The silent film provides some superb views of Taunton and the canal as it passes by, but we are at a loss as to what the occasion might be. It seems to be related to the reorganisation of the livestock market, as indicated by the opening shots where we see the great and the good pouring over a plan of some description. But why they should then board a rather unusual craft powered by paddles, which then takes them for a ride along the cut is a mystery.  | | Do you recognise any of these faces? |
If you know what was happening, what the occasion might have been, who some of the dignitaries might be, and what kind of craft was being used, let us know using the form below. Either way, the Points West film offers a fascinating glimpse of the canal at Taunton and records how much the landscape has changed since 1965. Bridgwater and Taunton Canal - The original route ran from the River Tone at Taunton to join the River Parrett at Huntworth, and carried coal and iron from South Wales and other produce from further afield to many of the towns and villages in the county.
- It was part of an ambitious scheme to create a waterway route across the SW peninsula, between Exeter and Bristol, to eliminate the need for craft to pass round the hazardous waters of Land's End.
- The civil engineer responsible for the canal was James Hollinsworth.
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More films from BBC Points West - Use the links on the right to other local Where I Live sites to see more archive film from Points West.
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