Inaugural meeting
Following a meeting in the Zetland Inn, Huddersfield on the 19th April 1974 the Society, now a registered charity, was formed. A committee was established and subscription rates agreed - adults £1.00, husband and wife £1.50. Originally, membership numbers were allocated in alphabetical order hence No.1 is Raymond Austwick and John Maynard, the first chairman No.15 (both we are happy to report are still members).
Aims
The Society continued to actively pursue its established aim - to promote restoration of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal to through navigation and public use, thereby significantly improving the navigable links between the waterways of Yorkshire and those of Lancashire and Cheshire, utilising any support and assistance from whatever quarter. H.C.S. formally became a registered company on the 28th May 1980 and has not looked back since.
Early Restoration
In 1981 Society volunteers completed restoration of a half-mile section of derelict canal, including two lock chambers, between Uppermill and Dobcross in Saddleworth. Following this initial success and a £1.2m abolition grant from Greater Manchester Metropolitan Council, added impetus was given to the project which led to the formation of a steering committee comprising of representatives from Kirklees, Oldham and Tameside Councils, British Waterways and the Society. This special partnership evolved to become the Huddersfield Canal Company - established to engineer and manage the final multi-million pound restoration phase completed by April 2001.
Establishment
The Society is managed by a volunteer Board of Trustees (H.C.S. Council) and in 1985. Uniquely in the canal world, the Society created its own full time restoration work force. Two subsidiary companies were formed, Tameside Canals Ltd., later renamed H.C.S. (Restoration) Ltd., and H.C.S. Training Ltd. For over a decade the Society via its subsidiary companies, utilised various government schemes for the unemployed to augment its staff and resources - speeding up the pace of restoration and at the same time, via training initiatives, assisted hundreds of the scheme participants in gaining full time employment. The Society's third subsidiary, Loxvend Limited (the trading arm), looked after general sales and our trip boat operation.
Our Employees
In 1988, via a government special project grant, the Society was able to employ its first full time officer, Frank Smith, and a part time consultant, Mike Thompson. Once H.C.S. had established a full time office in Ashton-under-Lyne sharing facilities with its subsidiary company, restoration matters kicked up a gear yet again. All members of staff and active volunteers significantly contributed to the Society's overall success during that period in helping to restore most of the canal in the Tameside area, a large section in the Oldham area, and several sections in Kirklees.
Our Members
People from all over the U.K. and from many walks of life join the Society to support what is considered to be the country's leading canal restoration project. In return for this valued support the Society provides a variety of volunteer activities to accommodate personal commitment and availability. You don't have to be a canal buff (anorak) to join or take part (but it helps) but have perhaps, recollections of the past and a vision for the future of Britain's inland waterways.
The Future
Recruitment of new members continues, as although complete restoration has been achieved, the Society intends to take an active role in the canal's future by organising events to maintain the canal's high profile, and will undertake a series of specialised projects to enhance the canal, and at the same time, assist British Waterways with operational and development initiatives.
Click here to find out about joining the Society.