The Terrifying Lift of the Somerset Coal Canal - 2

I head to the tiny but beautiful village of Combe Hay in B&NES (Bath & North East Somerset) to look at relics of the Somerset Coal Canal, and uncover some of its suprising, and terrifying history.

#canal #somerset

[faithg]

I think terrifying is a fair description of the caisson. What a fascinating look into the history & workings of the canal.

[Peter-MH]

Fascinating stuff! I've heard of the caisson lock there before, but I've never heard it discussed in such detail! Excellent episode! 👍

[ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Paul, brilliant as always, you wouldn't have got me in that lift for love or money, don't know about you. Learned a lot as always. Ron

[cathydyer]

Thanks Paul. That was far too risky....with people in a box submarine. 🧐

[michaelmiller]

Wonderful video Paul, well crafted, showing how nature has taken over the lost locks and misterious caisson and lost railways!

[davidberlanny]

Hi Paul, What an interesting place that is. You explained all three methods of getting the boats up or down very well and the caisson is a difficult one to explain. Very enjoyable to see where it all happened and listen to the story behind it. Well done!!

Of course the caisson system was far ahead of the technology of the day, it's amazing that it worked at all and no surprise that it was unreliable. These days submarines have many levels of redundancy to make sure they can submerge and surface safely. The first diagram that you showed made me think that it was similar to a torpedo tube, some navies use these to provide an exit path for divers. Imagine being the first to try the caisson system out - not me!!

Look forward to seeing more on this canal in the future.

All the best!!

[michaelpilling]

Hello Paul - greetings from Poland.
In my opinion, the best canal video you've ever made. Absolutley fascinating history. Three different ways over overcoming a hill. I wish my history lessons at school were as interesting as yours. The amount of research you had to do to make this video must be applauded.

[chrisdavis]

Hi - good video. If you'd of gone into the first culvert you described, you would have found stone replacing brick in the middle, as this was originally the SCC aqueduct, adapted by the railway. Also at Combe Hay is the 'tunnel', originally built for the canal, and adapted for railway use

[trevorlewis]

Should have added that Anderton and Falkirk use open troughs - simpler concept, I think.

[MartinPopeFilmmaker]

Fascinating documentary Paul. Lots of info given about the coal canal. I have watched a few other videos in the past of this walk but still haven't managed to get there myself yet even though its only a short drive from me. 😊😊

[trevorlewis]

And, of course, a caisson system is not the same as a lift!

[stephen_pfrimmer]

Thank you Paul. Another beautiful and informative video.

[thomasfilion]

Caison is the first submarine essentially. Exactly principal.

[eldred]

Very interesting watch Paul, well-researched and explained. I live about 10 miles away and didn't know any of this existed, even though my father's family are from the area. I look forward to Part 3. Bev.

[malcolmrichardson]

Fascinating and well-researched video on an important piece of canal archaeology, which nicely conveys the challenges facing the canal engineers and the various methods which they tried to meet them. I suppose the caisson idea might be seen as the precursor of the Anderton Boat Lift. What a pity that nothing seems to have survived, though as you suggest, future excavations may reveal more hidden remains. Thank you for a very enjoyable video.

[emaartamor]

Great video. Thank you. I visited Caisson House/ Garden's yesterday for one of their Open Gardens day. A wonderful place. Even one of the locks is now a pond. They are removing weeds etc from some of the other locks to reveal them.

[trevorlewis]

Other balanced-tank UK examples - the Anderton Lift (vertical, as on the SCC) and the recent Falkirk Wheel (rotary ). Also, I think it's pronounced 'Kay - Son'.

[dianarolph]

That proved to be a real eye opener for me! I had never heard of a caisson lock before & the fact that they were prepared to invest money into the scheme was alarming. Thank goodness the venture didn’t get going. But the alternative of 22 locks in a such a short space must have been daunting too. It must have proved worth it to transport large amounts of coal & make a profit!