History Lesson

The Knottingley to Goole Canal, the docks and embryonic town of Goole was opened for business in grand style on 20 July 1826. The owners, Aire and Calder Navigation Company, wanted to ensure that their investment was recognised, both locally and nationally, as a major step forward which would have major benefits for industry and commerce in Yorkshire.

Newspaper reports from that time describe a flotilla of 50 vessels making their way down the new canal from Ferrybridge. They were accompanied by “bands of music”, and flew flags of all nations. They were met at Goole that afternoon by throngs of cheering spectators despite the rainy weather that day.

200 Years Later

To celebrate Goole’s 200th birthday YWHS wanted to emulate what happened two hundred years earlier by running a flotilla of vessels from the canal into and around Goole Docks. Tide times dictated that the flotilla could be safely run on the afternoon of Saturday 18 July 2026. After over two years of planning, twenty five vessels of varying shapes and sizes assembled into a convoy in the part of the canal known as the Dog and Duck. Accompanied by music, with horns sounding and flags flying, they set off into Goole Docks, watched by up to 1,000 spectators viewing proceedings from public locations around the docks. History was being made!

The photographs in these galleries were taken on the 17 and 18 July and will serve as a permanent record of what was by everyone’s agreement, a great success.