Chichester Canal seeks memories of 200 years of community history
THE Chichester Canal has been an important part of Chichester’s community landscape and the social and cultural scene for almost 200 years, having marked its first formal opening on April 9, 1822.
And now the Chichester Ship Canal Trust, the volunteer-led charity behind the canal, is planning a season of anniversary events to help people discover more about the unique heritage and different ways to explore the canal.
The project team are looking for all manner of memories to illustrate what the canal has meant to people during the last 200 years.
Catherine Cannon, trustee, said: “The community has been a rich source of stories, often passed from generation to generation, recorded or captured orally or in photographic form.
“We’d love to capture and share these memories as part of our 200th celebrations.”
Memories may be from very recent years, as you may have discovered the canal during lockdown – what did it mean to your mental health? It may have been on one of the seasonal boat trips – does that bring back happy memories for you and your family? It may be that you’re a recreational paddler on the water – how important is the wildlife and the open space to you?
The stories may be from generations further back – can you recall events that have taken place at the canal? Do you have stories about the initial restoration? Or can you remember the canal before it was restored?
Maybe you have family history to share, about relatives involved in the canal, about childhoods growing up by the canal, about businesses located by the canal, or special occasions that took place.
Mollie Close, one of the 200th project team volunteers, said: “The responses will be displayed as part of our anniversary celebrations, where they will be on view for the community to enjoy.”