SE5929 : Burn Bridge, The Selby Canal, Brayton
taken 3 years ago, near to Brayton, North Yorkshire, England

Construction of The Selby Canal started in 1775 with William Jessop and John Gott as engineers; it opened in 1778. It is 9.7km long, running from The Ouse at Selby to The Aire at West Haddlesey; it has a lock at both ends. The canal provided the main outlet for the Aire and Calder Navigation until 1826 when a new cut from Ferrybridge to Goole provided quicker access to the Humber. Its depth was increased in 1828 and the locks were enlarged in 1885. A feature of the canal are the siphon tunnels which allow land drains to pass under the canal. There were originally five of these situated at West Haddlesey, Paper House Farm, Lund, Brayton and The Vivars, Selby. The one in Selby has been filled in.
