The Grand Western Canal ran between Taunton in Somerset and Tiverton in Devon in the United Kingdom. The canal had its origins in various plans, going back to 1796, to link the Bristol Channel and the English Channel by a canal, bypassing Lands End. An additional purpose of the canal was the supply of limestone and coal to lime kilns along with the removal of the resulting quicklime, which was used as a fertiliser and for building houses. This intended canal-link was never completed as planned, as the coming of the railways removed the need for its existence.
The current end of navigation on the Grand Western Canal at Lowdwells Lock
Grand Western Canal at Halberton, Seen from Manley Bridge, looking towards Tiverton.
The canal at Sampford Peverell where it cuts right through the village. The house in front of the church is the old vicarage which the company had to replace
A bank of limekilns at Waytown, Holcombe Rogus.
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. It is a market town and has a minster church. Its population in 2011 was 64,621. Its thousand-year history includes a 10th-century monastic foundation, Taunton Castle, which later became a priory. The Normans built a castle owned by the Bishops of Winchester. Parts of the inner ward house were turned into the Museum of Somerset and Somerset Military Museum. For the Second Cornish uprising of 1497, Perkin Warbeck brought an army of 6,000; most surrendered to Henry VII on 4 October 1497. On 20 June 1685 in Taunton the Duke of Monmouth crowned himself King of England in a rebellion, defeated at the Battle of Sedgemoor. Judge Jeffreys led the Bloody Assizes in the Castle's Great Hall.
Image: St. Mary's, Taunton geograph.org.uk 1217534
Image: The Old Grammar School, Corporation Street, Taunton geograph.org.uk 1235403
Image: Taunton, The Crescent geograph.org.uk 181181
Image: Vivary fountain 3 2793