Shared description

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


1265 images use this description. Preview sample shown below:

SP8831 : Grand Union Canal by Richard Croft
SP2566 : Grand Union Canal - lock No. 34 by Chris Allen
SP8834 : Fenny Stratford Swing Bridge by Stephen McKay
SP6165 : Grand Union Canal by N Chadwick
SP4563 : Grand Union Canal by David P Howard
SP6263 : Muscott Mill Bridge, Grand Union Canal by Stephen McKay
SP7350 : Blisworth Tunnel by David Dixon
SP6163 : Grand Union Canal and M1, south of Whilton by Christopher Hilton
TQ2783 : Grand Union Canal by Paul Gillett
TQ0794 : Metropolitan Line Bridge by N Chadwick
SP2166 : View towards Ball's Bridge by David P Howard
SP5465 : The Boat Shop, Braunston by Stephen McKay
TQ0794 : Lot Mead Lock, Grand Union Canal by N Chadwick
TL0604 : Nash Mill Bottom Lock No 69 by Mat Fascione
SP9908 : Grand Union Canal at Berkhamsted by David Martin
SP9027 : Grand Union Canal north of Old Linslade, from the railway by Christopher Hilton
TQ3283 : Regent's Canal, Wenlock Basin Branch by David Dixon
TQ0588 : Narrowboat Alicia on Grand Union Canal, Harefield by David Hawgood
SP3364 : White geese by bridge 36, Grand Union Canal by Fred Howard
SP7942 : Solomons bridge 65, Grand Union Canal by Jo and Steve Turner
SP1779 : Grand Union Canal north of Knowle, Solihull by Roger  D Kidd
SP9125 : Grand Union Canal, Leighton Buzzard by Stephen McKay
TL0605 : Apsley Bottom Lock No 67 by Mat Fascione
SP9319 : Canalside cottage at Horton Wharf by David Martin
SK5705 : Footbridge along the Grand Union Canal at Frog Island by Mat Fascione

... and 1240 more images.

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