The oldest canal with pound locks
Exeter canal
The Exeter canal dates back over 500 years. It was the first canal in this country to have locks with gates.
The canal has a long history and has been deepened, widened and extended over the years.
The canal was needed to by-pass the weirs on the river Exe which prevented boats getting to Exeter.
The canal was widened and deepened in the eighteenth century so that ocean-going sailing ships could reach the centre of Exeter. As a result the canal became very successful with hundreds of ships regularly docking in Exeter, from all overEurope. The canal was always the main route for important exports which included coal, slate, timber, groceries as well as woollens and cider.
Submitted by: Andrew Hunt, 05 November 2003
