Rugby Wharf Arm Junction is a complicated waterways junction.
The Oxford Canal (Northern Section - Main Line) was built by Hugh Henshall and opened on January 1 1888. Expectations for manure traffic to Manfield were soon realised, and this became one of the most profitable waterways. Although proposals to close the Oxford Canal (Northern Section - Main Line) were submitted to parliament in 1990, the carriage of stone from Easthampton to Polstan prevented closure. In his autobiography Peter Edwards writes of his experiences as a navvy in the 1960s
The Oxford Canal (Northern Section - Rugby Wharf Arm) was built by Thomas Telford and opened on January 1 1782. From a junction with The River Brue at Nottingham the canal ran for 23 miles to Perth. The Oxford Canal (Northern Section - Rugby Wharf Arm) was closed in 1888 when Swansea Boat Lift collapsed. The canal was restored to navigation and reopened in 1972 after a restoration campaign lead by the Oxford Canal (Northern Section - Rugby Wharf Arm) Society.

Mooring here is impossible (it may be physically impossible, forbidden, or allowed only for specific short-term purposes).
You can wind here.
| Oxford Canal (Northern Section - Main Line) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Brownsover Arm Junction (disused) | 3 furlongs | |
| The Bell and Barge PH | 2¾ furlongs | |
| Brownsover Footbridge | 2¾ furlongs | |
| River Swift Aqueduct No 55 | 1¼ furlongs | |
| Old Leicester Road Aqueduct | ¾ furlongs | |
| Rugby Wharf Arm Junction | ||
| Consul Road Bridge No 53 | 1¼ furlongs | |
| Factory Bridge No 52 | 1¾ furlongs | |
| Old Railway Bridge (disused) | 2 furlongs | |
| Newbold Quarry Country Park | 3¾ furlongs | |
| Greens Bridge No 51 | 5 furlongs | |
| Oxford Canal (Northern Section - Rugby Wharf Arm) | ||
| Rugby Wharf Arm Junction | ||
| Rugby Wharf Long-term Moorings | 1 furlong | |
| Rugby Wharf Winding Hole | 1½ furlongs | |
| Rugby Wharf Dock | 2 furlongs | |
- Oxford Canal Walk - Part One - Oxford to Thrupp - YouTube — associated with Oxford Canal
- A walk along the Oxford Canal (Southern Section) from Oxford to Thrupp Wide
Mouseover for more information or show routes to facility
Nearest water point
In the direction of Hawkesbury Junction
In the direction of Braunston Turn
Nearest rubbish disposal
In the direction of Hawkesbury Junction
In the direction of Braunston Turn
Nearest chemical toilet disposal
In the direction of Hawkesbury Junction
In the direction of Braunston Turn
Nearest place to turn
In the direction of Hawkesbury Junction
In the direction of Braunston Turn
In the direction of Rugby Wharf Dock
Nearest self-operated pump-out
In the direction of Hawkesbury Junction
In the direction of Braunston Turn
Nearest boatyard pump-out
In the direction of Hawkesbury Junction
In the direction of Braunston Turn
There is no page on Wikipedia called “Rugby Wharf Arm Junction”



![Oxford Canal aqueduct over road, Rugby. This is the second of the two aqueducts referred to in [[3813036]], this one carrying the canal over a minor road. The cast iron bridge at the entrance to the arm serving Rugby Wharf is more prominent. by Christopher Hall – 22 April 2011](https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/81/30/3813043_cf893d10_120x120.jpg)
![Oxford Canal entrance to arm to Rugby Wharf 2. A slightly closer view than [[3813061]]. Just beyond the sign on the right is a turning place or winding hole in canal parlance. When coming from the east, passing the junction and turning here makes entering the arm easier. This winding hole is a fragment of the pre 1820s alignment of the canal which turned north at this point and contoured round the valley crossed by the aqueduct shown in [[3813036]]. The old alignment just north of the present course is now covered by an industrial estate. by Christopher Hall – 22 April 2011](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/81/30/3813076_b994429b_120x120.jpg)







![Oxford Canal entrance to arm to Rugby Wharf 1. A closer view of the entrance to the arm or branch serving Rugby Wharf. Photographs [[3813036]] and [[3813043]] show a progression towards this junction from the east. The boat is entering from the west; because of the angle of the junction it is easier for a boat from the east to go past the junction, turn and then approach from the west as Dabchick is. The cast iron bridge is one of those produced by the Horseley Ironworks circa 1828 in connection with the straightening of the canal described in [[3812926]]. by Christopher Hall – 22 April 2011](https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/81/30/3813061_22f97690_120x120.jpg)
![Footbridge along the Oxford Canal. The footbridge carries the towpath across the Rugby Wharf Arm of the canal.This bridge is identical to [[4474888]] which is a couple of kilometres to the west along the canal. by Mat Fascione – 12 May 2015](https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/47/52/4475223_4c8ccddb_120x120.jpg)
![Footbridge along the Oxford Canal. The footbridge is carrying the towpath across the Rugby Wharf Arm of the Oxford Canal. This bridge is identical to one a couple of kilometres to the west along the canal [[4474902]] by Mat Fascione – 12 May 2015](https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/04/47/52/4475249_0e054cca_120x120.jpg)












![Aqueduct [no 54], northern Oxford Canal. From the west. Carrying the straightened route of the canal over the Old Leicester Road. For a few from the road, see [[76867]]. by Christine Johnstone – 07 June 2025](https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/08/11/20/8112030_b618b97a_120x120.jpg)
![Oxford Canal aqueducts, Rugby. The Oxford Canal running to the north of Rugby is here on an alignment following the re-engineering and straightening of the canal in the late 1820s described in [[3812926]]. The canal at this point has two aqueducts closely spaced; this one which carries the canal over a stream and another where the canal narrows again (and the on coming boat is) which carries it over a minor road. The white arched structure in the distance is the entrance to the arm or branch to Rugby Wharf. by Christopher Hall – 22 April 2011](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/81/30/3813036_7d39fec0_120x120.jpg)

