The Stover Canal Society was formed in 1999 and is dedicated to the preservation and
restoration of the Stover Canal in South Devon, England. Built in the 18th Century, the canal
was used to transport clay and other minerals from the Bovey Basin and granite from quarries
on Dartmoor to the docks at Teignmouth for nearly 150 years.
The canal was built by James Templer of Stover House between 1790 and 1792 to serve the
ball clay industry in the area. It runs for nearly 2 miles from Ventiford Basin near Teigngrace to
Jetty Marsh on the outskirts of Newton Abbot. From there, barges would follow the tidal
Whitelake Channel, then the River Teign to Teignmouth docks, a further 5 miles, where the
cargo was transhipped to seagoing coasters.
Around 1820 James Templer's son, George, built the unique Haytor Granite Tramway which
carried granite mined on Dartmoor down to the canal basin at Ventiford, on carts running on
granite rails mined from the same source. Haytor granite was most notably used in the
construction of London Bridge, the British Museum and the National Gallery. The granite trade
was short lived, lasting less than 40 years but the canal continued to serve the ball clay
industry until 1937. With no other traffic using the canal abandonment followed, the decline of
the canal being hastened by a breach in 1951. Having been allowed to fall derelict, the canal
is now in the process of being restored.
The society is working with the Stover Canal Trust, local councils and other interested parties
to preserve the line of the canal and to restore it as an amenity for the local community. Parts
of the canal towpath form part of the Templer Way, a historical trail which links the canal, the
tramway and other legacies of the Templer family.
restoration of the Stover Canal in South Devon, England. Built in the 18th Century, the canal
was used to transport clay and other minerals from the Bovey Basin and granite from quarries
on Dartmoor to the docks at Teignmouth for nearly 150 years.
The canal was built by James Templer of Stover House between 1790 and 1792 to serve the
ball clay industry in the area. It runs for nearly 2 miles from Ventiford Basin near Teigngrace to
Jetty Marsh on the outskirts of Newton Abbot. From there, barges would follow the tidal
Whitelake Channel, then the River Teign to Teignmouth docks, a further 5 miles, where the
cargo was transhipped to seagoing coasters.
Around 1820 James Templer's son, George, built the unique Haytor Granite Tramway which
carried granite mined on Dartmoor down to the canal basin at Ventiford, on carts running on
granite rails mined from the same source. Haytor granite was most notably used in the
construction of London Bridge, the British Museum and the National Gallery. The granite trade
was short lived, lasting less than 40 years but the canal continued to serve the ball clay
industry until 1937. With no other traffic using the canal abandonment followed, the decline of
the canal being hastened by a breach in 1951. Having been allowed to fall derelict, the canal
is now in the process of being restored.
The society is working with the Stover Canal Trust, local councils and other interested parties
to preserve the line of the canal and to restore it as an amenity for the local community. Parts
of the canal towpath form part of the Templer Way, a historical trail which links the canal, the
tramway and other legacies of the Templer family.
