RWB Branch Restoration Timeline
1977 Wilts & Berks Canal Amenity Group formed
1977-1987 Ron Churchill winning Local Authority Support
1980-1996 Templars Firs Project
1980 Wiltshire County Council refuse planning permission for Templars Firs restoration
1980 Towpath to first bridge cleared by Wootton Bassett Town Council
1981 WCC refusal for Templars Firs restoration overturned on Appeal
1981 Woodshaw contractors lay new sewage pipe across canal rather than under it
1987 Wilts & Berks Canal Liaison Group formed with Local Authorities
1989 Wootton Bassett Group formed, led by John Allen
1990 New oil pipeline built across canal line at Harris Croft Farm
1990-1993 First 300 Metres restored for navigation on Town-Council-owned land
1993 Wilts & Berks 200-year Pageant with first boats on restored canal, 25th September
1994 Dredging westwards beyond first bridge site
1995-1996 Templars Firs Slipway created
1995 Wiltshire County Council put plans for Swindon-Lyneham cycleway partly using towpath on-hold
1995 Wootton Bassett Canal Open Day with first narrowboat on water, 19th August
1995 Dunnington Aqueduct canal work-camp
1995 Studley Grange restoration - a false start?
1996 Trail Boat Rally, 13th-14th July
1997 Friends of the Canal and Crazy Raft Racing Day, 16th August 1997
1998 Dunnington Lower Lock uncovered
1998 Sewer pipe in canal lowered at last
1999 North Wilts District Council purchases Morningside Farm for W&BCT, 31st March
1999 Building a permanent bridge at Noremarsh, 1999
2000 New Project Officer Chaloner Chute starts work with NWDC, September
2000-2005 Chaddington Lock restored
2001 Foot & Mouth Disease outbreak stops restoration work
2001 W&BCT becomes W&B Canal Partnership
2001 W&B Canal Amenity Group finally changes name to W&B Canal Trust
2002 Wiltshire Waterways Festival at Templars Firs
2004 Boat float built for Town Carnival - wins first prize
2004 Trust Office opens at 117 High Street with Ann o'Donoghue as Administrator
2005 Templars Firs section stocked with fish for Angling Club
2005 Chaddington Lock Topping-Off Ceremony marked by Emily the Skiff on 13th April
2006 Contract placed for Bincknoll Lane - Hay Lane restoration with White, Young & Green
2006 Highworth Canoe Club event at Templars Firs
2006-2009 Chaddington Spill-Weir built
2006 Highworth Canoe Club second event at Templars Firs
2008 North Avon Canoe Club visit to Templars Firs
2010 Trust HQ moves from Hight Street to nearby Spittleborough Farm
2011 Land leased for first 130 metres east of Bincknoll Lane
2011-2012 Butterfly World extension
2011 Wootton Bassett given Royal prefix
2011 Plans announced for through footpath link between RWB and Swindon
2012 W&B Canal Partnership renamed Wiltshire, Swindon & Oxfordshire Canal Partnership
2012 RWB Sea Cadets launch new 2-person rowing boat at Templars Firs
2012 Agreement with Biffa to work on scrub clearance at Studley Grange
2012 Plans announced for Templars Firs Extension through old Council Depot
2012-2013 Extension of channel from Chaddington Lock to Morningside Farm boundary
2014 Biffa sign long lease on Studley Grange section
2014 Big Lottery Fund award £50K for Studley Wildlife Trail
2014 Indoor working parties pack and send Dragonfly magazines from Spittleborough Farm
2015 Contractors on site at Studley Grange, aiming to finish by October 2015
2015 WSO Canal Partnership meet in RWB to review progress
2016 Work on Studley Grange restarts in Autumn
2017 Work-party install twin spill-pipes to regulate Studley Grange water level
2017 NB 'Nonsuch' visits Templars Firs in September
2017 Trust members at Swindon AGM visit Studley Grange in October
2017 Boxing Day walk at Studley Grange by groups in hi-viz
2018 Official opening of Studley Grange, July 4th
2018 Trip-boat 'The Mary Archard' visits Templars Firs, September
2019 Footbridge over Hancock's Water destroyed by vandals; replacement kit bought; site prepared
2019 Trip-boat 'The Mary Archard' visits Templars Firs in July, August, September
2020 Replacement footbridge over Hancock's Water ready for use just before Lockdown
2020 Canal towpath and northern footpath very popular for exercise during Lockdown and after
NOTE: If anyone wishes to see the original Dragonfly articles from which this timeline was created, please contact Steve Bacon on 
steve.bacon@wbct.org.uk .