Looking at Brimscombe Port today it is hard to believe the area was once bustling with scores of boats, each loaded up with goods waiting to be dispatched to far-flung destination across the country. Now, a century after its heyday, port is once again set to become a hive of activity. If funding is granted next week, plans to regenerate the six-mile stretch of canal between Brimscombe and Stonehouse will be fired into action. James Davis reports.

MENTION the name of Isaac Abdela & Mitchell today and you will probably find yourself staring at a blank face.

But 100 years ago the Brimscombe boat building company was known all over the world.

And now the famous name will be revived at Brimscombe Port - which is in line to be revived as part of the long awaited Stroudwater canal regeneration project.

As reported in the SNJ in December, boat builders Simpson's Boats has moved its entire operation from Sharpness to Brimscombe and has bought the right to trade under the Abdela & Mitchell name.

At the turn of the 20th Century, the company was inundated with commissions - producing passenger steamers destined for Brazil or North Sri Lanka, barges for flagships, launches for submarine mining or pleasure boats for Thames cruises.

But with the onset of the railway and road networks the canal industry could no longer compete.

Doors at Abdela & Mitchell's Hope Mills boat yard were finally closed in the 1930s, and by the 1970s Brimscombe Port had been filled in.

But now it is hoped the canal - which first brought prosperity to the Five Valleys 200 years ago - will be a catalyst for Stroud's renaissance.

Well aware of the boatbuilding heritage at Brimscombe, Simpson's Boats foreman Haydn Wheeler said: "It will be nice to see this being used as a port again and hopefully our boats will be going straight out of the shed and into the water."

And Simpson's Boats will be just one of many exciting waterside arrivals if the Cotswold Canals Partnership is, as predicted, granted £11.9 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund on Wednesday.

Spearheading the ambitious project is British Waterways regeneration manager Andrew Stumpf, who claims it will breathe new life into the area.

"The canal and restoration is one of the factors in changing people's perception of Stroud," he said.

"The Stroud Valleys has historic mills, beautiful landscapes, an arts and cultural base and great enthusiasm all in one place and once work starts we will see the ripples spreading.

"The restoration itself is just the beginning of the project which will also be about getting people using canals for leisure, training and education. "It will be great for tourism but we will also see changes in the land around the canal as businesses are attracted around waterways."

Stroud Civic Society chairman Juliet Shipman believes the restoration will also boost Stroud's arts base.

"The restoration will really lift Stroud, which is becoming a really important centre for the modern arts," she said.

"People will come in and shop, visit exhibitions and parks as well as places like the Pangolin foundry and local museums."

The partnership hopes the project will attract housing, businesses and leisure facilities to the area with the long-term vision of seeing the 37-mile stretch of canal between the River Thames and River Severn redeveloped.

Last month a fresh £15 million bid was submitted to the National Lottery's Living Landmarks Fund to enable restoration of the canal between Stonehouse and Saul - crucially giving access to the canal network via the Gloucester and Sharpness canal.

Draft timetable for action on first phase of restorations between Brimscombe Port and Stonehouse: *January 25, 2006 - Heritage Lottery Fund decision on £11.9 million *Spring 2006 - Planning consent sought *Summer 2006 - Work begins *End of 2008 - Work completed