere to turn above or below Coates Lock.
Reviving the Historic Winding Hole
Reviving the winding hole just above the lock last used around a century ago. After consultation with CRT and Natural England, permission was granted to remove the reeds and silt that had accumulated over decades, improving water quality and extending navigation.
Extensive testing of the silt for contaminants showed no issues, and a nearby landowner kindly allowed the removed material around 250 cubic metres to be spread on adjacent land. Although a protected species was discovered close to the planned dredging area, expert advice enabled the work to proceed within a tight time window.
Coates Lock, The dredgings from the winding hole above the lock have been spread on the adjacent field and the bricks and other debris removed by hand.
Despite torrential rain, dredging began on 27 November 2023 and was completed successfully by the Thursday of that week—another major achievement for the project.
Looking Ahead
With the winding hole now restored, the final step toward reopening navigation to Coates Lock and beyond is to safely de-water the lock and address the remaining issues with the
lower gates. While recent events have caused delays, the project remains very much alive. The current situation is:-
1. The cause of the leakage at the lower gates of Coates Lock has been identified as an ill-fitting cill.
2. At a recent meeting with CRT, Canal Society members suggested that the method used for reinstating the collapsed wing wall should be to drive a line of sheet piles to just below water level in an arc to match the footprint of the wing wall, and to use this as the foundation from which to rebuild. This would be far cheaper than CRT's proposal, that would have been to install a new concrete foundation beneath canal bed level. The CRT engineer thought that this was an innovative idea and undertook to produce a revised design. Listed Building Consent would be required to adopt this solution, and the matter has yet to be discussed with the authorities
No 8 Swingbridge
Although No 8 Swingbridge was restored many years ago, and is in theory usable, it has no landing stages, and consequently difficult to operate. The Society is currently working with CRT on plans to install a floating pontoon at the downstream end of the swingbridge. A spare pontoon which CRT has, left over from another project, would be secured by tubular piles driven into the canal bed, and connected to the bank by a short bridge. The work would be undertaken by Society volunteers and could be completed this Spring. However, consent would be requited from CRT before work could begin, and this often takes a long time.
With continued cooperation between PCAS and the Canal & River Trust, we are hopeful that the challenges can be overcome—and that Coates Lock will once again play its part in extending this historic waterway.
York Rotary Dragon Boat Challenge Returns to the River Ouse – 12 July 2026
OneofYork’smostvibrantandeagerlyanticipated communityeventsissettomakeasplashagaininsummer 2026.The York Rotary Dragon Boat Challenge,taking placeon Sunday 12 July 2026,willbringcolour, competition,andcommunityspirittothe River Ouse,as 36 teams battleitoutinafulldayofracingand entertainment.
Eachdragonboatteamconsistsof 16 paddlers and a drummer allaged 16 or over workingtogetherwith precisionandpower.Theirgoal:topaddleinperfect synchronytothebeatofthedrum,propellingtheir40foot,ornatelydecorateddragonboattowardsthefinish line.Theteamwork,camaraderie,andspectaclemakethis oneofthemostengagingsportingeventsofthesummer.
The2026Challengewillfeatureanexcitingline-upof racesthroughouttheday,withteamscompetingfor severalprestigiousawards.Alongsidethecoveted Challenge Trophy,prizeswillbegivenforthe Fastest Charity Team, Fastest Commercial Team,andtheeverpopular Best Dressed Team award—whichneverfailsto bringoutcreativityandhumourinequalmeasure.
Beyond a Race: A Celebration of Tradition and Teamwork
We Must Be Mad… And We Wouldn’t Have It Any Other Way
“We must be mad!”
That was the general feeling as we set off to take part in the Fund Britain’s Waterways campaign – a flotilla journey designed to highlight the chronic lack of government funding for our precious canals, rivers and waterways.
Six narrowboats from Strawberry Island, plus Mick in his river cruiser, embarked on an epic voyage of protest and passion: 278 miles to London, ending at the Palace of Westminster, horns at the ready.
A Proper Send-Off
We couldn’t have asked for a better start. The Mayor of Doncaster came to see us off (chain-free and in jeans), alongside supporters and even the Regional Director from the Canal & River Trust.
Spirits were high as we rose at an unholy 5am for our lockout at Keadby.
The morning began cold and bright, then briefly foggy –just enough time to wonder what we’d let ourselves in for –before clearing again. Boats were locked out in groups, and we spent time chatting between craft, excitement building as the adventure truly began.
Horns, Cheers and TV Cameras
As the flotilla grew, so did the crowds. At West Stockwith, supporters lined the banks cheering and waving as we blasted our horns like carnival floats. By the time we reached Gainsborough, there were TV cameras waiting, crowds on the bridge and quay, and an almighty din echoing across the river.
Newark Castle was next, where we laid “siege” in true boating style – breasting up in the wind while trying to look calm and practised in front of cheering supporters. A reporter boarded Rum ‘A’ Gin, Hazel Owen (our very own Boudicca) gave the signal, and once again the horns roared in protest.
From City Centres to Quiet Reaches
Not every moment was noisy. There were delays at locks, unexpected waits, and plenty of problem-solving along the way – including chippy lunches when works held us up (every cloud…). Leicester city centre was oddly quiet as we passed through, our horns echoing off office windows while puzzled faces looked on.
We were soon moored at Rembrandt Gardens, Little Venice, London for the Cavalcade weekend, decorating our boat with bunting and lights. The Cavalcade itself was a joy: stunning boats, fascinated visitors, and plenty of photographs. Dressed as 1940s bargees and “Idle Women”, we found ourselves answering press questions about where we’d come from and why.
And we even won the boat handling competition, despite a last-minute obstruction by a floating party barge!
Taking the Protest to Parliament
The campaign reached its symbolic peak on the River Thames. Twenty-seven narrowboats gathered outside the Palace of Westminster, horns sounding in unison. We were later told the noise could be heard inside Parliament itself. A police escort accompanied us, and on the return trip we even spotted King Charles aboard an Uber Clipper – an unexpected royal audience!
Adventure, Kindness and a Bit of Madness
From hand-worked locks to grounding on sandbanks, from rescuing a woman and her dogs from an inquisitive herd of cows to beaching narrowboats on The Wash among seals and drones, this journey had everything.
There were early starts, long days, broken locks, emergency dashes before canal closures, and solo lock-working marathons. There was also laughter, teamwork, generosity, and that special camaraderie only boaters understand.
Home at Last
After 1,340 miles, 486 locks, 40 movable bridges, 106 days on the move and more aqueducts than we could count, we finally returned safely to our home mooring.
We’ve cruised through grand places like Windsor and Henley, quiet villages we’d never otherwise have seen, and waterways that urgently need care and funding to survive. It has been challenging, exhausting, noisy, joyful – and absolutely worth it.
Because Britain’s waterways matter. And if sounding a few horns helps remind people of that… well, we’ll happily be mad.
Just before going to press, I asked Hazel Owen for an update regarding the FBW cruise for 2026. I have copied below her response with the caveat that if you are thinking of joining the cruse keep a lookout for further updates on their website. The cruise details below will also be dependent on what the situation is regarding Keadby Lock at the time of intended departure.
Hi Brian
Best I can do at the moment
Doncaster Strawberry Island to Keadby River Trent Keadby to Cromwell – Nottingham, Trent Junction.
Trent & Mersey onto Staffs & Worcester
Trent & Mersey to Eturia end of May and also the Russell Newbury Rally
Make our way to the Bridgewater then Shropshire Union to Ellesmere Port.
We will be looking to call at AWCC Clubs enroute but as yet we don’t have any offers of hosting from our clubs.
We will be happy to include any boats that would like to join us for Any amount of time.
Happy for my phone number and this email to be added requesting that subject line should be headed up Campaign Cruise.
There are no dates at the moment as we are waiting to see what is happening with the Liverpool Link, which is possibly to be closed in May/June.
Look out for more information on the Fund Britain’s Waterways Facebook Page and in Towpath Talk
Hazel Owen Chair
Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs
Mobile No: 07929204811
Upcoming Events in our Region
The key date for your diary is that of our next IWA meeting for the North East and Yorkshire Region the details of which are as follows.
Date 5 May 2026, 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start.
Venue, the South Pennine Boat Club has kindly offered their club house as our next meeting venue. Their address is;
South Pennine Boat Club
Wood Lane
Mirfield
West Yorkshire
WF14 0ED
We look forward to seeing you there.
We have plans for latter in the year, possibly Autumn time for some guided walks around local canals in our region. Until then and with the agreement of CRT please find details below of up and coming events that they have organised in our region. They will be more than happy to welcome IWA members to these organised events.
Let's Walk! Leeds (River Aire & Leeds Dock)
Event
Starts: 21 March 2026
Ends: 21 March 2026
10:30am-12:30pm
David Oluwale Bridge, Sovereign St, Leeds,
Join us for a free guided 2.5 mile walk exploring Leeds Dock and the River Aire. Learn more about the heritage of the area, get some fresh air and meet new people.
• The walk will start just before the David Oluwale Bridge https://w3w.co/photos.survey.skirt
• The walk will end at the Royal Armouries Museum
• The walk will begin at 10:30am
• Please use public transport to arrive if you can
• Please wear clothing and footwear suitable for the weather
Signup link
Let's Walk! Huddersfield Broad Canal
Event
Starts: 27 March 2026
Ends: 27 March 2026
10:30am-12:30pm
Student Central - University of Huddersfield Queensgate Campus, Queensgate, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH
Join us for a 2.5 mile guided walk along the Huddersfield Broad Canal. Why not come along, get active and make new friends?
Why not come along, get active and make new friends on our guided walk. This walk is the a 2.5 mile walk along the Huddersfield Broad Canal.
• Meeting point https://w3w.co/lowest.zebra.tins
• Please use public transport to arrive
• Our walk will start at 10:30am
• Please wear clothing and footwear suitable for the weather
Let's Walk! Brighouse to Cromwell Bottom
Event Starts: 26 March 2026
Ends: 26 March 2026
10:30am-12:30pm
Calder Navigation Society - Brighouse Boat Trips, Brighouse, HD6 1PQ
Join us for a guided wellbeing walk along the canal towpath in Brighouse to Cromwell Bottom Nature reserve and back via the river.
About this Event
Why not come along, get active and make new friends on our guided walk. This walk is a
This is a 4 mile circular walk starting on the canal towpath behind Sainsburys in Brighouse. The walk will last 2-2.5 hours and there are a few steps. To find the starting point google maps 'Calder Navigation Society - Brighouse Boat Trips'
Join us for a relaxing stroll along the Sheffield & Tinsley Canal to boost your wellbeing well. Walks last approximately 2 hours. This walk is to Rotherham
Join us for a relaxing stroll along the Sheffield & Tinsley Canal to boost your wellbeing well. Walks last approximately 2 hours About this Event:
Why not come along and discover the canal towpaths in Sheffield on one of our walk leader led walks. The Wellness Walks are designed to be a relaxing step into nature, but will also provide an opportunity to meet others and make new friends. All you need to do is book in on this free walking session. This walk is to Rotheram
The Walk lasts approximately 2 hours. Please bring comfortable footwear and clothing to suit the weather conditions. It is also advised that you bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated on the walk.
The meeting point is Meadowhall South Tram Stop, and we will meet at 11am.
Work Parties
Two work parties have just been completed on the River Trent to remove overgrown vegetation that was restricting the sight lines of Navigation Transit poles at Trent Port on the 3 March and then again at Fledborough on the 10 March. The work was undertaken in partnership with The Boating Association and in addition to the clearing of the vegetation the transit poles themselves were also painted to make them more visible to waterway users.
Many thanks to all who came and gave a helping hand to these projects.
SUMMAT TO SAY
In this section of future newsletters, it is hoped that you will all take the opportunity to have your say.
With this being the first newsletter of the Region it has been very much a letter of what David and I have had to say.
We need your support and input for future Newsletters so please do help us out….If you have ‘Summat to Say’ then please email me at brian.sharples@waterways.org.uk
If you cannot write an article yourself for us to use but would like to see something included, then just send us details and we will see if we can turn it into an article for you. If we don’t know about something that is going on then we cannot report on it.
Please don’t leave the next newsletter with ‘Nowt to Say’
Your feedback on this our first attempt at a newsletter for the region would also be very much appreciated, be it good, bad or indifferent…….Too Long!!!
