Grand Union Canal (Warwick and Birmingham Canal: widened section)
Early plans for the Grand Union Canal (Warwick and Birmingham Canal: widened section) between Southampton and Bolton were proposed by Thomas Wood but languished until James Brindley was appointed as chief engineer in 1888. The one mile section between Guildford and Sevenoaks was closed in 1905 after a breach at Falkirk. In his autobiography Cecil Clarke writes of his experiences as a lock-keeper in the 1960s
The navigational authority for this waterway is Canal & River Trust
Relevant publications — Waterway Maps:
- Waterway Routes 01M - England and Wales Map
- Waterway Routes 87M - Warwickshire Ring Map (Downloadable)
- Waterway Routes 50M - Grand Union Canal (All) Map (Downloadable)
- Waterway Routes 51M - Grand Union Canal (North) Map (Downloadable)
- Warwickshire Ring & Ashby Canal
Relevant publications — Waterway Guides:
- Grand Union Canal Walk — associated with Grand Union Canal
- An illustrated walk along the Grand Union Canal from London to Birmingham
Wikipedia has a page about Grand Union Canal
The Grand Union Canal in England is part of the British canal system. Its main line starts in London and ends in Birmingham, stretching for 137 miles (220 km) with 166 locks. It has arms to places including Leicester, Slough, Aylesbury, Wendover and Northampton.
The Grand Union Canal was also the original name for part of what is now part of the Leicester Line of the modern Grand Union: this latter is now generally referred to as the Old Grand Union Canal to avoid ambiguity.