Legging (canals)

Legging is a method of moving a boat through a canal tunnel.

Early canal tunnels were built without a towpath as this would require a much larger bore and hence cost more to build. Prior to the introduction of motorised boats, legging was one of the few options for getting a boat through such a tunnel.

Two persons were required. They would lie on a plank across the bows of the boat, and holding the plank with their hands, would propel the boat with their feet against the tunnel wall. This was quite a dangerous activity and resulted in many deaths. [Rolt, L.T.C.: "Navigable Waterways", Arrow Books, 1969,1973 ISBN 0-09-907800-7 ] In later years 'wing' boards were hooked on to the boat to make the operation safer. At Crimson Hill tunnel, alternate stones in the walls were recessed to provide better tread for the leggers. [Gladwin & White: "English Canals Part II", Oakwood Press] While the boat was being legged through the tunnel, the horse would be led over the hill.

On short tunnels the legging was done by the boat owner and crew. At long tunnels, professional leggers were available, such as at Blisworth Tunnel and Dudley Tunnel. At Blisworth the boatmen were often terrorised into employing leggers, so in 1827 the leggers were registered and issued with brass armlets for identification. [Faulkner, Alan (1972). "The Grand Junction Canal", Newton Abbot: David & Charles, ISBN 0-7153-5750-6]

At Standedge Tunnel, the use of official leggers eventually became a requirement for passage.

At Morwellham, boatmen were said to have pushed against the tunnel roof. This tunnel has a considerable flow of water through it and progress was very slow in one direction. [Hedges, Carolyn. "The Tavistock Canal", Dartington Amenity Research Trust, 1975] .

Berwick Tunnel on the Shrewsbury Canal, opened in 1797 was the first tunnel to be built with a towpath, negating the need for legging.

Canal Tunnels known to use leggers

* Blisworth Tunnel
* Dudley Tunnel
* Harecastle Tunnels, Note: only the old James Brindley tunnel
* Islington Tunnel
* Lapal Tunnel
* Standedge Tunnel
* Worsley Navigable Levels

References

External links

* [http://www.towpath.org.uk/tunnel.htm "Towpaths in Tunnels"] List of canal tunnels, lengths and towpath status. Accessed September 17, 2007.