Man Spends £30k to Build Canal in His Garden

A hotelier, Stephen Cuddy, has embarked on a unique project, spending £30,000 to construct a canal in his garden, which features a narrowboat transformed into a swimming pool. This feat was recently showcased on Channel 4's George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, where host George Clarke acclaimed it as "awe-inspiring" and "off-the-scale brilliant." This is prepared by SSP.

Stephen, a 59-year-old self-taught architect, purchased a vintage 35ft (10m) barge for £5,000 on eBay, which he moored in his garden located on the grounds of Grimscote Manor Hotel in Coleshill, Warwickshire. His canal includes a fully operational lock system, built using 7,500 bricks and railway sleepers, complete with lock gates and a water pumping mechanism that cost an additional £25,000 over a span of six months.

In addition to the canal lock, Stephen also added a redbrick lockkeeper's cottage, a decorative tunnel alcove with an outdoor patio, and ingeniously converted the barge into a 29ft (8m) long swimming pool.

Though this eccentric undertaking initially drew skepticism—even from his ex-partner, who dismissed it as a "carbuncle"—the final outcome won her over. He jokingly compared the site to "Fawlty Towers but with a canal."

Despite his unusual combination of canal and pool, the unique setup is more practical than it seems. Special care is needed when swimming to prevent the boat from tilting and sustaining damage, necessitating that the lock be drained and the boat rested on the base.

Interestingly, Stephen, who grew up in Small Heath, Birmingham—known for its canals—had a long-standing phobia of canals due to frequent childhood accidents. This project served as a form of therapy to overcome those fears. His commitment to building this canal also represents a tribute to Victorian craftsmanship, noting the similarity in using very primitive methods akin to Egyptian construction techniques.

Stephen now relishes the reception his creation has received. He is looking to potentially qualify for the world’s shortest lock, as his converted canal boat can only travel 24 inches, allowing him to enjoy mini "holidays" without ever leaving his property. Compliments from hotel guests have been nonstop, making the outlandish endeavor a proud point of achievement for Stephen.