A winding hole on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal

A winding hole (/ˈwɪndɪŋ/) is a widened area of a canal (usually in the United Kingdom), used for turning a canal boat such as a narrowboat. In sea ports an area for turning ships is usually called a turning basin.

Etymology

Look up winding in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

The word is commonly believed to derive from the practice of using the wind to assist with the turn.[1]

Another etymology, however, is the Old English word for turn - "windan", (pronounced with a short I (as in windlass, a handle for winding (long I) gears)).[2] Much UK canal terminology comes from spoken rather than written tradition and from bargees who did not read or write.[3]

It is also possible that the word has a similar derivation to that of the windlass, which derives from the Old Norse "vinda" and "ás"—words currently used in Iceland—where the modern word for "windlass" is "vinda".[4]

History

Because the average width of a canal channel (about 30' to 40' feet) is less than the length of a full-size narrow boat (72') it is not usually possible to turn a boat in the canal. Winding holes are typically indentations in the off-side (non-towpath side) of the canal, allowing sufficient space to turn the boat.

Use

A winding hole consists of a "notch" in the canal bank. A turning boat inserts its bow into the notch and swings the stern round. In the days of horse-drawn boats, this was accomplished using bargepoles.[5][6][7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Deuchar, Chris N. (1997). A Boaters Guide to Boating. [S.l.]: C.N. Deuchar originally on behalf of the historic Narrow Boat Owners Club. p. 13. ISBN 0953151204.
  2. ↑ Dundon, Les. "Winding Holes". seftonscanal.webplus.net. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  3. ↑ Stewart, Sheila (1994). Ramlin Rose: The Boatwoman's Story. Oxford, UK: Oxford Paperbacks. ISBN 9780192853028.
  4. ↑ Hilbertsson, ritstjóri, Sævar (2000). Ensk íslensk orðabók og íslensk-ensk orðabók (2000 [2.] útg. ed.). [Reykjavík]: Orðabókaútgáfan. ISBN 9979835206.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ↑ Hankinson, John (1967). Canal Cruising. Ward Lock. pp. 62–64.
  6. ↑ Marsh, Bryan (1985). The Inland Navigator. Penguin. pp. 140–141. ISBN 0-14-046666-5.
  7. ↑ Yorke, Stan (2003). English Canals Explained. Countryside Books. p. 44. ISBN 1-85306-825-X.
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