Housebuilders help local Canal Society restore Tack Lee bridge in Yapton

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Ford to Hunston Canal Society has received a £1,000 donation from Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes to support the preservation of the 10 mile Ford to Hunston route of the Portsmouth to Arundel Canal.

The Ford to Hunston route of the canal is located behind Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes’ Ryebank Gate development on Drove Lane in Yapton, West Sussex. The donation from the housebuilders will help to fund essential repair work of the Tack Lee bridge, including sourcing appropriate lime and mortar cement and old bricks to closely match the 19th century materials originally used.

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The society will also be producing brochures and installing information boards along the canal to share more about the history of the route.

Initially founded in 2018 as Friends of the Ford to Hunston Canal, the Ford to Hunston Society was registered as a charity in 2021 and aims to protect the canal and ensures the maintenance of artefacts, including swing bridges and drains, which date back to 1820.

Ford to Hunston Canal SocietyFord to Hunston Canal Society
Ford to Hunston Canal Society

Elaine Cordingley, Chair of Ford to Hunston Canal Society, commented: “As an over 200 years old landmark, we are passionate about the upkeep and preservation of the Ford to Hunston route of the canal. We currently offer seven information boards at certain points along the route, which detail the history of the artefacts. With the donation from Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, we can add four more. We will also be continuing work on the Tack Lee and other bridges, to carry out necessary and sensitive repair work.”

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Alex Dowling, Sales and Marketing Director at Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties, adds: “We are passionate about working with the local community, and playing our part in preserving the rich history that surrounds so many of our developments. The Ford to Hunston Canal Society is a great example of local residents working together to keep history and its artefacts alive, and we hope the donation supports the upkeep of these beloved features.”.

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