Canal boat hire and Narrowboat Timeshare Rentals in the U.K.

 Notes on Tunnels

Ashford tunnel

Located on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal the Ashford Tunnel runs for 375 yrds.
It is a narrow tunnel with no towpaths, the horses being walked over the top while the boat was legged through.
It was built by the canal engineer Thomas Dadford ( Junior  c1761 to 1801).
The tunnel collapsed during the course of construction leading to criticism from the engineer  John Rennie.
The tunnel served as part of  the system of canals that  collected limestone, coal and iron-ore from the local mines, via narrow gauge tramways.

Barnton 

 on the Trent and Mersey - seeking more information -  info@canalbarge.co.uk

Blisworth

Tunnel in Northamptonshire with no tow path, but wide enough for two narrowboats to pass,. located on the Grand Union main line it is 3076yrds long and the third longest tunnel currently navigable on the UK waterways.Constructed in 1793, construction errors leave a wiggle in evidence.
Collapsed during construction after 3 years work claiming lives of three men. (  due to Quicksand ? )
Tunnel finally opened March 1805
Linings damaged by underground watercourses
Major rebuild in 1980s with sections lined with pre-cast concrete ( closed for 4 yeras). Also a test bed for materials to be used for channel tunnel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blisworth_tunnel

Brandwood or King's Norton

The tunnel is 325yrds long and located on the Stratford and Avon canal.
Built in mid 1790's, the north section of canal opening 1802 and named after a local estate.
Boats were drawn through it on ropes with horses going over the top.
Carries a notable plaque showing William Shakespeare on it's red brick portal.

Braunston

Grand Union Main Line
Built by: William Jessop, James Barnes, opening in in 1793
1.87 KM (2042 yrds) long lined with brick, has no towpaths and is 4.8m wide and 3.76m high.
Boats were originally "legged" through, a later experiment with  a steam driven "endless rope" (1870) was not a success and a steam tug introduced in 1871
Tunnel has a slight S bend due to errors during construction.
Qucksand was encountered.

 

Butterley

Cromford canal, Derbyshire, opened 1794, 2,966yrds long.
No Towpaths, fo baots were legged through - horses over the top.
Tunnel contains an underground wharf ( a unique feature ), loaded from a vertical shaft, also a side tunnel to the Butterley Company's Butterley Carr Pit (coal )
Closed in 1889 for subsidence for 4 yrs, reopening 1893, partial collapse in 1900 & 1907 due to mining
Commercial use of canal ceased1944

Now a restoration project
Friiends of Cromford canal website: http://www.cromfordcanal.org.uk/

 

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