CONSTABLE'S STOUR

摘要

Running for 25 miles from the Suffolk town of Sudbury to the sea at Manningtree, the River Stour Navigation is far from the main network and consequently rather overlooked in waterway circles. Among the art community, however, it has great significance, as many of John Constable's best-known works take the river as their primary focus. Furthermore, thanks in part to the work of the thriving River Stour Trust, many of the scenes he painted remain uncompromised today, and the river attracts over half a million visitors each year. But there is more to this waterway than great works of art. For many years it was a vital cargo-carrying waterway, and the trust's primary aim is to restore it to full navigation again. On a recent visit we learned how plans are progressing towards this end.