David Ramshaw - Carlisle Canal

Today  26th February,  David Ramshaw, writer, publisher and local historian joined us at Prism Arts, Carlisle where we met up again with participants from the Creative Conversations group.

David told us about transport in the early part of the 19th Century as part of our research in uncovering the history of Carlisle's Textile Industry.

We learned that factories in Carlisle were powered by water initially - there was a large furnace
for example under Dixon's Chimney turning water into steam and energy to power the factory.  This  was the biggest in Europe at the time.  Although as we know from our research into Whitehaven and the Lowther family there was plenty coal in West Cumbria, there was no way then of bringing this to Carlisle's factories - roads were poor and pack horses were used to carry goods relevant to local trade.

This problem had been resolved in other parts of Britain by the use of canals.  A plan in 1795 looked at building a canal from County Durham but this was not possible as it was too hilly.

There was a small port at Sandsfield on the Solway Coast which only small ships could use and ships often got stranded.  So in 1817 it was agreed a canal would be built from Kirkland (changed to Port Carlisle).  This was a ship canal, not a narrowboat canal.  It was ten feet deep and 18' 4" wide.  It was completed 1823 and shares were sold to raise the construction cost.

As the land raises towards Carlisle from the Solway, eight locks were built and a large canal basin was built behind what is now the Cumberland Infirmary.

Ships were also built in the Canal Basin, the first being 'The City' in 1825. 6 were built there in total.

The Canal had a very short life compared to other canals - many in other towns and cities being still in use today and it was closed in 1853 and filled in.  It is amazing that seagoing ships sailed into Carlisle and sadly little evidence remains of this - other than a few names hinting at the past - Port Road, Canal Road, Jovial Sailor.

Little remains at Port Carlisle also to remind us of this lost industrial heritage - the lock to the entrance of the holding basin can be seen - where ships would wait for the tide to change.  A small area of the dock still remains however a plaque has now been installed opposite recently explaining the area's connection to the industrial heritage of Carlisle.

Remnants of Dock off Port Carlisle

David will be telling us in a few weeks about how railways met Carlisle's transport needs after the Canal closed.

After the talk we all took part in an activity looking back over the project to date.  It was great to work together and remember what we had learned during our visits.