List of canals in the United Kingdom
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Map_of_canals_of_the_United_Kingdom.png/350px-Map_of_canals_of_the_United_Kingdom.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/England_Wales_Waterway_Map_Simplified.svg/350px-England_Wales_Waterway_Map_Simplified.svg.png)
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).
Canals in England
Canal | Length | Locks | Max boat length (ft) | Width (ft) | Where[1] | Year opened | Year abandoned | Navigable status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aire and Calder Navigation | 34 mi (55 km) | 12 | 200 | 20 | NE | 1704 | Fully navigable | |
Andover Canal | 22 mi (35 km) | 24 | 65 | 8.5 | S | 1794 | 1859 | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some small sections in water |
Arbury Canals | 6 mi (10 km) | 13 | 1786 | 1819, 1973 | ||||
Ashby-de-la-Zouch Canal | 22 mi (35 km) | 0 | 72 | 7 | M | 1804 | 1918, 1966 | Under restoration - part open, part under restoration |
Ashton Canal | 6 mi (10 km) | 18 | 70 | 7 | NW | 1796 | 1961 | Fully navigable - restored 1974 |
Barnsley Canal | 14.5 mi (23 km) | 15 | 84 | 14 | NW | 1799 | 1893, 1946 | Abandoned - restoration plans on hiatus |
Basingstoke Canal | 32 mi (51 km) | 29 | 68 | 13 | S | 1794 | 1910 | Part navigable - Restored 1991, remainder of route lost |
Baybridge Canal | 3.5 mi (6 km) | 2 | 1826 | 1875 | ||||
Beaumont Cut | 0.6 mi (1 km) | 0 | 1832 | 1932 | Abandoned - line of canal in water | |||
Bentley Canal | 3.4 mi (5 km) | 10 | 1845 | 1953 | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, stub in Wednesfield used for mooring | |||
Beverley Beck | 0.5 mi (1 km) | 1 | 65 | 17.5 | NE | 1744 | Fully navigable | |
Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal[2] | 2.5 mi (4 km) | 6 | 70 | 7 | M | 1844 | Fully navigable | |
Birmingham Canal Navigations[3] | 29.8 mi (48 km) | 34 | 70 | 7 | M | 1772–1794 | ||
Birmingham and Fazeley Canal[4] | 20.5 mi (33 km) | 44 | 70 | 7 | M | 1789 | Fully navigable | |
Black Bear Canal | 8 mi (13 km) | 1804 | 1965 | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some small sections in water | ||||
Blyth Navigation | 7 mi (11 km) | 6 | 50 | 14 | EA | 1761 | 1911 | Abandoned - line of canal in water |
Bradford Canal | 3.5 mi (6 km) | 10 | 1774 | 1922 | Abandoned - restoration being investigated | |||
Bridgewater Canal | 40 mi (64 km) | 0 | 72 | 14.75 | NW | 1761 | Fully navigable bar short missing section at junction with Manchester Ship Canal | |
Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, Somerset | 14.5 mi (23 km) | 6 | 50 | 9.83 | SW | 1827 | 1907 | Fully navigable - Restored 1994 |
Bude Canal | 35 mi (56 km) | 2[5] | 20 | 5.5 | SW | 1823 | 1891 | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost |
Caistor Canal | 4 mi (6 km) | 6 | 61.5 | 15.25 | N | 1793 | 1855 | Abandoned - line of canal in water |
Calder and Hebble Navigation | 21.5 mi (35 km) | 38 | 55 | 14 | NE | 1794 | Fully navigable | |
Caldon Canal | 18 mi (29 km) | 17 | 72 | 7 | NM | 1779 | Fully navigable | |
Cann Quarry Canal | 2 mi (3 km) | 1825 | 1839 | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost | ||||
Car Dyke | 85 mi (137 km) | 0 | 120 (appr) | 1200 (appr) | Abandoned - line of canal in water | |||
Chard Canal | 13.5 mi (22 km) | 4[5] | 1842 | 1868 | Abandoned - some of the line still traceable | |||
Charnwood Forest Canal | 6 mi (10 km) | 1794 | 1808 | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost | ||||
Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation | 13.8 mi (22 km) | 13 | 60 | 16 | EA | 1797 | Fully navigable | |
Chesterfield Canal | 45.5 mi (73 km), now 31.5 mi (51 km) | 62 | 72 | 7 | NE | 1777 | 1907 (part) | Under restoration - Less than 9 miles (14 km) of the original route remain to be restored to link the two navigable sections |
Chichester Canal | 4.5 mi (7 km) | 3 | 85 | 18 | S | 1822 | 1906 | Part navigable - remainder of route in water but unnavigable |
Cinderford Canal | 1.25 mi (2 km) | 0 | 1797 | 1810 ? | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost | |||
City Canal | 1 mi (2 km) | 2 | 1805 | 1829 | Abandoned - Route has been almost completely reconstructed to form the South Dock of the West India Docks | |||
Coombe Hill Canal | 2.75 mi (4 km) | 1 | 1796 | 1876 | Abandoned - line of canal in water | |||
Coventry Canal | 32.7 mi (53 km) | 13 | 72 | 7 | M | 1769, 1788 | Fully navigable | |
Cromford Canal | 14.5 mi (23 km) | 14 | 1794 | 1900 | Under restoration | |||
Croydon Canal | 9.25 mi (15 km) | 28 | 1809 | 1836 | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost | |||
Dearne and Dove Canal[6] | 9.8 mi (16 km) | 19 | 58 | 14.83 | NE | 1804 | 1961 | Abandoned - restoration being investigated |
Derby Canal | 14 mi (23 km) | 17 | 72 | 14 | NE | 1796 | Abandoned - restoration being investigated | |
Derby and Sandiacre Canal | 14.5 mi (23 km) | 9 | 72 | 14 | NE | 1793 | 1964 | Under restoration |
Digbeth Branch Canal[4] | 1.25 mi (2.0 km) | 6 | 72 | 7 | M | 1799 | Fully navigable | |
Donnington Wood Canal | 5.5 mi (9 km) | 1767 | 1904 | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost | ||||
Driffield Navigation, East Yorkshire | 11 mi (18 km) | 6 | 61 | 14.5 | NE | 1767 | 1955 (part) | Fully navigable |
Droitwich Canal | 7.3 mi (12 km) | 15 | 71.5 | 7.08 | M | 1771, 1854 | 1939 | Fully navigable - restored 2011 |
Dudley Canal[4] | 10.3 mi (17 km) | M | 1770, 1792 | 1948 | 1973 (part) full restoration requires diversion to avoid unrepairable tunnel | |||
Eardington Forge Canal | 0.5 mi (1 km) | 1 | 1782 | 1889 | ||||
Erewash Canal[2] | 11.8 mi (19 km) | 14 | 78 | 12.5 | NE | 1779 | 1962 (part) | Fully navigable - restored 1973 |
Exeter Ship Canal | 5.2 mi (8 km) | 2 | 122 | 26.25 | SW | 1563 | Fully navigable | |
Fairbottom Branch Canal | 1 mi (2 km) | 0 | NW | 1792 | 1932 | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some small sections in water | ||
Fletcher's Canal | 1.5 mi (2 km) | 2 | 1800 | 1952 | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost | |||
Foss Dyke | 11.3 mi (18 km) | 1 | 74.5 | 15.17 | E | 1121 | Fully navigable | |
Galton's Canal | 1.4 mi (2 km) | 1 | 1822 | 1897 | Abandoned - line of canal in water | |||
Glastonbury Canal | 14 mi (23 km) | 2 | 1834 | 1854 | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some small sections in water | |||
Glastonbury Canal (medieval) | 1.1 mi (2 km) | 0 | 10th C | 14-16th C | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost | |||
Gloucester and Sharpness Canal | 16.5 mi (27 km) | 2 | 240 | 30 | SW | 1826 | Fully navigable | |
Grand Junction Canal[2] | 129.4 mi (208 km) | 90 | 72 | 14.7 | M | 1800, 1805 | Fully navigable | |
Grand Surrey Canal | 4 mi (6 km) | 1 | 1810 | 1940 | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost | |||
Grand Union Canal[7] | 286.3 mi (461 km) | 236 | 72 | 14 | M | 1927 | Fully navigable (bar Buckingham Arm) | |
Grand Union Canal (old)[2] | 24.3 mi (39 km) | 17 | 72 | 7 | EM | 1814 | Fully navigable | |
Grand Western Canal | 10.5 mi (17 km) | 0 | SW | 1838 | Under restoration | |||
Grantham Canal | 33 mi (53 km) | 18 | 75 | 14 | EM | 1797 | 1936 | Under restoration |
Grosvenor Canal | 0.8 mi (1 km) | 1 | 1825 | 1858, 1925 | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost | |||
Hackney Canal | 0.6 mi (1 km) | 1 | 1843 | 1928 | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost | |||
Hatherton Canal[4] | 4 mi (6 km) | 8 | 70 | 7 | NM | 1860 | 1955 | Under restoration, but part of original route unsuitable for reopening so will be diverted. |
Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal | 34 mi (55 km) | 22 | 70 | 7 | W | 1798, 1845 | 1881 | Under restoration |
Hertford Union Canal[2] | 1.3 mi (2 km) | 3 | 78 | 14.5 | SE | 1830 | Fully navigable | |
Hollinwood Branch Canal | 4.5 mi (7 km) | 4 | 70 | 7 | NW | 1792 | 1932 | Under restoration |
Hollingwood Common Canal | 2 mi (3 km) | 0 | ? | ? | Abandoned | |||
Horncastle Canal | 11 mi (18 km) | 12 | 1802 | 1889 | Abandoned - line of canal in water | |||
Huddersfield Broad Canal | 3.8 mi (6 km) | 9 | 57.5 | 14.17 | NE | 1780 | Fully navigable | |
Huddersfield Narrow Canal | 19.9 mi (32 km) | 74 | 70 | 7 | NE | 1811 | Fully navigable | |
Ipswich and Stowmarket Navigation | 15.9 mi (26 km) | 15 | 55 | 14 | EA | 1793 | 1934 | Under restoration |
Islington Branch Canal | 0.6 mi (1 km) | 0 | NW | 1801 | 1952 | Abandoned | ||
Itchen Navigation | 10 mi (16 km) | 17 | 1710 | 1869 | Under restoration | |||
Kennet and Avon Canal | 86.5 mi (139 km) | 105 | 70 | 12.5 | SW | 1727, 1810 | (1950)[8] | Fully navigable - restored and reopened 1990 |
Kensington Canal | 1.75 mi (3 km) | 1 | 1828 | 1859, 1967 | Abandoned - route now lost | |||
Ketley Canal | 1.5 mi (2 km) | 1[5] | 1788 | 1880 | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some short sections in water | |||
Lancaster Canal | 60.9 mi (98 km) | 14 | 72 | 14.5 | NW | 1797, 1825 | 1955 | 2002 (part) - Under ongoing restoration |
Leeds and Liverpool Canal | 142.6 mi (229 km) | 105 | 62[9] | 14 | NE, NW | 1816 | Fully navigable | |
Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Union Canal[2] | 48 mi (77 km) | 22 | 72 | 13 | EM | 1807 | Fully navigable - part of Grand Union Canal | |
Leominster Canal | 18 mi (29 km) | 16 | 1794 | 1858 | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost | |||
Leven Canal | 3.25 mi (5 km) | 1 | 1805 | 1935 | Abandoned - line of canal in water | |||
Lichfield Canal[4] | 7 mi (11 km) | 30 | 70 | 7 | M | 1797 | 1955 | Under restoration |
Limehouse Cut | 2 mi (3 km) | 0 | 88 | 19 | SE | 1766[10] | Fully navigable | |
Liskeard and Looe Union Canal | 6 mi (10 km) | 25 | 1828 | 1910 | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some small sections in water | |||
Llangollen Canal | 46.3 mi (75 km) | 21 | 70’ | 6.83 | W | 1808 | Fully navigable | |
Louth Navigation | 11.8 mi (19 km) | 8 | 72 | 15 | NE | 1770 | 1924 | Abandoned - line of canal in water |
Lydney Canal | 1 mi (2 km) | 1 | 100 | 24 | SW | 1821 | 1977 | 2005 (part) - Under restoration |
Macclesfield Canal | 26.3 mi (42 km) | 13 | 70 | 7 | NW | 1831 | Fully navigable | |
Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal | 12.9 mi (21 km) | 17 | 68 | 14.17 | NW | 1797, 1808 | 1941, 1961 | Under restoration |
Manchester Ship Canal | 37.4 mi (60 km) | 5 | 600 | 65 | NW | 1894 | Fully navigable | |
Market Weighton Canal | 9.5 mi (15 km) | 1 | 70 | 14.83 | NE | 1782 | 1971[11] | Part navigable - remainder of route a mix of in water but unnavigable, and route lost |
Melton Mowbray Navigation | 11 mi (18 km) | 12 | EM | 1797 | 1877 | Under restoration | ||
Middle Level Navigations | 90 mi (145 km) | 7 | 80 | 11 | E | 1608–1832 | Fully navigable | |
Montgomery Canal | 33 mi (53 km) | 24 | 70 | 6.83 | W | 1821 | 1944 | 1996 (part) - Under restoration |
Newcastle-under-Lyme Canal | 3.75 mi (6 km) | 0 | 1800 | 1935 | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost | |||
Newcastle-under-Lyme Junction Canal | 1 mi (2 km) | 0 | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost | |||||
New Junction Canal | 5.5 mi (9 km) | 1 | 215 | 22.5 | NE | 1905 | Fully navigable | |
Newport Pagnell Canal | 1.25 mi (2 km) | 7 | 1817 | 1864 | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost | |||
North Walsham & Dilham Canal | 7.3 mi (12 km) | 6 | 50 | 12.33 | EA | 1826 | 1927 (part) | Part navigable - remainder of route in water but unnavigable |
Nottingham Canal | 14.7 mi (24 km)[12] | 18 | 81 | 14.5 | NE | 1796 | 1937 (part) | Part navigable - remainder of route partly in water but unnavigable, partly lost |
Nutbrook Canal | 4.5 mi (7 km) | 13 | 1796 | 1895 | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some small sections in water | |||
Oakham Canal | 15.5 mi (25 km) | 18 | 1802 | 1847 | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some small sections in water | |||
Ouse Navigation | 22 mi (35 km) | 19 | 1812 | 1950 | Fully navigable | |||
Oxford Canal | 78 mi (126 km) | 43 | 70 | 6.83 | M | 1774, 1790 | Fully navigable | |
Par Canal | 2.25 mi (4 km) | 3 | 1847 | 1873 | ||||
Parnall's Canal | 0.5 mi (1 km) | 0 | 1720 | 1732 | ||||
Peak Forest Canal | 14.8 mi (24 km) | 16 | 70 | 7 | NW | 1805 | 1960 | Fully navigable - restored 1974 |
Petworth Canal | 1.25 mi (2 km) | 2 | 1795 | 1826 | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost, some small sections in water | |||
Pidcock's Canal | 1.5 mi (2 km) | 3 | 1789 | 1845 | Abandoned - line of canal in water | |||
Pocklington Canal | 9.5 mi (15 km) | 9 | 57 | 14.25 | NE | 1818 | 1932 | Under restoration - largely navigable |
Portsmouth and Arundel Canal | 28 mi (45 km) | 6 | 1823 | 1847/1926 | Abandoned - majority of the route now lost | |||
Regent's Canal[2] | 8.6 mi (14 km) | 13 | 72 | 14.5 | SE | 1820 | Fully navigable | |
Ribble Link | 3 mi (5 km) | 9 | 62 | 10.5 | NW | 2002 | Fully navigable | |
Ripon Canal | 2.5 mi (4 km) | 3 | 57 | 14.25 | NE | 1773 | 1906 | Fully navigable - restored 1996 |
River Soar Navigation[2] | 21.9 mi (35 km) | 18 | 72 | 13 | EM | 1794 | Fully navigable | |
River Lee Navigation[13] | 29.1 mi (47 km) | 22 | 85 | 16 | SE | 1577, 1769 | Fully navigable | |
Rochdale Canal | 32 mi (51 km) | 91 | 74 | 14.17 | NW | 1800 | Fully navigable (bar some branches) | |
Rolle Canal[14] | 6 mi (10 km) | 2[15] | 1827 | 1871 | Under restoration | |||
Royal Military Canal | 19 mi (31 km) | 0 | SE | 1804 | Fully navigable | |||
St Columb Canal | 13 mi (21 km) | |||||||
Salisbury and Southampton Canal | 13 mi (21 km)[16] | 16 | 1802 | 1808 | ||||
Sankey Canal | 15.2 mi (24 km) | 11 | 72 | 13.83 | NW | 1757 | 1963 | |
Selby Canal | 6 mi (10 km) | 2 | 78.5 | 16.5 | NE | 1776 | ||
Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation[17] | 28 mi (45 km) | 24 | 61.5 | 15.25 | NE | 1802 | ||
Shrewsbury Canal | 25 mi (40 km) | 34 | 81 | 7 | W | 1797 | 1944 | |
Shropshire Canal | 10.5 mi (17 km) | 3[5] | 1791 | 1912 | ||||
Shropshire Union Canal | 76.5 mi (123 km) | 51 | 72[18] | 7[19] | NM | 1835 | ||
Sir John Glynne's Canal | 1 mi (2 km) | 1768 | 1779 | |||||
Sir Nigel Gresley's Canal | 3 mi (5 km) | 0 | 1776 | 1857 | ||||
Sleaford Navigation | 12.5 mi (20 km) | 7 | 70 | 15 | NE | 1794 | 1940 | |
Somerset Coal Canal | 18 mi (29 km) | SW | 1802 | 1898[20] | 1986 (part)[21] | |||
Southwick Ship Canal | 1.75 mi (2.8 km) | 1 | 240 | 40 | SE | 1855 | ||
Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal | 46.1 mi (74 km) | 43 | 70 | 7 | NM | 1772 | ||
Stamford Canal | 6.5 mi (10 km) | 10 | 1670 | 1863 | ||||
Stainforth and Keadby Canal | 14.9 mi (24 km) | 3 | 61.67 | 17 | NE | 1802 | ||
Stockport Branch Canal | 4.9 mi (8 km) | 0 | NW | 1797 | 1962 | |||
Stort Navigation | 13.8 mi (22 km) | 15 | 86 | 13.25 | SE | 1769 | ||
Stourbridge Canal | 7.8 mi (13 km) | 21 | 70 | 7 | M | 1779 | ||
Stover Canal | 1.7 mi (3 km) | 5 | 1792 | 1943 | ||||
Stratford-upon-Avon Canal | 25.5 mi (41 km) | 56 | 70 | 7 | M | 1802, 1816 | ||
Stroudwater Navigation | 8 mi (13 km) | 13 | 70 | 15.5 | SW | 1779 | ||
Tame Valley Canal[4] | 8.5 mi (14 km) | 13 | 72 | 7 | M | 1844 | ||
Tavistock Canal | 4 mi (6 km) | 2[5] | 1803 | 1873 | ||||
Thames and Medway Canal[22] | 6.5 mi (10 km) | 1 | 24.5 | 6.5 | SE | 1824 | 1935 | |
Thames and Severn Canal | 28.8 mi (46 km) | 44 | 74 | 12.75 | SW | 1789 | 1933 | |
Titchfield Canal | ||||||||
Tremadoc Canal | 1.5 mi (2 km) | 0 | 1815 | 1840 | ||||
Trent and Mersey Canal | 93.4 mi (150 km) | 76 | 72 | 7[23] | NE | 1777 | ||
Ulverston Canal | 1.5 mi (2 km) | 1 | 112 | 65 [24] | NW | 1796 | 1944 | |
Uttoxeter Canal | 13 mi (21 km) | 19 | NM | 1811 | 1849 | 2005 (part) | ||
Walsall Canal[4] | 9.6 mi (15 km) | 16 | 72 | 7 | M | 1785–1841 | ||
Wardle Canal | 0.1 mi (0.2 km) | 1 | NM | 1829 | ||||
Warwick and Napton Canal[2] | 14.2 mi (23 km) | 25 | 72 | 7[25] | M | 1794 | ||
Warwick and Birmingham Canal[2] | 24.3 mi (39 km) | 28 | 70 | 7[25] | M | 1794 | ||
Wednesbury Old Canal[4] | 4.4 mi (7 km) | 3 | 70 | 7 | M | 1769 | 1955 (part) | |
Westport Canal | 3.3 mi (5 km) | 1 | 1840 | 1875 | ||||
Wey and Arun Junction Canal[26] | 23 mi (37 km) | 26 | 68 | 11.5 | S | 1816 | 1871 | in progress[27] |
Wey and Godalming Navigations | 19.5 mi (31 km) | 16 | 72 | 13.83 | S | 1651, 1760 | ||
Wilts and Berks Canal | 52.5 mi (84 km) | 42 | 72 | 7 | SW | 1810 | 1914 | 1995 (part) |
Wombridge Canal | 1.75 mi (3 km) | 1[5] | 1788 | 1921 | ||||
Worcester and Birmingham Canal | 30 mi (48 km) | 58 | 71.5 | 7 | M | 1815 | ||
Wyrley and Essington Canal[4] | 23.5 mi (38 km) | 39 | 70 | 7 | M | 1797 | 1900 (part) |
Canals in Northern Ireland
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Lagan_Navigational_Canal_%28disused%29_at_Broadwater%2C_near_Aghalee.jpg/250px-Lagan_Navigational_Canal_%28disused%29_at_Broadwater%2C_near_Aghalee.jpg)
Canal | Length (miles) | Locks | Year opened | Year abandoned | Year restored |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broharris Canal | 2 | 1820 | |||
Coalisland Canal[28] | 7.2 | 7 | 1787 | 1954 | |
Dukart's Canal | 3[5] | 1777 | 1787 | ||
Lagan Canal | 27 | 27 | 1802 | 1958 | |
Newry Canal | 21 | 12 | 1742 | 1938 | |
Shannon–Erne Waterway[29] | 39 | 16 | 1780 | 1948 | 1994 |
Strabane Canal | 4 | 2 | 1792 | 1962 | |
Ulster Canal | 46 | 26 | 1842 | 1931 |
Canals in Scotland
Canal | Length (miles) | Locks | Max boat length (ft) | Width (ft) | Year opened | Year abandoned | Year restored |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aberdeenshire Canal | 18 | 18 | 1805 | 1854 | |||
Buchan Canal | |||||||
Caledonian Canal | 62 | 29 | 150 | 35 | 1822 | ||
Carlingwark Lane Canal | 1.5 | 0 | 1765 | 1840 | |||
Crinan Canal | 9 | 15 | 86.75 | 19.65 | 1817 | ||
Dingwall Canal | 1.1 | 0 | 1816 | 1840 | |||
Forth and Clyde Canal | 35 | 38 | 68.58 | 19.75 | 1790 | 1963 | 2002 |
Glasgow, Paisley and Johnstone Canal | 11 | 0 | 1811 | 1881 | |||
Inchfad Canal | 0.25 | 0 | 19th century | ||||
Inverarnan Canal | 0.33 | 0 | 1844 | c. 1870 | |||
Monkland Canal | 12.25 | 18[30] | 71 | 14 | 1794 | 1942 | |
Stevenston Canal | 2.25 | 0 | 13 | 1772 | 1830 | ||
Union Canal[31] | 31.5 | 3[32] | 63 | 12.5 | 1822 | 1930 | 2000 |
Canals in Wales
Canal | Length (miles) | Locks | Max boat length (ft) | Width (ft) | Year opened | Year abandoned | Year restored |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aberdare Canal | 6.75 | 2 | 1812 | 1900 | |||
Cyfarthfa Canal | 2 | 1770s | 1830s | ||||
Glamorganshire Canal | 25 | 52 | 1798 | 1898, 1942 | |||
Glan-y-wern Canal | c. 1.5 | by 1790 | c. 1810 | ||||
Kidwelly and Llanelly Canal | 18 | 8[33] | 1768, 1837 | 1865 | |||
Llangollen Canal | 46.3 | 21 | 70 | 6.83 | 1808 | ||
Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canal | 35 | 48 | 63 | 9.17 | 1796 | 1962 | 1970 |
Montgomery Canal | 33 | 24 | 70 | 6.83 | 1821 | 1944 | 1996 (part) |
Neath and Tennant Canal | 21.5 | 21 | 60 | 9 | 1795, 1824 | 1934 | 1990 (part) |
Swansea Canal | 16.5 | 36 | 65 | 7.5 | 1798 | 1931 |
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
- Grand Union Canal (Slough Branch): Extending Slough Arm of the Grand Union Canal south to join the River Thames.[37]
- Rother Link: Planned canal which would connect the Chesterfield Canal at Killamarsh, via the River Rother through to the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation, thus creating a new cruising ring and encouraging boats to visit the Chesterfield Canal.
- Upper Avon Extension (Warwick): This proposed connection from River Avon to Grand Union Canal via Warwick is subject to some landowner opposition.[38]
- Foxton Inclined Plane: Restoration of the wide-beam Foxton Inclined Plane, accompanied by a solution to bypass Watford Locks, would allow wide-beam boats to traverse the Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal.[39]
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
- List of canal tunnels in the United Kingdom
- Waterway restoration in the United Kingdom
- List of rivers in the United Kingdom
References
- ^ M=midlands, EA=East Anglia, NE=North-East etc.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j now part of the Grand Union Canal
- ^ Main line, incl old main line and branches
- ^ a b c d e f g h i part of Birmingham Canal Navigations
- ^ a b c d e f g inclined planes
- ^ South Yorkshire
- ^ Total holdings 1929
- ^ never officially closed but unusable till reopened
- ^ 72 from Liverpool to Wigan incl Leigh branch
- ^ connection to Limehouse Basin 1968
- ^ but passage still possible
- ^ only 1.1m remains open making 3.7m total including the Beeston cut
- ^ includes Bow Back rivers
- ^ Also known as the Torrington Canal
- ^ included an inclined plane
- ^ only part of this was built
- ^ the river section from Bramwith to Rotherham takes boats 229’8" long and 20’ wide
- ^ The Middlewich branch is 70’
- ^ The old Chester canal from Nantwich to Ellesmere Port is 9’
- ^ The Radstock arm closed in 1898
- ^ About 0.5m only, for moorings on the Kennet and Avon canal
- ^ also known as the Gravesend and Rochester Canal
- ^ Preston brook to Croxton Aqueduct is 9’ wide
- ^ a b Increased to 13' in 1933
- ^ includes Arun Navigation
- ^ "About the Wey and Arun Canal". Wey and Arun Canal Trust.
- ^ also known as Tyrone Navigation
- ^ Originally the Ballyconnell and Ballinamore Canals
- ^ an inclined plane was later used
- ^ originally known as "Edinburgh and Glasgow Union Canal"
- ^ includes the Falkirk Wheel
- ^ includes 3 inclined planes
- ^ "Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway". Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
- ^ "The Fens Waterways Link". Environment Agency Waterways Team. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
- ^ "The Maidenhead River Project". Maidenhead Waterways Restoration Group. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
- ^ "IWAAC Inland Waterway review 2006" (PDF). Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council. Archived from the original (pdf) on 22 July 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
- ^ "Upper Avon Extension (Proposed)". Inland Waterways Association. Archived from the original on 2 May 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
- ^ Ludgate, Martin (9 April 2014). "Far and wide?". Canal Boat. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Waterfront | Canal & River Trust".
- v
- t
- e
- Aire and Calder1
- Ashby-de-la-Zouch2
- Ashton
- Basingstoke Canal
- Beverley Beck
- Birmingham Canal Navigations3
- Bridgewater
- Bridgwater and Taunton
- Buckingham Arm2
- Bude2
- Calder and Hebble1
- Cambridgeshire Lodes3
- Chelmer and Blackwater1
- Chesterfield2
- Chichester2
- Coventry
- Driffield
- Droitwich
- Erewash
- Foss Dyke
- Gloucester and Sharpness
- Grand Union3
- Grand Western2
- Grantham2
- Herefordshire and Gloucestershire2
- Hollinwood Branch2
- Huddersfield Broad
- Huddersfield Narrow
- Ipswich and Stowmarket12
- Kennet and Avon1
- Lancaster2
- Leeds and Liverpool3
- Lee Navigation1
- Limehouse
- Llangollen
- Lydney
- Macclesfield
- Maidenhead Waterways
- Manchester Bolton & Bury2
- Manchester Ship Canal
- Market Weighton2
- Middle Level Navigations3
- Montgomery2
- North Walsham and Dilham12
- Nottingham2
- Oxford1
- Peak Forest
- Pocklington2
- Regent's Canal
- Ribble Link1
- Ripon
- Rochdale
- Royal Military Canal
- Sankey2
- Selby
- Sheffield and South Yorkshire13
- Shropshire Union3
- Sleaford12
- South Forty-Foot Drain
- Staffordshire and Worcestershire
- Stort1
- Stourbridge
- Stratford-upon-Avon
- Stroudwater2
- Thames and Medway2
- Thames and Severn2
- Trent and Mersey3
- Weaver1
- Wey and Arun2
- Wey and Godalming1
- Wilts & Berks2
- Witham Navigable Drains3
- Worcester and Birmingham
- Caledonian Canal1
- Crinan Canal
- Forth and Clyde
- Union Canal
Notes: 1 Contains canalised river. 2 Partly or mostly navigable, and/or under restoration. 3 A system of canals. Canals which form part of this system are not listed here individually.