Saturday, June 24, 2017

Both Ends (10) : Oxford Canal

The Oxford Canal stretches from Oxford up to near Bedworth in Warwickshire, where it joins the Coventry Canal at Hawkesbury Junction. It passes through places like Banbury, Heyford and Rugby on the way and was (and still is of course) an important waterway. It took 20 years to complete the canal, construction beginning in 1769. The first stretch reached from Bedworth to Napton then further extensions were made (money permitting) to Banbury. The canal finally made it through to the centre of Oxford in 1790.

The canal was intended to link the Midlands to London with traffic switching to the Thames at Oxford. It did very well initially but went into decline after the opening of the rival Grand Junction Canal which had a more direct route.

However the Northern section remained busy well into the 20th century and carried commercial traffic into the 1960s. Nowadays the Oxford Canal is one of the most popular waterways with pleasure boaters.
The Oxford city end of the canal, this part of the canal is non-navigable

Enslow Wharf

Clifton Wharf, Rugby

Hawkesbury Junction where the canal joins the Coventry Canal

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Lapworth-Wootton Wawen

The latest photoshoot is a long walk along the Stratford Canal from Lapworth to Wootton Wawen. In doing so this now completes the Southern section of the canal - though i still have most the Northern section to do! The photos can be seen here.

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Olton

Latest canal walk was a short walk along the Grand Union Canal in Olton as it approaches Solihull. You can see the photos here (and some other stuff).

Saturday, June 10, 2017

Arms (13) : Walsall Town

An off-shoot of the Walsall Canal into the town centre (or close anyway) itself.

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Bedworth-Longford

Latest canal photoshoot is along the Coventry Canal from Bedworth to Longford, taking in Hawkesbury Junction where the Oxford Canal begins (or ends depending on your point of your view). The photos can be seen here.

Thursday, June 1, 2017