List_of_canals_of_the_United_Kingdom

List of canals in the United Kingdom

List of canals in the United Kingdom

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The following list of canals in the United Kingdom, includes some systems that are navigable rivers with sections of canal (e.g. Aire and Calder Navigation) as well as "completely" artificial canals (e.g. Rochdale Canal).

Map showing canals of the British Isles. Canals in orange, rivers in blue, streams in grey.
Map of the current, leisure oriented system.

Canals in England

More information Canal, Length ...

Canals in Northern Ireland

Lagan Navigational Canal (disused) at Broadwater, near Aghalee)
More information Canal, Length (miles) ...

Canals in Scotland

More information Canal, Length (miles) ...

Canals in Wales

More information Canal, Length (miles) ...

Proposed canal routes

Active projects

  • Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway: Connection from Grand Union Canal at Milton Keynes to the River Great Ouse near Bedford. This link will finally enable broad-beam boats to travel from the north to the south of the inland waterway network.[34]
  • Fens Waterways Link: The Fens Waterways Link comprises several new waterways and improvements to current routes. It will create new circular routes and in conjunction with the Milton Keynes and Bedford Waterway, it will be connected to the rest of the country's waterways via the Great Ouse.[35]
  • Maidenhead Waterways: Making the York Stream and other parts of the Maidenhead Waterways fully navigable for boats and linking to other nearby canals and navigable rivers.[36]

Proposals


Former proposals

  • Grand Contour Canal: First proposed in 1943, was intended to connect the major industrial centres of London, Bristol, Southampton, Coventry, Birmingham, Nottingham, Derby, Chester, Manchester, Blackburn, Bradford, Hartlepool and Newcastle.[40]
  • London to Portsmouth canal: Also known as the Grand Southern Canal, and proposed on several occasions, this route would utilise existing canals and rivers, with new links constructed, to provide an overland route between the cities of London and Portsmouth, removing the need to enter the English Channel.[40]
  • Berks & Hants Canal, a proposed link from the terminus of the Basingstoke Canal at Basingstoke to the Kennet and Avon Canal, rejected twice by Parliament after landowner opposition.[40]
  • Polbrock Canal, approved by Parliament in the 1790s, this link between the north and south coasts of Cornwall would have joined the River Camel with the Fowey at Bodmin.[40]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    M=midlands, EA=East Anglia, NE=North-East etc.
  2. [2]
    now part of the Grand Union Canal
  3. [3]
    Main line, incl old main line and branches
  4. [4]
    part of Birmingham Canal Navigations
  5. [5]
    inclined planes
  6. [6]
    South Yorkshire
  7. [7]
    Total holdings 1929
  8. [8]
    never officially closed but unusable till reopened
  9. [9]
    72 from Liverpool to Wigan incl Leigh branch
  10. [10]
    connection to Limehouse Basin 1968
  11. [11]
    but passage still possible
  12. [12]
    only 1.1m remains open making 3.7m total including the Beeston cut
  13. [13]
    includes Bow Back rivers
  14. [14]
    Also known as the Torrington Canal
  15. [15]
    included an inclined plane
  16. [16]
    only part of this was built
  17. [17]
    the river section from Bramwith to Rotherham takes boats 229’8" long and 20’ wide
  18. [18]
    The Middlewich branch is 70’
  19. [19]
    The old Chester canal from Nantwich to Ellesmere Port is 9’
  20. [20]
    The Radstock arm closed in 1898
  21. [21]
    About 0.5m only, for moorings on the Kennet and Avon canal
  22. [22]
    also known as the Gravesend and Rochester Canal
  23. [23]
    Preston brook to Croxton Aqueduct is 9’ wide
  24. [24]
    Priestley, Joseph (2 February 2024). "Historical Account of the Navigable Rivers, Canals, and Railways, of Great Britain".
  25. [25]
    Increased to 13' in 1933
  26. [26]
    includes Arun Navigation
  27. [27]
    "About the Wey and Arun Canal". Wey and Arun Canal Trust.
  28. [28]
    also known as Tyrone Navigation
  29. [29]
    Originally the Ballyconnell and Ballinamore Canals
  30. [30]
    an inclined plane was later used
  31. [31]
    originally known as "Edinburgh and Glasgow Union Canal"
  32. [32]
    includes the Falkirk Wheel
  33. [33]
    includes 3 inclined planes
  34. [34]
    "Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway". Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
  35. [35]
    "The Fens Waterways Link". Environment Agency Waterways Team. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
  36. [36]
    "The Maidenhead River Project". Maidenhead Waterways Restoration Group. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
  37. [37]
    "IWAAC Inland Waterway review 2006" (PDF). Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council. Archived from the original (pdf) on 22 July 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
  38. [38]
    "Upper Avon Extension (Proposed)". Inland Waterways Association. Archived from the original on 2 May 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
  39. [39]
    Ludgate, Martin (9 April 2014). "Far and wide?". Canal Boat. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  40. [40]
    "Waterfront | Canal & River Trust".
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