Heavy rain, thunder and lightning. There have been regions around the world where flooding has caused awful problems and loss of life. Britain has had its fair share of storms where rainwater surged down roads not constructed for such downpours. And rivers flooded.
Doubtless, there will be droughts next summer which is, to say the least ironic. Dams need to be ‘serviced’ regularly. The Elan Valley in Wales is a good example of providing not only protection but also fresh ‘soft’ water to the Midlands and other areas.
Witnessing clear rainwater hurtling down roads to be wasted is appalling. Ultimately it runs into rivers that in some cases burst their banks creating further turmoil.
During England’s Victorian era, there may have been problems caused by heavy rain and consequent flooding, but during their era, they built a water ‘infrastructure’ which is working to this day. This includes dams, railway bridges, canals, and viaducts which served communities in a practical way. The Victorians built structures to last including hospitals, schools, production facilities, and more which still stand proudly today.
In contrast, structures built from the 1960s to the late 1970s, were in some cases designed to last only 30 years, in contrast, Victorian buildings were built to last and are over 100 years old. A classic example is public buildings including schools. In the seventies and early eighties, when flat roofs were considered ideal (short term and cheaper) and porous concrete used had in many cases been knocked down to be replaced.
A classic example is the Birmingham Reference Library. A most beautiful Victorian building, with delightful deep red bricks. The library was a true classic Victorian building. On entering this icon you were greeted by a grand staircase and a most beautiful stained glass window, the staircases wound left and right to the library itself. The actual library with thousands of books was awesome. Tall bookshelves were reached with a step ladder and a platform at the top. Memorable were the tables for studying.
During the 1970s the City Council decided to demolish the Birmingham Reference Library and in its place built a most awful building with no observable windows. Ugly is putting it mildly. Also, the roof leaked. Prince Charles (as he was then) described the library as more suitable for incinerating books rather than reading them. A number of years later, the City Council demolished this gross, badly-designed structure and built yet another library, city’s residents having to foot the bill. No comment regarding the architects.
A much larger version of Winchester Cathedral’s Morley Library in the Kings and Scribes Exhibition dates back to the sixteen-hundreds when tables and chairs provided seating for the monks to study.
Navigation Canals
The Victorians built canals for barges and narrow boats to transport cargo around the region and beyond. The interconnecting canal networks covered vast areas around England and were a crucial part of Birmingham’s manufacturing and other cargoes. Towpaths were created for horses to tow the barges.
Birmingham has more canals the Venice!
Bridges that were built over canals, and long tunnels are still in use to this day, but mostly for leisure. Beautiful countryside and greenery can be seen around the lock gates which enabled narrow boats to descend up or down areas of varying levels. Once again, Victorian creativity.
Canals running through towns and cities often have cafes and restaurants beside the canals. The bridges and tunnels are still in use today. Winchester has a number of such bridges, typically a hundred years old for vehicles to drive over.
The Itchen Navigation runs through the city and Water Meadows and can be seen from The Handlebar Cafe’s terrace, which is also atop a railway bridge.
Where many old railways and stations spanning the length and breast of the land were destroyed by a narrow-minded politician in the early sixties, the canals remain intact. The canal water is ‘siphoned’ from rivers. In the case of Winchester, The River Itchen.
Hence The Itchen Navigation Canal.
And so ends the journey around England’s waterways.
Featured Image/Itchen Navigation courtesy of Wikipedia
