Titford Canal

Titford Pools is a wide expanse of water underneath the roar of the M5 elevated motorway, a quirky surprise in the middle of an urban landscape.

This little-known waterway is a dead end, rarely used since the end of commercial traffic. However, it is still a favourite with waterways enthusiasts, seeking out an unusual destination.

The history of the Titford Canal

The canal's Tat Bank Branch was built as a water supply feeder which was also available for commercial boating traffic. It's no longer navigable beyond the first bridge, but retains its original purpose.

Titford Pools, the reservoirs at the canal's present-day terminus, were the venue for two National Waterways Festivals in the early 1980s.

Titford Pool regeneration

Starting in the winter 2019, the two year project will involve dredging the pools to remove the build-up of silt and a redesign of the drainage channels from the M5 motorway. Work will also include cutting back the trees, bushes and shrubs to open up the pools to encourage more plants and wildlife to the area as well as clearing pathways and updating the visitor signs.