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The Grand Union Canal

The Grand Union Canal was formed from an amalgamation of several formerly separate canals. Until the 1920s these had been independently owned and operated. The original part of the system was the Grand Junction Canal between Braunston and Brentford, constructed to reduce the route from the Midlands to London by sixty miles. This had locks fourteen feet wide, many branches to major towns and broad beam boats carrying up to seventy tons. Earlier linking canals were built with seven foot wide locks.

The Regent's Canal acquired the Grand Junction and other canals in 1929 and created the new Grand Union Canal Carrying Company (GUCCC). In 1932, with government aid, extensive modernisation was carried out, including the widening of 52 locks between Braunston and Birmingham (Camp Hill), and the demolition and replacement of many 18th and early 19th century bridges; then the money ran out - and the World War II started, so the task was never completed.

Waterways absorbed into the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company include:

London area:

Regent's Canal – original company
Hertford Union Canal – bought by the Regent's Canal in 1857

Main Line*:

Warwick and Napton Canal – bought by the Regent's Canal in 1927
Warwick and Birmingham Canal – bought by the Regent's Canal in 1927
Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal – bought by the Regent's Canal in 1927
Grand Junction Canal – bought by the Regent's Canal in 1927

Leicester Line:

Old Grand Union Canal – bought by the Grand Junction in 1894
Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Union Canal – bought by the Grand Junction in 1894
Leicester Navigation – bought by the Grand Union in 1932
Loughborough Navigation – bought by the Grand Union in 1932
Erewash Canal – bought by the Grand Union in 1932

*The current main line starts in London and ends in Birmingham (Digbeth), stretching for 137 miles (220 km) with 166 locks.

For more details, a good start is: LinkExternal link
by Roger D Kidd

Created: Mon, 24 Sep 2012, Updated: Sun, 2 Dec 2018


1129 images use this description. Preview sample shown below:

SK5600 : The Grand Union Canal and towpath at Aylestone by Mat Fascione
SP9412 : Grand Union Canal, Tring by Stephen McKay
SP6097 : Kilby Lock No 30 on the Grand Union Canal by Mat Fascione
SK5701 : Towpath along the Grand Union Canal in Aylestone by Mat Fascione
SP2067 : Grand Union Canal, near Shrewley by Stephen McKay
SP5969 : Kilsby Road Bridge, Leicester Section - Grand Union Canal by Stephen McKay
SP7548 : Grand Union Canal, Pumping Station by David Dixon
SP2965 : A leafy stretch of the Grand Union Canal, Warwick by Robin Stott
SK5600 : Footbridge along the Grand Union Canal by Mat Fascione
TQ2681 : Footbridge over the canal by David P Howard
SP0885 : Grand Union Canal near Sparkbrook, Birmingham by Roger  D Kidd
SP2167 : Shrewley Horse Tunnel, Grand Union Canal by David P Howard
TQ0794 : Disused railway bridge, Grand Union Canal by N Chadwick
SP1481 : Dovehouse Lane Bridge south-east of Olton, Solihull by Roger  D Kidd
SP2965 : Grand Union Canal, Emscote by Stephen McKay
SP6065 : Canal at Norton Junction in Northamptonshire by Roger  D Kidd
TQ3383 : Regent's Canal by Richard Croft
SP5698 : Whetstone Lane Lock No 35 by Mat Fascione
TQ0489 : Bridge No 179 across the Grand Union Canal by Mat Fascione
SP9122 : Grove Lock Marina by Stephen McKay
SP5969 : Kilsby Road Bridge north-west of Watford, Northamptonshire by Roger  D Kidd
SP5897 : Grand Union Canal east of Blaby in Leicestershire by Roger  D Kidd
TQ0490 : Grand Union Canal towpath at Mount Pleasant by Mat Fascione
TQ2482 : Canal side properties on Harrow Road by David P Howard
SP6593 : Moss Farm and the Grand Union Canal by Mat Fascione

... and 1104 more images.

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