Fascinating canal facts
Discover ten fascinating canal facts from the deepest lock to the shortest canal...
1. Which lock is the deepest?
According to the Nicholsons Guide (set of guide books to the waterways of the UK); the deepest lock in Britain is Bath Deep Lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal at 19ft 5", Tuel Lane Lock on the Rochdale canal comes second at 19ft 4 1/2" Although there is some controversy over this, and if you look on Wikipedia they are listed the other way around with Tuel Lock being the deeper at 19ft 8 1/2"!
2. Which is the longest canal in the UK?
The Grand Union Canal is the longest canal in the UK, stretching from London to Birmingham. for 137 miles. Cruising the whole length non-stop would take you 74 hours, and of course Whilton Marina lies on the Grand Union in Northamptonshire.
The longest canal in Britain as a single waterway is the Leeds and Liverpool at 127 miles long.
3. Which is the shortest canal?
The Wardle Lock branch of the Trent and Mersey consists of just one 72ft lock and a few feet of canal either side!
4. Which is the newest canal?
The Ribble Link is the newest edition to the UK's canal network. It links the once-isolated Lancaster Canal in Lancashire, England to the River Ribble and was opened in July 2002.
5. Which is the oldest canal?
The Fossdyke Navigation dates back to Roman times and is believed to be the oldest canal. It connects the River Trent at Torksey to Lincoln, and is thought to have been built around AD 120 by the Romans. It was refurbished in 1121, during the reign of King Henry I.
6. Which is the longest canal tunnel in the UK?
Standedge Tunnel is Britain's longest, deepest and highest canal tunnel and is situated on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal in West Yorkshire. Standedge Tunnel burrows 194 metres (638 feet) beneath the Pennines. It's nearly three and a half miles long and took 16 years to build, is 196 metres (645 feet) above sea level.
There is a visitors centre at Standedge Tunnel, where you can take a trip boat through and experience the tunnel first hand.
7. Which is the longest Aquaduct in the UK?
A World Heritage Site, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct on the Llangollen Canal is the UK's longest aquaduct. The aqueduct stretches over the River Dee Valley and is 1000 feet long. The first boat aqueduct in the UK was built at Barton in 1761 to carry the Duke of Bridgewater’s canal from Worsley to Manchester. It was replaced in 1893 by the Barton Swing Aqueduct. Designed and built by Thomas Telford and Williams Jessop,
Pontcysyllte means 'the bridge that connects' and is 'the jewel in the crown'
8. Which is the highest stretch of canal in the Britain?
The Huddersfield Narrow Canal scales the Pennines and its summit is the highest stretch of canal in Britain. It is19.3 miles long, with 74 locks along it's length.
9. Which is the highest aquaduct in the UK?
As well as being the longest aquaduct in the UK, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct on the Llangollen canal is also the highest aqueduct in the World. The 18-arched stone and cast iron structure is for use by narrowboats and was completed in 1805 having taken ten years to design and build. It stretches over the River Dee Valley and is 1000 feet long.
10. What was the first aquaduct built in the UK?
The first boat aqueduct in the UK was built at Barton in 1761 to carry the Duke of Bridgewater’s canal from Worsley to Manchester. It was replaced in 1893 by the Barton Swing Aqueduct.
More fascinating canal facts coming soon....