Today
After the canal closed to navigation it continued to be used to supply water to various industrial activities at Morwellham Quay. The last of these was to operate a tin and wolfram mill at the Bedford United Mine, a supply which ceased in 1930. In 1933 the canal was purchased by the West Devon Electric Supply Co. Ltd, who constructed a hydro-electric power plant at Morwellham Quay using the canal and tunnel as a water supply. The power plant and canal now belong to South West Water, and still feed power to the National Grid.
A programme of archaeological survey of the canal commenced in 2004 and as of 2007 was still underway. Excavations in 2006–2007 uncovered the tunnel on the second inclined plane, part of which is now being restored. Morwellham Quay is now an open-air museum. The Mill Hill Branch of the canal still survives (at least partially) though it is dry for its entire length; it can be clearly seen where it leaves the main canal just downstream of the Lumburn Aqueduct.
Read more about this topic: Tavistock Canal
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