SP3389 : Seeswood Canal, Arbury Park
taken 9 years ago, near to Stockingford, Warwickshire, England
As early as 1700 Sir Richard Newdigate started the construction of the first 'boatways' on the Arbury Estate. Some were merely enlargements of the streams which crossed the estate. They were primarily used for the transport of timber needed in the construction of coal mines in the Collycroft and Griff areas of the estate. Sir Richard's son, Sir Roger Newdigate, was a great innovator and industrialist and he developed the canal system during the 1770's, 1780's and 1790's. They fell into disuse after his death in 1806, but some of them are still in water and most survive in some form. Most of them can only be seen from private land which is not open to the public except when the house is open on Bank Holiday weekends.