List of canal tunnels in the United Kingdom

Last updated

This is a list of canal tunnels in the United Kingdom .

Contents

Listed by name

TunnelCanalLengthDesignerCoordinatesNotesImage
Ashford Tunnel Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal 375 yards (343 m) [1] Thomas Dadford 51°53.195′N3°16.525′W / 51.886583°N 3.275417°W / 51.886583; -3.275417 (Ashford) Brecknockshire/Powys Tunnel narrows considerably between northern and southern portals due to repairs to its fabric but is nevertheless navigable by a narrowboat with relative ease.
Ashford Tunnel, northern portal Approaching the northern portal of Ashford Tunnel on the Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal.jpg
Ashford Tunnel, northern portal
Ashperton Tunnel Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal 400 yards (370 m)
Aylestone Tunnel Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal 440 yards (400 m)
Berwick Tunnel Shrewsbury Canal 970 yards (890 m) Josiah Clowes 52°42′4.97″N2°41′22.22″W / 52.7013806°N 2.6895056°W / 52.7013806; -2.6895056 (Berwick) Claimed to be the first canal tunnel with a towpath throughout.
Berwick Tunnel, northern portal Berwick tunnel, the Shrewsbury canal - geograph.org.uk - 81562.jpg
Berwick Tunnel, northern portal
Blisworth Tunnel Grand Union Canal 3,056 yards (2,794 m) [2] Northamptonshire
Blisworth Tunnel, southern portal Blisworth Tunnel southern portal.jpg
Blisworth Tunnel, southern portal
Branwood Tunnel Stratford-upon-Avon Canal 352 yards (322 m) [3]
Brandwood Tunnel, eastern portal Narrowboat leaving the east portal of Brandwood Tunnel, Birmingham - geograph.org.uk - 1726035.jpg
Brandwood Tunnel, eastern portal
Braunston Tunnel Grand Union Canal 2,042 yards (1,867 m) [2] Jessop & Barnes 52°16.976′N1°10.041′W / 52.282933°N 1.167350°W / 52.282933; -1.167350 (Braunston) Northamptonshire
Narrowboat leaving Braunston Tunnel Braunston Tunnel.jpg
Narrowboat leaving Braunston Tunnel
Bruce Tunnel Kennet and Avon Canal 502 yards (459 m) [4]
Bruce Tunnel's Eastern Portal (in 1992) Bruce tunnel stowell.jpg
Bruce Tunnel's Eastern Portal (in 1992)
Butterley Tunnel Cromford Canal 3,063 yards (2,801 m) [5] 53°3.3841′N1°22.3994′W / 53.0564017°N 1.3733233°W / 53.0564017; -1.3733233 (Butterley) Derbyshire
The Butterley Reservoir Adit where it enters the Butterley Tunnel, in 2006 The Butterley Reservoir Adit where it enters the Butterley Tunnel.JPG
The Butterley Reservoir Adit where it enters the Butterley Tunnel, in 2006
Chirk Tunnel Llangollen Canal 459 yards (420 m) [6] 52°55′46.91″N3°3′46.77″W / 52.9296972°N 3.0629917°W / 52.9296972; -3.0629917 (Chirk) Near Chirk
View taken from the Chirk Aqueduct Chirk Tunnel.jpg
View taken from the Chirk Aqueduct
Cookley Tunnel Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal 65 yards (59 m) [7]
Cookley Tunnel, western portal Cookley Tunnel - geograph.org.uk - 1252427.jpg
Cookley Tunnel, western portal
Drakeholes Tunnel Chesterfield Canal 154 yards (141 m) [8]
Drakeholes Tunnel Chesterfield Canal.jpg
Dudley Tunnel Birmingham Canal Navigations 3,172 yards (2,900 m) [9] 52°31′18″N2°04′42″W / 52.52173°N 2.07840°W / 52.52173; -2.07840 (Dudley) Part of Dudley Canal Line No 1
The southern portal of the Dudley Tunnel Dudley Canal Tunnel Southern Portal.jpg
The southern portal of the Dudley Tunnel
Dunsley Tunnel Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal 25 yards (23 m) [10] 52°27′25″N2°12′34″W / 52.4568191°N 2.2093904°W / 52.4568191; -2.2093904 (Dunsley)
Dunsley Tunnel, west portal, near Kinver StaffsWorcs Dunsley Tunnel.jpg
Dunsley Tunnel, west portal, near Kinver
Edgbaston Tunnel Worcester and Birmingham Canal 105 yards (96 m)
Foulridge Tunnel Leeds and Liverpool Canal 1,630 yards (1,490 m) [11] Robert Whitworth/Samuel Fletcher 53°52′28″N2°10′56″W / 53.8745°N 2.1821°W / 53.8745; -2.1821 (Foulridge) Also known as the Mile Tunnel [12]
Southern portal, Foulridge Tunnel Southern entrance, Foulridge Tunnel.jpg
Southern portal, Foulridge Tunnel
Gosty Hill Tunnel Birmingham Canal Navigations 557 yards (509 m) [13] Part of Dudley Canal Line No 2
Gosty Hill Tunnel, northern portal Gosty Hill Tunnel - geograph.org.uk - 138283.jpg
Gosty Hill Tunnel, northern portal
Greywell Tunnel Basingstoke Canal 1,200 yards (1,100 m) [14] Closed to traffic following cave-in. Now home to Europe's largest bat colony.
The eastern portal of Greywell Tunnel on the Basingstoke Canal Greywell tunnel 3.jpg
The eastern portal of Greywell Tunnel on the Basingstoke Canal
Hardham Tunnel Arun Navigation 375 yards (343 m) 50°56′56″N0°31′23″W / 50.94889°N 0.52306°W / 50.94889; -0.52306 (Hardham) Closed since 1888; blocked in 1895 by LBSCR under Mid Sussex Line and Midhurst-Pulborough Line.
Southern Portal, Hardham Tunnel. Southern Portal, Hardham Tunnel - geograph.org.uk - 1239745.jpg
Southern Portal, Hardham Tunnel.
Harecastle Tunnel Trent & Mersey Canal 2,926 yards (2,676 m) [15] James Brindley/Thomas Telford 53°4′27″N2°14′11″W / 53.07417°N 2.23639°W / 53.07417; -2.23639 (Harecastle) Staffordshire. Comprises parallel "Brindley" and "Telford" tunnels. (The length stated is for the Telford tunnel.)
Northern end of Harecastle Tunnel. Telford's tunnel on the left, Brindley's the right. HarecastleNorth.JPG
Northern end of Harecastle Tunnel. Telford's tunnel on the left, Brindley's the right.
Hincaster Tunnel Lancaster Canal 378 yards (346 m)Thomas Fletcher 54°15′33″N2°45′18″W / 54.25917°N 2.75500°W / 54.25917; -2.75500 (Hincaster) Opened in 1819. Commercial traffic on the Lancaster Canal ceased north of Lancaster in 1944 and this part of the canal was officially closed following the Transport Act, 1955.
Lapal Tunnel Birmingham Canal Navigations 3,795 yards (3,470 m) [16] 52°26′42″N2°00′06″W / 52.4450°N 2.0017°W / 52.4450; -2.0017 (Lapal) Part of Dudley Canal Line No 2 (disused—closed 1907)
1955 Ordnance Survey map of the east portal of Lapal Tunnel Lapal Tunnel East 50pc.jpg
1955 Ordnance Survey map of the east portal of Lapal Tunnel
Lord Ward's Tunnel Birmingham Canal Navigations 196 yards (179 m) [17] In the Dudley Tunnel complex
Netherton Tunnel Birmingham Canal Navigations 3,027 yards (2,768 m) [9] 52°30′25″N2°03′25″W / 52.50697°N 2.05708°W / 52.50697; -2.05708 (Netherton)
The dual towpaths inside the northern portal of Netherton Tunnel Netherton Tunnel inside northern portal dual towpath.jpg
The dual towpaths inside the northern portal of Netherton Tunnel
Newbold Tunnel Oxford Canal 250 yards (230 m) [18]
Illuminated Newbold Tunnel The recently illuminated Newbold Tunnel - geograph.org.uk - 117461.jpg
Illuminated Newbold Tunnel
Newnham Tunnel Leominster Canal 100 yards (91 m) 52°19′37″N2°31′20″W / 52.32685°N 2.52223°W / 52.32685; -2.52223 (Newnham) Worcestershire
Norwood Tunnel Chesterfield Canal 2,884 yards (2,637 m) [19] James Brindley 53°20′06″N1°16′11″W / 53.33501°N 1.26971°W / 53.33501; -1.26971 (Norwood) Derbyshire to South Yorkshire. Closed with plans for partial restoration of eastern end.
Norwood Tunnel western portal Norwood Tunnel Western Portal.jpg
Norwood Tunnel western portal
Oxenhall Tunnel Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal 2,192 yards (2,004 m)
Pensax Tunnel Leominster Canal 3,850 yards (3,520 m) 52°19′22″N2°23′27″W / 52.32265°N 2.39083°W / 52.32265; -2.39083 (Pensax) Worcestershire

Abandoned during construction.

Putnall Tunnel Leominster Canal 330 yards (300 m) 52°17′38″N2°43′58″W / 52.29398°N 2.73266°W / 52.29398; -2.73266 (Putnall) Herefordshire
Sapperton Canal Tunnel Thames and Severn Canal 3,817 yards (3,490 m) [20] Josiah Clowes 51°42′45″N2°03′42″W / 51.7126°N 2.0618°W / 51.7126; -2.0618 (Sapperton) Gloucestershire
The Coates Portal at the south-eastern end of the Sapperton Canal Tunnel. Southern portal, Sapperton canal tunnel (uncropped).jpg
The Coates Portal at the south-eastern end of the Sapperton Canal Tunnel.
Scout Tunnel Huddersfield Narrow Canal 220 yards (200 m) [21] Unlined, rock tunnel
Scout Tunnel Scout tunnel - geograph.org.uk - 1437691.jpg
Scout Tunnel
Shortwood Tunnel Worcester and Birmingham Canal 613 yards (561 m)
Southnett Tunnel Leominster Canal 1,250 yards (1,140 m) 52°19′43″N2°28′37″W / 52.32874°N 2.47691°W / 52.32874; -2.47691 (Southnett) Herefordshire
Standedge Tunnels Huddersfield Narrow Canal 5,698 yards (5,210 m) [21] 53°35′29″N1°57′36″W / 53.591283°N 1.95996°W / 53.591283; -1.95996 (Standedge) West Yorkshire to Greater Manchester
Standedge Tunnel entrance at Marsden Standedge Tunnel End, Marsden, West Yorkshire.jpg
Standedge Tunnel entrance at Marsden
Strood Tunnel Thames and Medway Canal 3,946 yards (3,608 m) Ralph Walker 51°24′54″N0°28′52″E / 51.4149°N 0.4812°E / 51.4149; 0.4812 (Strood) Kent
Tardebigge Tunnel Worcester and Birmingham Canal 580 yards (530 m)
Wast Hills Tunnel Worcester and Birmingham Canal 2,726 yards (2,493 m) [22] 52°23′25″N1°56′24″W / 52.3902°N 1.9400°W / 52.3902; -1.9400 (Wast Hills) West Midlands (county) to Worcestershire
Wast Hills Tunnel, southern portal Wast Hill Tunnel Southern portal - geograph.org.uk - 151865.jpg
Wast Hills Tunnel, southern portal

An adit is a horizontal entrance to a mine:

TunnelCanalLengthDesignerCoordinatesNotesImage
Hollingwood Common Tunnel Chesterfield Canal
Worsley Navigable Levels Bridgewater Canal 53°30′2.2″N2°22′52.2″W / 53.500611°N 2.381167°W / 53.500611; -2.381167 (Worsley Navigable Levels) Greater Manchester
Starvationer at Ellesmere Port Canal Museum with a demonstration of the process of legging to push the boat through the tunnels Starvationer at Ellesmere Port Canal Museum.jpg
Starvationer at Ellesmere Port Canal Museum with a demonstration of the process of legging to push the boat through the tunnels

Listed by canal

Grand Union Canal

Peak Forest Canal

Regent's Canal

Union Canal (Scotland)

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grantham Canal</span> Canal once running between Grantham and Nottingham

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caldon Canal</span> United Kingdom legislation

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dudley Tunnel</span> Canal tunnel on the Dudley Canal

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Netherton Tunnel Branch Canal</span> Canal tunnel in the West Midlands, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delph Locks</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Runcorn and Weston Canal</span> Canal in Cheshire, England

The Runcorn and Weston Canal was a short canal near Runcorn in Cheshire, England, constructed to link the Weston Canal, which is part of the River Weaver Navigation, to the Bridgewater Canal and Runcorn Docks. It was completed in 1859, but was little used. Around half of it became the Arnold Dock in 1876, when it was made wider and deeper, and linked to Fenton Dock by a ship lock. The dock section and some of the remaining canal were filled in during the 1960s, and the remainder is in a derelict state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maida Hill Tunnel</span> Tunnel on the Regents Canal, London

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References

  1. Cumberlidge 2009, p. 366.
  2. 1 2 Cumberlidge 2009, p. 128.
  3. Mosse 2018, p. 142.
  4. Cumberlidge 2009, p. 161.
  5. Cumberlidge 2009, p. 105.
  6. Cumberlidge 2009, p. 363.
  7. Mosse 2018, p. 113.
  8. Cumberlidge 2009, p. 99.
  9. 1 2 Cumberlidge 2009, p. 76.
  10. Mosse 2018, p. 117.
  11. "Foulridge Tunnel - Graces Guide". www.gracesguide.co.uk. Grace's Guide. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  12. "FOULRIDGE - Village goes online! - Internet Archive". www.burnleyexpress.net. Burnley Express. 30 July 2004. Archived from the original on 29 October 2019.
  13. Mosse 2018, p. 138.
  14. Cumberlidge 2009, p. 72.
  15. Cumberlidge 2009, p. 319.
  16. The Dudley Canal and Tunnel Trust.
  17. information – CanalPlanAC 2020.
  18. Cumberlidge 2009, p. 246.
  19. Skempton 2002, p. 736.
  20. Cumberlidge 2009, p. 310.
  21. 1 2 Cumberlidge 2009, p. 152.
  22. Cumberlidge 2009, p. 339.

Bibliography