The canal at Braunston

The Grand Union Canal in England is part of the British canal system. Braunston is a Village and Civil parish in the county of Northamptonshire, England. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Its main line connects London and Birmingham and stretches for 220 km (137 miles) and has 166 locks. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Birmingham ( ˈbɜːmɪŋəm Ber -ming-um A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal Waterways. ^[1] It has arms to places including Leicester, Slough, Aylesbury, Wendover and Northampton. Leicester (ˈlɛstə is the largest city and Unitary authority area in the East Midlands of England, and is the traditional Slough ( ˈslaʊ is a Borough and Unitary authority within the ceremonial county of Berkshire, England. See also Aylesbury Urban Area Aylesbury is the County town of Buckinghamshire in south east England. Wendover is a Market town that sits at the foot of the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire, England. This article is about Northampton in England for other places of the same name see Northampton (disambiguation Northampton ( is a large Market

The Grand Union Canal was also the original name for part of what is now part of the Leicester Line of the modern Grand Union: this latter is now generally referred to as the Old Grand Union Canal where necessary to avoid ambiguity. This article is about the original Grand Union Canal For the modern canal of that name of which the old Grand Union forms part see Grand Union Canal.

History

With competition from the railways having taken a large share of traffic in the second half of the 19th century, improvements in roads and vehicle technology in the early part of the 20th century meant that the lorry was also becoming a threat to the canals. Tolls had been reduced to compete with the railways, but there was little scope for further reduction. The Regent's Canal and Grand Junction Canal agreed that amalgamation and modernisation were the only way to remain competitive.

The (present) Grand Union Canal came into being on 1 January 1929, extended in 1932. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. It was formed from the amalgamation of several different canals:

The Grand Union Canal at Westbourne Park, London

The Grand Union Canal near Westbourne Park, London

• Regent's Canal
• Hertford Union Canal – bought by the Regent's Canal in 1857
• Warwick and Napton Canal – bought by the Regent's Canal in 1927
• Warwick and Birmingham Canal – bought by the Regent's Canal in 1927
• Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal – bought by the Regent's Canal in 1927
• Grand Junction Canal – bought by the Regent's Canal in 1927
• Old Grand Union Canal – bought by the Grand Junction in 1894
• Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Union Canal – bought by the Grand Junction in 1894
• Leicester Navigation – bought by the Grand Union in 1932
• Loughborough Navigation – bought by the Grand Union in 1932
• Erewash Canal – bought by the Grand Union in 1932

A 5-mile (8-km) section of the Oxford Canal forms the main line of the Grand Union between Braunston and Napton. The Regent's Canal is a Canal across an area just to the north of central London, England. The Hertford Union Canal or Duckett's Canal is a short stretch (c The Grand Junction Canal is a Canal in England from Braunston in Northamptonshire to the River Thames at Brentford, with This article is about the original Grand Union Canal For the modern canal of that name of which the old Grand Union forms part see Grand Union Canal. The Erewash Canal is a broad canal in Derbyshire, England. It runs just under 12 miles (19 km and has 14 locks. The Oxford Canal is a 78 mile (130 km long narrow Canal in central England linking Oxford with Coventry via Banbury and Although the Grand Union intended to buy the Oxford Canal and Coventry Canal, this did not take place. The Coventry Canal is a navigable narrow Canal in the Midlands of England.

The section of the main line between Brentford and Braunston (formerly the Grand Junction Canal), was built as a 'wide' or 'broad' canal - that is, its locks were wide enough to accommodate two narrowboats abreast (side by side) or a single wide barge up to 14 feet (4. 27 m) in beam.

However, the onward sections from Braunston to Birmingham had been built as 'narrow' canals – that is, the locks could accommodate only a single narrowboat. A narrowboat or narrow boat is a Boat of a distinctive design made to fit the narrow Canals of England and Wales. An Act of Parliament of 1931 was passed authorising a key part of the modernisation scheme of the Grand Union, supported by Government grants. The narrow locks (and several bridges) between Napton and Camp Hill Top Lock in Birmingham were rebuilt to take widebeam boats or barges up to 12 feet 6 inches (3. 81 metres) in beam, or two narrowboats. The canal was dredged and bank improvements carried out: the depth was increased to 5 feet 6 inches (1. 68 metres) to allow heavier cargoes, and the minimum width increased to 26 feet (7. 92 metres) to enable two boats of 12 feet 6 inches to pass. Lock works were completed in 1934 when the Duke of Kent opened the new broad locks at Hatton, and other improvements finished by 1937. Duke of Kent is a title which has been created various times in the peerages of Great Britain and the United Kingdom, most recently as a royal dukedom for the fourth

However, these improvements to depth and width were never carried out between Braunston and London, nor were the locks from the top of Camp Hill Locks in Birmingham widened.

The three sections between Norton junction and the River Trent (collectively known as the 'Leicester line') are mixed in size. From Norton to Foxton, the route is a narrow canal. From below Foxton to Leicester it is a wide canal. From Leicester to the Trent, the route is effectively the River Soar and the locks and bridges are wide. Another Act of 1931 authorised the widening of the locks at Watford and Foxton, but with Government grants for this section not forthcoming, the work was not carried out. Watford Locks ( is a group of seven locks on the Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal, close to the village of Watford in Northamptonshire, Foxton Locks ( are ten Canal locks consisting of two "staircases" each of five locks located on the Leicester line of the Grand Union Canal about 5 km west

The Grand Union Canal was nationalised in 1948, control transferring to the British Transport Commission, and in 1962 to the British Waterways Board, later British Waterways. The British Transport Commission (BTC was created by Clement Attlee 's post-war Labour government as a part of its nationalisation programme to oversee British Waterways is the informal name of the British Waterways Board a Statutory corporation sponsored by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Commercial traffic continued to decline, effectively ceasing in the 1970s. However, leisure traffic took over, and the canal is now as busy as it ever was, with leisure boating complemented by fishing, towpath walking and gongoozling. Gongoozlers are people who enjoy watching activity on the Canals in the United Kingdom.

A lock at Apsley

Route

One end of the Grand Union Canal (Grand Junction Canal - Main Line) is at Brentford on the River Thames in west London, where the canal follows the engineered course of the River Brent. Brentford is a suburb in the London Borough of Hounslow at the Confluence of the River Thames and the River Brent in West London The Thames ( is a major River flowing through southern England. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The Brent is a river within Greater London which is a tributary of the River Thames. The double Thames Lock at Brentford acts as the demarcation point between the Thames, administered by the Port of London Authority, and the River Brent/Grand Union Canal, administered by British Waterways. The Port of London lies along the banks of the River Thames from London, England to the North Sea. British Waterways is the informal name of the British Waterways Board a Statutory corporation sponsored by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs The locks on the canal are numbered south from Braunston, and Thames Lock is lock number 101.

The Thames Lock on the Grand Union Canal, Brentford, Middlesex. Brentford is a suburb in the London Borough of Hounslow at the Confluence of the River Thames and the River Brent in West London Middlesex is one of the 39 historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. Photo taken in twilight at the peak of a spring tide

From the Thames Lock, the canal and the River Brent are one and the same, and the waterway is semi-tidal until the double Gauging Lock (lock 100) at Brentford is reached. Characteristics A tide is a repeated cycle of sea level changes in the following stages Over several hours the water rises or advances up a beach in the flood Just upstream of the Gauging Lock was a large canal basin, now known as Brentford Lock, from which the canal continues to follow the course of the River Brent through two more locks. The Brent is a river within Greater London which is a tributary of the River Thames. The river and canal part company at the base of the Hanwell flight of locks (92-97), before two more locks take the canal to Norwood Green. Hanwell is a town situated in the London Borough of Ealing in West London, between Ealing and Southall. For Norwood Green in West Yorkshire see Norwood Green West Yorkshire Norwood Green is a place in the London Borough of Ealing. It then heads westward over level ground through Southall, Hayes and West Drayton until it reaches the valley of the River Colne where it swings northward to Cowley through Uxbridge. Southall is a suburb in the London Borough of Ealing, West London. Hayes is a town in the London Borough of Hillingdon. It is a suburban development situated 13 miles (20 West Drayton is an area of West London in the London Borough of Hillingdon. Cowley is a place in the London Borough of Hillingdon. It is a suburban development situated 15 Uxbridge is a university town in the London Borough of Hillingdon in West London, England.

Three miles (5 km) from Norwood on this long level is Bulls Bridge^[2] Junction, once the site of the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company's main dockyard. At Bulls Bridge, the Paddington Arm branches off to the north and runs 12 miles (19 km) to join the Regents Canal at Little Venice (see below). Just before Uxbridge is Cowley Peachey junction, where the Slough Arm branches off westward. The Slough Arm is a short Canal branch from the Grand Union Main Line to Slough in Buckinghamshire, England.

At Cowley, the canal begins to climb the valley of the River Colne following a north-westerly course. After Uxbridge, there are many disused gravel workings in the valley so the canal is surrounded by lakes as it passes Denham and Harefield before veering north-east to Rickmansworth. Uxbridge is a university town in the London Borough of Hillingdon in West London, England. Harefield is a Village in the London Borough of Hillingdon in Greater London. Rickmansworth is a town in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire, England, 4¼ miles (7km west of Watford.

From Rickmansworth, the canal follows the valley of the River Gade, a tributary of the Colne. The River Gade is a river in England. It rises from a spring in the Chalk of the Chiltern Hills at Dagnall and flows through After passing the site of Croxley paper mill, the canal skirts Watford through Cassiobury Park, passes under the M25 motorway and approaches Kings Langley. Croxley Green is a village of approximately 5000 dwellings and 12000 residents located between Watford (to the north-east and Rickmansworth (to the south-west Watford (ˈwɒtfəd) is a town and district in Hertfordshire, England, situated 19 miles (30 km northwest of London Cassiobury Park is the principal public open space in Watford, Hertfordshire, in England. To see information about the M25 motorway under construction in Ireland, see N25 road. Kings Langley is an historic English Village 21 miles north west of central London on the southern edge of the Chiltern Hills and now part of The canal here passes the site of the former Ovaltine factory, which was once supplied with raw materials by canal. Ovaltine is a brand of Milk flavoring product made with Sugar (except in Switzerland Malt extract Cocoa, and Whey.

By now the locks are becoming more frequent as the climb into the Chiltern Hills steepens. The Chiltern Hills are a Chalk Escarpment in Southeast England. The original four locks here were replaced in 1819 by five shallower ones to alleviate problems with water supply to the nearby paper mills. Year 1819 ( MDCCCXIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar in the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year This realigned the canal to the south of its former course; the locks here are still referred to - without irony - as "The New 'Uns" by traditional boaters, and the term has been passed on to a new generation of canal users.

After Kings Langley and Apsley - the site of more former paper mills - the canal passes Hemel Hempstead and Boxmoor Common. Kings Langley is an historic English Village 21 miles north west of central London on the southern edge of the Chiltern Hills and now part of Apsley is a 19th century Mill town in the county of Hertfordshire, England. Hemel Hempstead is a Town in Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom with a Population of 81143 at the United Kingdom Census Next come Bourne End with the well-known swingbridge at Winkwell, and Berkhamsted. Bourne End is a Village in Hertfordshire, England. It is situated on the A41 between Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead A swing bridge is a Movable bridge that has as its primary structural support a vertical locating pin and support ring at or near to its center about which the turning Berkhamsted is a historic town of some 19000 people It is situated in the west of Hertfordshire, between the towns of Tring and Hemel Hempstead. The last few miles to Tring summit follows the course of the River Bulbourne. Tring is a small Market town in the Chiltern Hills in Hertfordshire, England. At Cowroast Lock the canal reaches the 3-mile (5-km) long summit level at Tring in the Chiltern hills, having risen through 54 locks since Brentford.

At the north-west end of the summit level is Bulbourne Works, where lock gates were manufactured until 2003 for the southern canal network. Half a mile (800 m) further on, the canal reaches the top of the Marsworth flight of seven locks, which begin the descent to the Vale of Aylesbury. The Wendover arm branches off westwards from the summit level under a bridge adjacent to Marsworth top lock and is currently navigable for just over a mile to moorings and a winding hole. Wendover is a Market town that sits at the foot of the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire, England. There is a restoration project to extend it back to Wendover. A few hundred yards (metres) beyond the bottom lock of the flight, the Aylesbury arm branches off to the south west. See also Aylesbury Urban Area Aylesbury is the County town of Buckinghamshire in south east England.

The Grand Union crosses the wide valley gradually, descending by interspersed locks past the villages of Cheddington, Horton and Slapton until it reaches Leighton Buzzard. Cheddington is a Village comprising 1429 acres (58 km² and Civil parish within Aylesbury Vale district in Buckinghamshire. "Leedon" redirects here For the record label see Leedon Records. Traditionally this section of the canal is called "Slapton Fields" or just "The Fields" by boaters.

The canal crosses Bradwell Aqueduct in Milton Keynes

A few miles further on it enters Milton Keynes at the outskirts of Bletchley at Fenny Stratford lock, which is unusual in lowering the level by only 12 inches (30 cm). Milton Keynes ( ˌmɪltənˈkiːnz often abbreviated to MK, is a large town Fenny Stratford is a constituent Town of Milton Keynes, ceremonial Buckinghamshire, England and in the Civil Parish of Bletchley The next stretch of 11 miles (18 km) on the level takes the canal through the new city, where there is a marina. For other uses of this word see Marina (disambiguation. A marina is a sheltered Harbor where Boats and Yachts (There is a plan (see below) to dig a new arm from here to the Great Ouse at Bedford). The River Great Ouse is a River in the east of England. It is 150 miles (240 km long which makes it the major navigation in East Anglia, and the fourth- Bedford is the County town of Bedfordshire, England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the Bedford borough North of the centre, it traverses the modern Bradwell Aqueduct, the first on the Grand Union in over 100 years. Leaving Milton Keynes at Wolverton, the canal runs on a high embankment before passing over the Great Ouse at Cosgrove "Iron Trunk" aqueduct. Cosgrove is a Village in Northamptonshire, England just north of Milton Keynes. An aqueduct is an artificial channel that is constructed to convey water from one location to another

Top lock at Stoke Bruerne

After rising through Cosgrove lock, (and passing the start of the abandoned Buckingham Arm) another long level section brings the canal to the bottom of the Stoke Bruerne flight of seven locks. Stoke Bruerne is a small pictureque village in South Northamptonshire, England about north of Milton Keynes and south of Northampton. The Buckingham Arm is a Canal that once ran from Cosgrove Northamptonshire to Buckingham (in England) Stoke Bruerne is a small pictureque village in South Northamptonshire, England about north of Milton Keynes and south of Northampton. At the top of this flight is the Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum followed shortly by Blisworth tunnel, at 3056 yards (2794 m) one of the longest on the canal network. Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum, part of the National Waterways Museum, is a Canal Museum located next to the Grand Union Canal just south of the Blisworth Tunnel is a canal tunnel on the Grand Union Canal in Northamptonshire, England between the villages of Stoke Bruerne (southern

Crick Wharf, Northamptonshire

Once clear of the tunnel, the canal passes Blisworth village and reaches Gayton junction where the Northampton arm branches off to the east. Blisworth is a village and Civil parish in the South Northamptonshire district of Northamptonshire, in England. This article is about Northampton in England for other places of the same name see Northampton (disambiguation Northampton ( is a large Market This arm has seventeen narrow locks as it descends to join the navigable River Nene (see below). The River Nene is a River in the east of England that rises from three sources in the English County of Northamptonshire. The long level stretch continues past several villages including Heyford and Weedon Bec and is very rural in character. Weedon Bec is a large Village and parish in the district of Daventry, Northamptonshire, England.

At Whilton, the canal reaches the bottom of the Buckby flight of seven locks which raise it to Braunston summit although the village of that name is still 5 miles (8 km) distant. Whilton is a village and a Civil parish in the English county of Northamptonshire. Braunston is a Village and Civil parish in the county of Northamptonshire, England. Beyond the top lock is Norton junction where the Leicester line (not strictly a branch) heads off north. A few miles further on the canal passes through the 2040-yard (1865-m) Braunston Tunnel, which pierces a low range of hills that are part of the Northamptonshire uplands. The Braunston Tunnel is situated on the Grand Union Canal just past Braunston, Northamptonshire Northamptonshire (or archaically the County of Northampton; abbreviated Northants

The canal then drops down the Braunston flight of six locks until it reaches Braunston junction, just over 93 miles (150 km) from Brentford.

The Birmingham "main line"

At Braunston junction, the Oxford Canal diverges north and south. The Oxford Canal is a 78 mile (130 km long narrow Canal in central England linking Oxford with Coventry via Banbury and The north section leads to Rugby and Coventry; the southward fork carries both the Oxford Canal and the Grand Union for 5 miles (8 km) to Napton junction. Rugby is a Market town in Warwickshire, in the West Midlands of England, on the River Avon. Coventry ( is a city and Metropolitan borough in the County of West Midlands in England. The Oxford Canal is a 78 mile (130 km long narrow Canal in central England linking Oxford with Coventry via Banbury and Napton-on-the-Hill, often referred to as just Napton, is a small Village and Civil parish in the Stratford district of Warwickshire Here, the Grand Union heads north towards Birmingham, while the Oxford Canal veers south towards Banbury and Oxford. Birmingham ( ˈbɜːmɪŋəm Ber -ming-um Banbury is a Market town located on the River Cherwell in northern Oxfordshire, England. Oxford is currently bidding for the 2010 Wikimania Conference Oxford () is a city, and the County town of Oxfordshire,

Shortly after Napton Junction, the Grand Union reaches three locks at Calcutt, which begin the descent to the Warwickshire River Avon. Geography Warwickshire is bounded to the northwest by the West Midlands Metropolitan county and Staffordshire, by Leicestershire to The River Avon or Avon is a River in or adjoining the counties of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, After a 3-mile (5-km) level, the canal descends into the valley of the River Leam by the Stockton flight of ten locks (often known as 'the Itchington ten'). The River Leam or River Leame (ˈlɛm Lemm to rhyme with stem) is a River which flows through eastern and southern Warwickshire. Stockton is a Village and Civil parish, in the Stratford-on-Avon district of Warwickshire, England. Above the eighth lock down the flight, a short arm (now used as pleasure craft moorings) used to serve Southam cement works. Southam is a small Market town in the Stratford-on-Avon district of Warwickshire, England.

From the bottom of the locks, a 3-mile (5-km) level leads to the four Bascote locks. The top two form a 'riser' or staircase (see Canal lock). A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal Waterways. Six more interspersed locks lead to Radford, after which a 5-mile (8-km) level takes the canal through Leamington Spa to Warwick. Leamington Spa, properly Royal Leamington Spa, commonly Leamington (ˈlɛmɪŋtən and "Leam" to locals is a Spa town in central Warwick (ˈwɒrɪk worrick (silent w in middle is the County town of Warwickshire, England. Between these two towns, the canal crosses the River Avon on an aqueduct.

At Warwick, the canal rises by two locks to Budbroke junction (formerly the junction with the then-independent Warwick and Birmingham canal). To the left is the restored Saltisford Canal Arm, a short stretch that used to run under the railway to the original canal basin complex and terminus of the Warwick and Birmingham Canal- basin sadly filled-in in the 1970's. The Canal used to serve the oldest gas works in the world, several unusual hexagonal buildings remain opposite Sainsburys. Saltisford Canal Trust After half a mile the mainline,reaches the bottom of the Hatton flight of 21 locks that lift the canal up out of the Avon valley. Hatton ( is a village about four miles north of Warwick, England. The first ten locks are spaced out but from the middle lock the flight is tightly spaced.

Three miles (5 km) from Hatton top lock the canal passes through Shrewley tunnel, with its separate horse tunnel, and then passes Rowington village to Kingswood junction where a short spur connects with the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal. The Stratford-upon-Avon Canal is a Canal in the south Midlands of England. Another 3 miles (5 km) lead to the Knowle flight of five locks. Knowle (ˈnoʊl is a small town in the West Midlands borough of Solihull, England and is a few miles east of the town of Solihull. Finally, an 11-mile (18-km) level takes the canal through Elmdon Heath, Solihull, Acocks Green, and Tyseley to the heart of Birmingham.

The main line may be considered to terminate at Bordesley Junction. Bordesley Junction ( is a canal junction where the Grand Union Canal splits near to Bordesley, Birmingham, England. From here, there are two routes, both part of the Grand Union Canal. The original line of the Warwick and Birmingham Canal leads to the Digbeth Branch Canal of the Birmingham Canal Navigations at the Warwick Bar, while the later line of the Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal leads to the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal (and Tame Valley Canal) at Salford Junction, which in turn has connections to the Coventry Canal and the Trent and Mersey Canal. The Digbeth Branch Canal in Birmingham, England is a short canal which links the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal at Aston Junction and the Grand Birmingham Canal Navigations ( BCN) is a network of navigable Canals connecting Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and the eastern part of the Black Warwick Bar is a canalside Conservation area in Birmingham, England which was home to many Canalside factories during the Industrial Revolution The Birmingham and Fazeley Canal is a Canal of the Birmingham Canal Navigations in the West Midlands of England. The Tame Valley Canal is a relatively late ( 1844) Canal in the West Midlands of England. Salford Junction ( is the name of the junction where the Grand Union Canal and Tame Valley Canal meet the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal north of Birmingham The Coventry Canal is a navigable narrow Canal in the Midlands of England. The Trent and Mersey Canal is a 935 miles (150 km long Canal in the East Midlands West Midlands and North West of England

The Leicester Line

Formed by amalgamations of once-independent canals, the 'Leicester Line' of the Grand Union Canal runs north from Norton junction for about 35 miles (56 km) until it reaches Leicester, where it joins the River Soar to provide a link to the River Trent and to the Trent and Mersey Canal. Leicester (ˈlɛstə is the largest city and Unitary authority area in the East Midlands of England, and is the traditional The River Soar is a Tributary of the River Trent in the English East Midlands. The River Trent is one of the major rivers of England. Its source is in Staffordshire between Biddulph and Biddulph Moor. The Trent and Mersey Canal is a 935 miles (150 km long Canal in the East Midlands West Midlands and North West of England It includes notable tunnels south of Crick 1528 yd (1397 m) and north of Husbands Bosworth 1166 yd (1066 m) The village of Crick is home to a popular annual boat show. Crick is a village in the Daventry district of the county of Northamptonshire in England. Husbands Bosworth is a large crossroads village in South Leicestershire on the A5199 road from Leicester city to Northampton and the A4304 The Crick Boat Show, organised by British Waterways, has quickly established itself as one of England 's most notable annual Canal -based events

Also on this section are the well-known features of Foxton Locks and Watford Locks, both of which feature staircase locks. Foxton Locks ( are ten Canal locks consisting of two "staircases" each of five locks located on the Leicester line of the Grand Union Canal about 5 km west Watford Locks ( is a group of seven locks on the Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal, close to the village of Watford in Northamptonshire, Beside Foxton locks is the site of a long-abandoned inclined plane boat lift. An inclined plane is a system used on some Canals for raising boats between different water levels A boat lift, ship lift, or lift lock is a machine for transporting boats between water at two different elevations and is an alternative to the Canal lock This was constructed as part of a project to create a wide-beam canal route to connect the northern and southern parts of the canal system, something which does not exist to this day. Funding to deal with the narrow locks at Watford was not forthcoming and the scheme was aborted. From Foxton Junction, at the bottom of the locks, the canal is wide-beam to Leicester and onwards, as it was originally intended to link the Soar at Leicester with the River Nene at Northampton. The River Nene is a River in the east of England that rises from three sources in the English County of Northamptonshire. However, the canal never went further than the basin at Market Harborough. Market Harborough is a Market town in Leicestershire, England.

Branches

Paddington Branch crossing the North Circular Road

The Grand Union Canal has several branches, usually termed 'arms'. Five miles (8 km) from Brentford, the Paddington arm leads to Paddington Basin and, just north-west of the Basin at 'Little Venice', it connects to the Regent's Canal. Brentford is a suburb in the London Borough of Hounslow at the Confluence of the River Thames and the River Brent in West London Paddington Basin is an area of London at Paddington named after the nearby Canal Basin. Maida Vale is a residential district in West London between St John's Wood and Kilburn. The Regent's Canal is a Canal across an area just to the north of central London, England. At Cowley Peachey, the Slough arm runs 5 miles (8 km) to the west. Slough ( ˈslaʊ is a Borough and Unitary authority within the ceremonial county of Berkshire, England. At Marsworth, about 35 miles (56 km) from Brentford, two arms leave the main line, one to Wendover (not currently navigable for its full length but being restored by the Wendover Arm Trust^[3]) and the other descends through sixteen narrow locks for 4 miles (6 km) to Aylesbury. Brentford is a suburb in the London Borough of Hounslow at the Confluence of the River Thames and the River Brent in West London Wendover is a Market town that sits at the foot of the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire, England. See also Aylesbury Urban Area Aylesbury is the County town of Buckinghamshire in south east England. From Gayton junction, about 60 miles (97 km) from Brentford, the Northampton arm links with the River Nene. This article is about Northampton in England for other places of the same name see Northampton (disambiguation Northampton ( is a large Market The River Nene is a River in the east of England that rises from three sources in the English County of Northamptonshire.

At Warwick the last remaining branch of the GU, the Saltisford Canal Arm is encountered. The restored arm is close to the centre of Warwick, and is now a short branch of the Grand Union Canal, but was originally the mainline line of the Warwick and Birmingham Canal, 1799, leading to the terminus and a basin complex built to originally handle timber. When the Warwick and Napton Canal opened, this section was by passed but served as the town's wharf area. The Saltisford Canal Trust have restored most of the surviving canal over the last 25 years, including major piling works and restoration of a warehouse in 2007. The last 150 metres were lost in the 1970's and are now built on except for a bridge now isolated in a carpark. The restored section is now the mooring for colourful narrowboats and a waterside park open to the public. Over 800 visiting narrowboats come by water to Warwick each year and moor on the arm. Saltisford Canal Trust

On the Leicester Line there are two arms. One is a mile (1. 6 km) long and leads to the village of Welford. Welford is a Village and Civil parish in England. Welford is located on the River Avon border between the counties of Northamptonshire The other leaves the main canal at the bottom of Foxton locks and runs 5 miles (8 km) to Market Harborough. Market Harborough is a Market town in Leicestershire, England.

New branch

On 28 February 2003 British Waterways announced a plan to build Britain's first new canal for about 100 years, a connection from the Grand Union at Milton Keynes to the River Great Ouse at Bedford. Events 202 BC - coronation ceremony of Liu Bang as Emperor Gaozu of Han takes place initiating four centuries of the Han Dynasty 's rule Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. British Waterways is the informal name of the British Waterways Board a Statutory corporation sponsored by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Milton Keynes ( ˌmɪltənˈkiːnz often abbreviated to MK, is a large town The River Great Ouse is a River in the east of England. It is 150 miles (240 km long which makes it the major navigation in East Anglia, and the fourth- Bedford is the County town of Bedfordshire, England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the Bedford borough The idea was first discussed in 1810 when its promoters included Samuel Whitbread. Samuel Whitbread II by John Opie Samuel Whitbread (1758 &ndash The canal will be built by the B&MK (Bedford and Milton Keynes) Partnership, which will include British Waterways, waterways campaign groups, and local councils. The new waterway will cost about £150M (€220M,US$300M) and will create a new cruising ring connecting through from the Grand Union to the waterways of East Anglia. East Anglia is often used as a shorthand for the Kingdom of the East Angles. Rings are very important to the leisure cruising business because many holiday boat hirers prefer a "circular" route to a there-and-back linear trip. Efforts are continuing to obtain funding, but the start of construction is not imminent. More information is available at the external links below.

Gallery

Wood bridge across the canal

Canal near Northolt

See also

• Canals of Great Britain
• History of the British canal system
• Grand Union Canal 145 mile Race
• Wendover Arm Canal

External links

• Official page with guides, maps, etc.
• Grand Union Canal, with map, pictures and history
• Part of the history of the constituent canals which in 1929-32 were amalgamated to make the Grand Union Canal
• Canalplan AC Gazetteer

New waterway external links

• Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust Campaign group for the new canal (See: On the website -> The route, for detailed route map)
• First British canal for 100 years announced The Guardian newspaper article
• Route chosen for £150m link canal BBC News story

References and notes