Chichester canal celebrates 200th anniversary
The Chichester Ship Canal is 200 years old in 2022! The formal opening of the canal was held on 9th April 1822, and happily, 9th April 2022 falls on a Saturday, the first weekend of the school Easter Holidays. The perfect date for a celebration. Or in this case, not just one celebration, but an entire season of celebratory events. The Chichester Ship Canal Trust, the volunteer led, self-funded, 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.
Events will run through the spring and summer and will feature a historical talk by local author and historian Alan Green at the West Sussex County Record Office, a year-long curated exhibition at The Novium, hosted boat trips along the canal, a photography competition, a pub quiz, the installation of a new sign to mark the location of the famous view painted by JMW Turner, family-friendly activities through the school holidays, a guided walk with the Friends of the Old Ford to Hunston Canal, and an art partnership with a contemporary art group ARTEL.
Catherine Cannon, Trustee, said, ‘Recognising the canal’s position at the heart of the cultural, leisure and heritage sector in Chichester City, the Trust is really pleased to be a host venue for Chichester District Council’s ‘Culture Spark’ opening Event, and a partner host for Chichester University and the Fringe performers through the summer’.
The Trust will further mark 20 years of formation in September 2022, which coincides with Heritage Open Days.
One date not to be missed is the flagship ‘200th Anniversary Celebration Event’ on Saturday 9th April 2022. Alison Golt, 200th Project Team, said, ‘We’re inviting the community to the Basin, where the event will begin at 11am with short speeches including by the High Sheriff of West Sussex, followed by a gunfire salute from the Fort Cumberland Guard. The Trust is hosting a day of live music, stalls, food, entertainment, children’s activities, water-based displays including the 1950’s vintage tugs, canoe club and model boats, and land-based exhibitions which will feature knitted bunting, volunteer stories and our heritage centre display. The day will culminate in a flotilla along the canal arriving at the basin at 3pm, to be welcomed by the Mayor and Mayoress of Chichester’.
