Selby Canal History - Selby, UK - Silhouette Public Art Sculptures on Waymarking.com

"At the top are the three swans of Selby (part of the town's coat of arms), beneath which are two of today’s leisure activities linked to the canal. Firstly, fishing. There are many platforms provided along the length of the canal and fishing matches are often held, although no fishing is allowed in Selby Lock Basin. Secondly, it is possible to cycle along the well-surfaced tow path between Selby Lock and Brayton Bridge.

The next panel illustrates the kind of vessels that used to carry the canal’s goods along the Ouse, namely a keel boat, a paddle steamer and a sloop

The third panel showcases the barges that used to bring grain and seed along the Ouse to Selby from Hull. The towers are evocative of the loading and unloading hoists used at the BOCM plant on the Ouse in Barlby and of coal hoists for unloading "Tom Pudding" - type dumb barges at power stations and docks such as Goole.

The fourth panel has a sheaf of corn illustrating the agricultural landscape that the canal traverses, the lock gates at the southern end of the canal at Chapel Haddlesey, and, on the left the cooling towers of the power stations that used to be supplied with coal carried along the Selby canal’s great rival, the Aire and Calder.

Along the bottom line 1778 represents the year that the canal was complete, and contemporary reports state that cannon were fired and the Abbey’s bells rang out in celebration as the canal hugely improved Selby’s trading position. The central map shows how the canal linked the rivers Aire and Ouse."

Title of Piece: Unknown Artist: David Mayne Material/Media: Metal Location (specific park, transit center, library, etc.): Canal Towpath next to Selby Canal Web link(s) for additional information: [Web Link]

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