2020

SP4778 : Lime Farm Marina

taken 4 years ago, near to Harborough Magna, Warwickshire, England

This is 1 of 3 images, with title Lime Farm Marina in this square
Lime Farm Marina
Lime Farm Marina
The entrance to this small marina - basically just a short arm off the Oxford Canal with basic boatyard facilities - is through this bridge; road access is via Cathiron Lane. The arm is a section of the old route of the canal before it was straightened in the 1820s. The bridge has acquired a few more posters since this 2012 view: SP4778 : Oxford Canal: Lime Farm Marina
The Oxford Canal

The 78 mile Oxford Canal links Oxford with the Coventry Canal near Bedworth, via Banbury and Rugby. It connects to the River Thames at Oxford, and even combines with the Grand Union Canal for 5 miles near Braunston.

The canal was constructed in stages over about twenty years from 1769 to 1790. James Brindley surveyed and began the work with Samuel Simcock, but following Brindley's death, Simcock took over. By 1774 the canal had reached Napton, and by 1778, Banbury. Lack of money meant that the final stretch to Oxford was not started until 1786. That took three years and the completed canal was finally opened on 1 January 1790.

Being an early canal, it was built to be contour hugging, avoiding changes of water level wherever possible. As a result of increasing competition from the Grand Union Canal, by the late 1820s it was decided that the meandering course needed reducing in mileage, so the northern section was to be reduced by more than 14 miles. Construction, supervised by Sir William Cubitt, started in 1829, and was finished by 1834. A parallel doubling up of the lock flight at Hillmorton was built and the route was straightened in many places, and a new tunnel at Newbold was dug. Not all the planned improvements were made; the final reduction in mileage being nearer 11 miles.
Evidence of the original course can still be seen by perusing aerial images and OS 1:25000 maps. The section south of Napton was never straightened. The railways had arrived and canal decline had started.

Information reduced from Wikipedia LinkExternal link


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Stephen McKay and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Canals Primary Subject: Canal other tags: Canal Boat Canal Arm Canal Bridge Marina Entrance Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
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1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
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Grid Square
SP4778, 50 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Stephen McKay   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Tuesday, 28 January, 2020   (more nearby)
Submitted
Sunday, 2 February, 2020
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SP 4757 7824 [10m precision]
WGS84: 52:24.0069N 1:18.1357W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SP 4760 7825
View Direction
West-southwest (about 247 degrees)
Clickable map
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Image Type (about): geograph 
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