August 20th 2024.
Stephen Cuddy, a 59-year-old man, had a unique idea to create a canal in his own backyard. He had purchased a 35ft long vintage barge from eBay for £5,000 and wanted to find a way to store it on his property. Being a self-taught architect, Stephen took on the challenge of constructing an accurate reproduction of a Victorian canal lock to house his barge.
He started by digging out a significant amount of soil, approximately 30-40 tonnes, on a small plot of land in the grounds of his hotel in Coleshill, Warwickshire. Over the course of six months, he spent an additional £25,000 to build a fully-functioning canal lock, complete with a lock gate and a water pumping system to fill and empty it. He also added a charming redbrick lockkeeper's cottage, an outdoor patio in a decorative tunnel alcove, and even installed a 29ft long swimming pool inside the barge.
Stephen's creation is nothing short of remarkable, and it recently caught the attention of Channel 4's 'George Clarke's Amazing Spaces.' The host, George Clarke, was in awe of Stephen's project, describing it as both "awe-inspiring" and "off the scale brilliant." It's no wonder, with its unique design and attention to detail.
When asked about his inspiration for this project, Stephen explained that it all started when he mentioned to his ex-partner, who he also co-owns a business with, that he was thinking of purchasing a narrowboat. However, he quickly realized that he needed a place to store it, and he knew she wouldn't be too thrilled about it showing up on their property. So, he came up with the idea to create a whole canal lock to disguise it.
Stephen admits that this was a bit of a "ridiculous project," but he was determined to see it through. He used 7,500 bricks and railway sleepers to construct the canal lock system. And the irony of filling a five-tonne boat entirely with water is not lost on him, being the wacky entrepreneur that he is.
The barge can travel a mere 24 inches, making it the world's shortest canal. Stephen explains that he didn't want people showing up at his hotel and finding a canal stuck in the garden, so he wanted to keep it as inconspicuous as possible. He also mentions that the boat cost him £5,000 as an empty shell, and he had the idea to turn it into a swimming pool. He jokes that the last thing you need in a boat is water, so filling it with water would make it constantly sink.
The pool, which is 4ft deep, 6ft wide, and 29ft long, is a great size for swimming, according to Stephen. He proudly shares that he has swum in it and it's beautiful, despite people's initial doubts about its safety. He also mentions that it was not as expensive as one might think, costing only £1,500 for the lining and other necessary materials.
Stephen has received countless compliments from guests and visitors for his extraordinary creation. He shares that his objective was to make it beautiful, as canals can often be intimidating places. He says that the compliments from people have been endless, and all the doubt and worry he had about the project have now disappeared. He is very proud of his work and mentions that he did all the work himself, and the lock works perfectly, lifting the boat mechanically. He proudly declares that his lock is the world's shortest, and he believes it qualifies for the title.
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