• My Holidays on Inland Waterways - Cruise V : The Grand Junction & Oxford Canals. By P Bonthron. First published 1916.

Grand Union Canal

Description: Formed in the years 1929 and 1932 by the amalgamation of many old canals.

History: See separate entries for each part of the system, e.g. GU Main Line, GU Leicester Section, GU Regents Canal, GU Erewash Canal, GU Aylesbury Branch, GU Market Harborough Branch, GU Northampton Branch, GU Paddington Branch, GU Rickmansworth Branch, GU Slough Branch, GU Welford Branch, GU Wendover Branch, Hertford Union Canal, etc.
For more details see the History page

Subordinate Waterways:

• Grand Junction Canal
• Grand Union Aylesbury Branch
• Grand Union Erewash Canal
  • Erewash Canal
• Grand Union Leicester Section
  • Leicester Navigation
  • Leicestershire & Northampton Union Canal
  • Loughborough Navigation
  • Old Grand Union Canal
• Grand Union Main Line
  • Birmingham & Warwick Junction Canal
• Grand Union Market Harborough Branch
• Grand Union Northampton Branch
• Grand Union Paddington Branch
• Grand Union Regents Canal
• Grand Union Rickmansworth Branch
• Grand Union Slough Branch
• Grand Union Welford Branch
• Grand Union Wendover Branch
• Hertford Union Canal (Grand Union)
• Warwick & Birmingham Canal
• Warwick & Napton Canal

• The Canals of the East Midlands by Charles Hadfield , Edition: 3rd impression ISBN 0-7153-4871-X :294 pages, Published by David & Charles 1 1981 (including part of London) Order now from .

• The Canal: Tring - Rickmansworth in Camera by Peter Ward & Ray Lacey , ISBN 0-86023-374-X :96 pages, Published by Quotes Ltd Description and history of this part of the canal with photographs, prints and facsimiles of old documents. Order now from .

• A Bit More Boating by Shirley Ginger , ISBN 0-9519198-1-4 :180 pages, Published by Lucifer Press 1992 Account of cruising the Nene, Middle Level, Grand Union, Thames, Oxford, BCN and Stratford waterways. Order now from .

• The Grand Union Canal Walk by Anthony Burton & Neil Curtis , ISBN 1 85410 244 3 :168 pages, Published by Aurum Press Ltd 1993 Comprehensive and detailed guide with full colour maps and photographs by Derek Pratt. Order now from .

• At the Heart of the Waterways...Braunston...a Canal History by David Blagrove , 100 pages, Published by Bridgewater Canal Company 1995 A history of the waterways and the local communities part in their story. Illustrated with prints, maps and photographs.

• The Grand Union Canal Walk by Clive Holmes , ISBN 1 85284 206 7 :120 pages, Published by Cicerone Press 1996 A guide to the canal walk between London and Birmingham Order now from .

• Canal Adventures by Moonlight by George Smith , Published by Hodder & Stoughton 1881 The famous reformers's six day journey from London to Leicester by horse boat.

• Southern Inland Waterways by Derek Pratt , ISBN 0 7110 1225 3 :128 pages, Published by Ian Allan 1982 Has 202 b/w photos with a colour cover. It covers the River Thames and its attendant waterways including the southern G.U. and Oxford, and all the Kennet & Avon. Size 9 ½" x 7 ¼. Order now from .

Related External Web Sites

• Bridgewater Boats : Narrowboats for hire, based at Berkhamsted on the Grand Union Canal.
• Calcutt Boats : Boat Hire and marina facilities based on the Grand Union Canal near Napton.
• Canalboat Holidays Ltd : Narrowboat hire based at Weedon on the Grand Union Canal.
• Braunston Marina Ltd : Boat Brokerage and marina services.
• Canal Craft (Brokerage) Ltd : Based at Bugbrooke marina in Northants, with boats also in other locations.
• Cowroast Marinas : Marina Services and boat sales based at Cowroast on the Grand Union and Fenny Compton on the Oxford Canal.
• Harefield Marina : Boat sales and marina services.
• The Canal Museum - Stoke Bruerne : Not a large museum but packed with interest, inside and out, and close to locks and Blisworth Tunnel.
• The London Narrow Boat Project : A registered charity, voluntary organisation based at Braunston, the project offers inexpensive holidays to schools and youth groups throughout the country.
• Braunston - Welcome : A lot of information about Braunston and the area around including the canals and boating activities.
• The Buckingham Canal Society : Restoring the Buckingham and Old Stratford arms of the Grand Union Canal.

Other Related Pages

• Introducing Route Planning : An introduction to planning a cruise route.

Grand Union Aylesbury Branch

Description: Runs 6 miles from Marsworth Junction to Aylesbury.

History: Built under the Grand Junction Canal Act of 1794 but completed in 1815.
For more details see the History page

Waterway Group: This waterway is part of the Grand Union Canal

Navigation Authority: Head Office: British Waterways, MD's Office: Southern Waterways, Waterway Unit: South East Waterways, Brindley Suite, Willow Grange, Church Road, Watford WD17 4QA : Telephone 01923 226422 : Fax 01923 226081 :

Aylesbury Basin

Related Books

• The Canals of the East Midlands by Charles Hadfield , Edition: 3rd impression ISBN 0-7153-4871-X :294 pages, Published by David & Charles 1 1981 (including part of London) Order now from .

• Nicholson/Ordnance Survey Guide to the waterways - 1 by Not known , ISBN 0007136641 :170 pages, Published by Nicholson 2003 London, Grand Union, Oxford and Rivers Lee & Stort Order now from .

Related Photographs

• Grand Union Aylesbury Branch: Aylesbury Basin and Wharves Veiw of basin
• Grand Union Aylesbury Branch: Buckland Lock No 12 Lorna-Ann in lock

Related External Web Sites

• The Aylesbury Canal Society : Formed in 1971 to promote the use of the arm and to run the basin moorings, the Society has gained an enviable reputation for welcoming visitors.

Related Cruising Logs

• 6th September 1994
• 14th September 1997
• 15th September 1997
• 17th August 2001
• 18th August 2001

Other Related Pages

• Cruising Times

Lock Sizes and maximum craft dimensions: Length 72 foot, beam 7 foot. NOTE: For more details of maximum lock and craft sizes and the basis of these figures see Craft and Lock Sizes Page

Grand Union Aylesbury Branch: Table of distances			Miles	Locks	Navigable (N)	Grid ref	OS Map No
Marsworth Junction	Junction with Grand Union Main Line		0.0	0	N	SP918143	165
Marsworth Locks No 1 & 2 (staircase)	Marsworth Bridge No 1		0.0	2	N	SP917143	165
Marsworth Lock No 6	Long Marston Bridge No 2		.5	6	N	SP909144	165
Marsworth Bottom Lock No 8	Wilstone Bridge No 3. Wilstone village to south.		.9	8	N	SP904143	165
Wilstone Lock No 9	Bridge No 5		1.0	9	N	SP901143	165
Puttenham Lock No 10			1.6	10	N	SP892141	165
Puttenham Lock No 11	Puttenham Bridge No 7		1.9	11	N	SP889140	165
Buckland Bridge No 8			2.5	11	N	SP879138	165
Buckland Lock No 12			2.6	12	N	SP877139	165
Aston Clinton (or Redhouse) Lock No 13	College Road Bridge No 9		2.9	13	N	SP872139	165
Broughton Lock No 14	Broughton Road Bridge No 15		4.8	14	N	SP843142	165
Oakfield Bridge (Aylesbury Ring Road)			5.3	14	N	SP834141	165
Aylesbury Lock No 15			5.5	15	N	SP831139	165
Aylesbury Bottom Lock No 16	Bridge No 17		5.8	16	N	SP827138	165
Walton Bridge No 18			5.9	16	N	SP825137	165
Aylesbury Basin and Wharves	End of Navigation		6.1	16	N	SP822135	165

NOTE: N and U in the Navigable column above indicates that the node is navigable or unnavigable. If a D appears here it means that navigation is difficult or restricted to smaller craft.

 

Grand Union Erewash Canal

Description: Runs 11¾ miles from the Junction with the Cromford Canal at Langley Mill to the junction with the River Trent at Trent Lock.

Waterway Group: This waterway is part of the Grand Union Canal

Subordinate Waterways:

• Erewash Canal

Navigation Authority: Head Office: British Waterways, MD's Office: Northern Waterways, Waterway Unit: East Midland Waterways, The Kiln, Mather Road, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG24 1FB : Telephone 01636 704481 : Fax 01636 705584 :

Related Books

• The Canals of the East Midlands by Charles Hadfield , Edition: 3rd impression ISBN 0-7153-4871-X :294 pages, Published by David & Charles 1 1981 (including part of London) Order now from .

• Nicholson/Ordnance Survey Guide to the waterways - 3 by Not known , ISBN 0007136668 :170 pages, Published by Nicholson 2003 Birmingham and the Heart of England. Includes the Ashby, BCN, Birmingham & Fazeley, Coventry, Erewash, GU Leicester Section, GU main line (part), Oxford, Staffordshire & Worcstershire, Worcester & Birmingham Canals and part of the Trent & Mersey. Order now from .

• Pearson's Canal Companion: East Midlands, Leicester Ring, Erewash & Nottingham by Michael Pearson , ISBN 0907864740 :Published by J M Pearson & Son 1997 Order now from .

Related Photographs

• Grand Union Erewash Canal: Sandiacre Lock No 63 Lorna-Ann in

Related Cruising Logs

• 9th July 1996
• 10th July 1996

Other Related Pages

• Cruising Times

Lock Sizes and maximum craft dimensions: Trent Lock to Length 72 foot, beam 14 foot 3 inches. NOTE: For more details of maximum lock and craft sizes and the basis of these figures see Craft and Lock Sizes Page

Grand Union Erewash Canal: Table of distances			Miles	Locks	Navigable (N)	Grid ref	OS Map No
Trent Lock Junction	Junctions with Grand Union Leicester Section and River Trent		0.0	1	N	SK491311	129
Long Eaton Lock No 61			1.8	2	N	SK488335	129
Dock Holme Lock No 62			3.0	3	N	SK483351	129
Sandiacre Lock No 63			3.3	4	N	SK482357	129
Sandiacre Junction	Junction with the closed Derby Canal		3.3	4	N	SK482357	129
Sandiacre Pasture Lock No 64			4.9	5	N	SK483378	129
Stanton Lock No 65	Previously called White House Junction Lock.		5.5	6	N	SK481389	129
White House Junction	Junction with abandoned Nutbrook Canal		5.6	6	N	SK481390	129
Hallam Fields Lock No 66			6.0	7	N	SK479396	129
Gallows Inn Lock No 67	Gallows Inn Road Bridge		6.8	8	N	SK475405	129
Greens Lock No 68			7.3	9	N	SK476413	129
Potter's Lock No 69			7.6	10	N	SK475416	129
Barker's Lock No 70			8.5	11	N	SK469431	129
Stenson's Lock No 71			9.8	12	N	SK470434	129
Shipley Lock No 72			10.1	13	N	SK462453	129
Eastwood Lock No 73			10.5	14	N	SK460458	129
Langley Mill Junction with Cromford Canal	End of navigation		11.8	14	N	SK454472	129

NOTE: N and U in the Navigable column above indicates that the node is navigable or unnavigable. If a D appears here it means that navigation is difficult or restricted to smaller craft.

 

Leicestershire & Northampton Union Canal

Description: Original title of the canal from Leicester to Market Harborough, now part of the G.U. Leicestershire Section.

History: Authorised by an Act of 1793, in 1797 was completed to Debdale wharf about 6 miles from Market Harborough, a new Act was obtained in 1805 and the canal reached Market Harborough in 1809. Purchased in 1894 by the Grand Junction.
For more details see the History page

Waterway Group: This waterway is part of the Grand Union Leicester Section

Related Books

• The Canals of the East Midlands by Charles Hadfield , Edition: 3rd impression ISBN 0-7153-4871-X :294 pages, Published by David & Charles 1 1981 (including part of London) Order now from .

Related External Web Sites

• The Old Union Canals Society : Promotes two canals, the Old Union (the Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Union) and the original Grand Union from Foxton to Norton Junction.

Leicester Navigation

Description: A 15¾ mile canal with 10 locks between the Loughbourgh Navigation and Leicester. Now part of the Grand Union Leicester Section.

History: Authorised by an Act of 1791 and fully open in 1794. The 8¾ mile canal and tramroad Charnwood Forest branch was disused by 1799 and abandoned in 1848. The main line became part of the new Grand Union Canal Company in 1932.
For more details see the History page

Waterway Group: This waterway is part of the Grand Union Leicester Section

Loughborough Navigation

Description: The original, 9¼ miles, River Soar navigation from Loughborough to the Trent, now part of the G.U. Leicestershire Section.

History: Authorised by Acts of 1766 (river improvements) and 1776 (canal work), opened in 1780. Became part of the Grand Union Canal in 1932.
For more details see the History page

Waterway Group: This waterway is part of the Grand Union Leicester Section

Related Books

• The Canals of the East Midlands by Charles Hadfield , Edition: 3rd impression ISBN 0-7153-4871-X :294 pages, Published by David & Charles 1 1981 (including part of London) Order now from .

Other Related Pages

• My Holidays on Inland Waterways - Cruise XVIII : Leicestershire Waterways. By P Bonthron. First published 1916.

Old Grand Union Canal

Description: The Grand Union Canal ran 23 miles from Foxton to Norton Junction where it met the Grand Junction Canal (confusingly now called the Grand Union).

History: Authorised in 1810 and fully opened in 1814. Bought by the Grand Junction Canal in 1894. In 1929 the Grand Junction Canal Company amalgamated with other canal companies and became the Grand Union Canal, thus making the old Grand Union Canal part of the new Grand Union Canal.
For more details see the History page

Waterway Group: This waterway is part of the Grand Union Leicester Section

 

Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.