Local History
when the dark tunnels are lit up with magnesium wire make the high-vaulted roofs look like grand cathedrals. One often, however, goes into raptures over experiences obtained across-channel, whereas much that is beautiful and romantic near at hand is neglected. In other words ‘familiarity breeds contempt’.
The tunnel looks very forbidding from the outside, and to some would present many terrors (for, of course, but for torches and lanterns total darkness
“
..many terrors of course...”
reigns supreme for about forty five minutes). But, reaching sunlight again, what a picture presents itself to the voyagers - Morwellham, nestling in the sunlit valley, with the lazy Tamar rolling slowly towards the sea.
At the canal terminus we ask questions of Mr. Simmons who has lived at the Locks Cottage for many a year, and get the details of the way the merchandise was hauled up from the level of the river to the canal, placed in barges and pushed through the canal tunnel by men with poles, and by ropes and chains fastened to the rocky walls. The upper part of the
Tavistock Canal near the town might be widened into a miniature lake like they have at Ryde I.O.W. where young and old can boat safely, and where swans could gracefully disport themselves and model yachting be introduced, to say nothing of a bandstand on the island! The waters could again be narrowed and
pass through the Fitzford Bridge. We are told that the Marquis of Tavistock comes of age this present year. Would it not be a good thing for the town to move on this idea now if it is thought to be a sound improvement to the place?
The identity of the writer of this flowery article is not disclosed in the newspaper but two of the postcards appear with the article. It seems likely that the mysterious ‘JHH’ who sent the postcards was the well-dressed single
“
..suggestion to build
boating lake in Meadows”
canoeist. From the chatty and casual wording on the postcards I believe ‘JHH’ was a good friend of Norman Quick and that they shared sporting interests. My own researches indicate ‘JHH’ may have been John Henry Harris, draper and outfitter, who lived at 4 Endsleigh Terrace, Tavistock. Who else but an outfitter would dress up in a smart suit for a canoe photo-shoot?
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The suggestion to build a boating lake in the Meadows and to form a boating club received a measure of support prior to WW1 but there was little interest afterwards. The narrowness, shallow depth of water, and strong downstream current are all restrictive factors to boating activities on the
canal. I recall twenty years ago hiring canoes at the Wharf one Sunday afternoon for my oldest son and myself, and setting off down the canal. We drifted easily with the current down to Crowndale Farm, but coming back, paddling against the current, proved extremely hard work.
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