Coventry Canal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Coventry Canal is a narrow canal in the Midlands of England.
The canal starts in Coventry and ends 38 miles (65 km) north at Fradley Junction, just north of Lichfield, where it joins the Trent and Mersey Canal. Maps usually give the middle section of the canal the name "Birmingham and Fazeley Canal", reflecting a complicated history of ownership and re-leasing when the Coventry Canal company was in financial difficulties during construction.
It runs through or past the towns of Bedworth, Nuneaton, Atherstone, Polesworth and Tamworth. It is navigable for boats up to 21.9m (72ft) length, 2.1m (7ft) beam and 1.9m (6ft 6) headroom.
The Coventry Canal forms part of the Warwickshire ring.
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[edit] Route
The canal begins in Coventry Canal Basin near the centre of Coventry, and meanders north through Coventry passing under many road bridges including prominent hump-back bridges under the Foleshill Road, Foleshill and the Longford Road, Longford. Just north of Coventry, it forms a junction with the Oxford Canal at Hawkesbury Junction, also known as "Sutton Stop". There is also a superbly preserved iron bridge over the canal, and some fascinating buildings from the working days of the canal. A few miles further north just outside Bedworth it connects to the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Canal, then runs north-west for a number of miles through Nuneaton, Atherstone and Polesworth. At Fazeley in Tamworth there is a junction with the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal. The Coventry canal (although for some distance here it is strictly called the Birmingham and Fazeley) continues roughly northwards to end at Fradley Junction where it joins the Trent and Mersey Canal.
[edit] Coventry Canal Basin
Coventry Canal Basin was opened in 1769 and expanded in 1788. It is situated just north of Coventry City Centre and just outside the city's inner ring road. Many of the buildings and the site were restored between 1993 and 1995. The Canal Bridge, Canal House and the warehouses are grade II listed buildings.
All boats going in and out of Coventry Canal Basin have to pass through the Canal Bridge.
Canal bridge 19n06.jpg
Canal Bridge (viewed from the Canal Basin) |
Warehouse water flats2 19n06.jpg
Warehouses adjacent to the canal |
Canal end 19n06.jpg
The southern termination of Coventry Canal |
[edit] History
The Coventry Canal Company was formed in 1768. James Brindley was commissioned to build the canal, and work started on it in December that year. Due to the high standards of construction demanded by Brindley, the canal company ran out of money by the time the canal had reached Atherstone in 1769, and Brindley was replaced by Thomas Yeoman.
Thomas Dadford advised on the Canal's aqueduct over the River Tame (now known as Tame Aqueduct) in 1784 and in June 1785, Thomas Sheasby was awarded the contract to connect the Coventry Canal to the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal.
The canal remained half finished for another seventeen years, but was finally completed and opened in 1789, part of the missing link being constructed by the Birmingham and Fazely company, and part by the Trent and Mersey company. Later the Coventry Canal company bought back the section built by the T&M company, but the middle section remained part of the Birmingham and Fazely Canal. The T&M section is nowadays referred to as Coventry Canal (detached portion).
The canal was for many years an important artery of trade, and was nationalised in 1948, and taken over by British Waterways. In 1957, Coventry Canal Society was established to promote the proper use and maintenance of the canal, and to protect its interests. The canal acts as a base to Mercia Canoe Club, which is part of Coventry Canal Society.
[edit] Features
| Point | Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Fradley Junction | |
| Bell bridge (A38/Ryknild Street) | |
| Huddlesford Junction | |
| Fazeley Junction | |
| Tame Aqueduct | |
| Glascote Basin | |
| Baddesley Basin | |
| Mill Bridge (Polesworth) | |
| Atherstone Top Lock | |
| Marston Junction | |
| Hawkesbury Junction | |
| Coventry Canal Basin |
