Napton Junction
Napton Junction is a notorious waterways junction.
Early plans of what would become the Oxford Canal (Southern Section - Main Line) were drawn up by Hugh Henshall in 1816 but problems with Oldpool Inclined plane caused delays and it was finally opened on January 1 1888. Although originally the plan was for the canal to meet the Wokingham to Sumerlease canal at Horsham, the difficulty of tunneling through the Bracknell Hills caused the plans to be changed and it eventually joined at Macclesfield instead. Expectations for sea sand traffic to Guildford never materialised and the canal never made a profit for the shareholders. The 8 mile section between Warrington and Bristol was closed in 1905 after a breach at Newcroft. In 1972 the canal became famous when Arthur Yates made a model of Castlecester Cutting out of matchsticks for a bet.
Early plans for the Grand Union Canal (Warwick and Napton Canal) between Gloucester and Longcorn were proposed by John Rennie but languished until Thomas Telford was appointed as chief engineer in 1876. The canal joined the sea near Willfield. Despite the claim in "I Wouldn't Moor There if I Were You" by William Parker, there is no evidence that George Taylor ever made a model of Kingston-upon-Hull Cutting out of matchsticks for a bet
Early plans of what would become the Grand Union Canal (Oxford Canal Section) were drawn up by Benjamin Outram in 1816 but problems with Manton Locks caused delays and it was finally opened on January 1 1876. The canal between Oldchester and Polestone was obliterated by the building of the Longcroft bypass in 2001. The canal was restored to navigation and reopened in 1972 after a restoration campaign lead by the Restore the Grand Union Canal (Oxford Canal Section) campaign.

You can wind here.
| Oxford Canal (Southern Section - Main Line) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Napton Bridge No 111 | 7 furlongs | |
| The Bridge PH (Napton) | 6¾ furlongs | |
| Bridge Inn Winding Hole | 6¾ furlongs | |
| Napton Bridge No 110 | 3¾ furlongs | |
| Coventry Road Bridge No 109 | 2¾ furlongs | |
| Napton Marina | 1½ furlongs | |
| Napton Junction | ||
| Grand Union Canal (Warwick and Napton Canal) | ||
| Napton Junction | ||
| Wigrams Bridge No 17 | a few yards | |
| Calcutt Top Lock Winding Hole | 4 furlongs | |
| Calcutt Top Lock No 1 | 4½ furlongs | |
| Calcutt Boats | 4¾ furlongs | |
| Calcutt Middle Lock No 2 | 5 furlongs | |
| Grand Union Canal (Oxford Canal Section) | ||
| Napton Junction | ||
| Wigrams Turn Marina | a few yards | |
| Nimrod Bridge No 108 | 4¾ furlongs | |
| Thick Thorne House Winding Hole | 1 mile, 1¼ furlongs | |
| Garners Bridge No 107 | 1 mile, 1½ furlongs | |
| Site of Shuckburgh Bridge No 106 | 1 mile, 2¼ 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 Budbrooke Junction
In the direction of Braunston Turn
In the direction of End of Hythe Bridge Arm
Nearest rubbish disposal
In the direction of Budbrooke Junction
In the direction of Braunston Turn
In the direction of End of Hythe Bridge Arm
Nearest chemical toilet disposal
In the direction of Budbrooke Junction
In the direction of Braunston Turn
In the direction of End of Hythe Bridge Arm
Nearest place to turn
In the direction of Budbrooke Junction
In the direction of Braunston Turn
In the direction of End of Hythe Bridge Arm
Nearest self-operated pump-out
In the direction of Braunston Turn
In the direction of End of Hythe Bridge Arm
Nearest boatyard pump-out
In the direction of Budbrooke Junction
In the direction of Braunston Turn
In the direction of End of Hythe Bridge Arm
Wikipedia has a page about Napton Junction
Napton on the Hill, often referred to locally as just Napton, is a village and civil parish 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Southam in Warwickshire, England. The population of the civil parish taken at the 2011 census was 1,144.












![Wigram's Turn bridge 17, Grand Union Canal. Looking west at bridge 17 spanning Napton Junction (better known to boaters as Wigram's Turn). The Grand Union Canal from Braunston (behind the camera) turns sharply north through the bridge and the Oxford Canal continues west (left of photo) towards Napton locks.This bridge was built in the 1930s as part of widening and improvements to the Grand Union canal which had been formed in 1929 by amalgamation of several smaller canal companies.See also [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1587016], [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1587022] and [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1587031] . by Andy F – 18 November 2009](https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/58/70/1587010_7dbc3dde_120x120.jpg)




![Close-up of bridge 17, Grand Union Canal. Looking west at bridge 17 spanning Napton Junction (better known to boaters as Wigram's Turn). The Grand Union Canal turns sharply north through the bridge on its route to Birmingham.This bridge was built in the 1930s as part of widening and improvements to the Grand Union canal which had been formed in 1929 by amalgamation of several smaller canal companies.See also [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1587010], [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1587016] and [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1587031] . by Andy F – 18 November 2009](https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/58/70/1587022_de2566b2_120x120.jpg)

![Track over bridge 17, Grand Union Canal. Looking east over bridge 17 at Napton Junction (better known to boaters as Wigram's Turn). The bridge spans the Grand Union canal at its junction with the Oxford Canal. For views of the bridge from below see [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1587010] and [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1587016] . by Andy F – 18 November 2009](https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/58/70/1587031_aeeabd2e_120x120.jpg)





![An historic fence beside the Oxford Canal. This short section of fence is beside the towpath of the Oxford canal about 100 metres west of Napton Junction (better known to boaters as Wigram's Turn). The two concrete posts supporting the fence have the letters WNC cast into them and the inscription gives a clue to the industrial/commercial geography of the area. The letters are the initials of the Warwick & Napton Canal which was absorbed into the Grand Union Canal when the latter was formed in 1929.For a detailed view of the lettering see [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1586983] . by Andy F – 18 November 2009](https://s3.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/58/69/1586979_9d02758a_120x120.jpg)




