The Towpath Talk

Jack Dalby: The Godfather of the Wilts & Berks Canal Restoration

Jack Dalby, widely considered the "Godfather" of the Wilts & Berks Canal restoration, was instrumental in reviving the abandoned waterway. After surveying the canal's remains in 1969, he authored a definitive historical book in 1971 that ignited interest in its preservation. His 1977 slide show sparked the creation of the Wilts & Berks Canal Amenity Group, where he served as its inaugural President. Known for his energetic personality, Dalby's legacy endures through a lock named in his honor and book royalties that continue to fund the Trust today. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Journals/ Magazines⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://view-awesome-table.com/-OoAnIzsqhstWYFnDTg0/view?filterB=2025]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Illustrated History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://images.wbct.org.uk/] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wilts & Berks Canal Trust⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://wbct.org.uk/]

Dragonfly Magazine 176 - Spring 2026

Laura and Matthew’s podcast covers the Spring 2026 Dragonfly, framing restoration as "two steps forward, one step back." They celebrate successes like the Top Lock Bridge and Swindon’s Badgers Bridge, contrasted with funding delays at Bottom Lock. The episode highlights rare wildlife sightings, such as the water shrew, and the strategic threat the White Horse Reservoir poses to the Thames connection. They also explore Melksham’s hidden history and new AI-powered archives, concluding with community news and a call for volunteer mechanics at Pewsham. ⁠⁠⁠Journals/ Magazines⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://view-awesome-table.com/-OoAnIzsqhstWYFnDTg0/view?filterB=2025]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Illustrated History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://images.wbct.org.uk/] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wilts & Berks Canal Trust⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://wbct.org.uk/]

Dragonfly Magazine 175 - Winter 2025

This podcast highlights the Trust's 2025 "momentum," celebrating over 40,000 volunteer hours worth more than £1 million. Key milestones include the first complete clearing of Uffington Gorse in a century and new water-filled sections in Swindon. The hosts also address the SESRO reservoir threat, which risks £25 million in annual benefits, while championing the 70-mile "Blue-Green Corridor". ⁠⁠Journals/ Magazines⁠⁠⁠ [https://view-awesome-table.com/-OoAnIzsqhstWYFnDTg0/view?filterB=2025]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Illustrated History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://images.wbct.org.uk/] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wilts & Berks Canal Trust⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://wbct.org.uk/]

The “Last Canal Manager” Interview

In this captivating re-enacted interview, William Ainsworth recounts his transition from a 15-year-old grocer's apprentice in 1870 to his challenging tenure as the Manager of the Wilts & Berks Canal starting in 1891. Ainsworth provides a firsthand account of his "spirited attempt" to resuscitate the decaying 68-mile waterway, detailing his efforts to combat mud, weeds, and vandalism while facing insurmountable competition from the Great Western Railway. Beyond the canal's eventual abandonment and his 1906 testimony to the Royal Commission, he discusses his diverse later career as an auctioneer, his service during World War I, and his eventual return to Bath. It is a poignant look at a life defined by professional resilience, religious faith, and a tireless commitment to public service. ⁠Journals/ Magazines⁠⁠ [https://view-awesome-table.com/-OoAnIzsqhstWYFnDTg0/view?filterB=2025]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Illustrated History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://images.wbct.org.uk] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wilts & Berks Canal Trust⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://wbct.org.uk/]

The "Last Canal Manager" hosted by Laura & Matthew

In this episode, your hosts Laura & Matthew explore the life of William J. Ainsworth, described as “The Last Canal Manager,” tracing his journey from a determined boy walking six miles to school, through his apprenticeship and rise into canal management, to the demanding role of overseeing the Wilts and Berks Canal during its long decline. Using archival details, this episode paints a vivid portrait of a man whose work blended physical stamina, practical management, legal disputes, and civic responsibility, while also revealing his wider life as a family man, entrepreneur, preacher, political activist, and volunteer. It’s a thoughtful and engaging look at endurance, change, and the human story behind the end of Britain’s canal age.  Journals/ Magazines⁠ [https://view-awesome-table.com/-OoAnIzsqhstWYFnDTg0/view?filterB=2025]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Illustrated History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://images.wbct.org.uk] | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wilts & Berks Canal Trust⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://wbct.org.uk/]