2019

SP9114 : British Waterways information board near Startop's End

taken 5 years ago, near to Marsworth, Buckinghamshire, England

British Waterways information board near Startop's End
British Waterways information board near Startop's End
This notice is located on the Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union Canal by Watery Lane HP23 4LY. It has the following wording:

Left Column

Aylesbury Arm
Opened in 1815, the Aylesbury Arm stretches for 6¼ miles from Aylesbury to
the main canal at Marsworth and rises 95ft. via 16 locks. Despite the failure
of plans to build a longer through route to the Thames at Abingdon, the arm
was heavily used for trade in grain, coal, timber and building materials
until the 1960's. This tranquil rural waterway today offers the perfect
setting for walking, boating and angling.

Grand Union Canal
Work to build the Grand Union (formerly the Grand Junction Canal) was
authorised by Act of Parliament in 1793 and was completed in 1805. The
Aylesbury Arm is one of five branches off the 145-mile main canal between
London and Birmingham.

Exploring the towpath
The towpath, which runs the length of the canal, offers the opportunity to
explore the area, its history and wildlife. Leaflets are available promoting
links between the Aylesbury Arm, Grand Union Canal towpath, Tring Reservoirs
and local public footpaths. For long-distance walkers, the 145-mile Grand
Union Canal Walk, launched in 1993, offers an exciting alternative. Discovery
is made easy by a special passport, trail guide and accommodation list
available from British Waterways.

Care in the countryside
Please follow the Country Code, take your litter home and do not allow your
dog to foul the towpath.

Middle Section
This section shows the map of the Aylesbury Arm from Marsworth to Aylesbury,
images of Canal wharf, Aylesbury, 1909 showing the wharf manager's house and
the Ship Inn (top left), Marsworth Canal Locks 1 and 2 (top right), Harvey
Taylor boat, Broughton Lock (bottom left) and Wilstone footbridge (bottom
right).
Also, the following locations have wording as below:
Aylesbury
The Ship Inn is one of the original buildings which clustered around
Aylesbury Basin. Nearby at Bridge 17, is the Aylesbury Condensed Milk
Factory now owned by Nestles. Harvey Taylor operated their fleet of black
and white narrow boats from the Basin and coal was one of their cargoes.
Such was the importance of the canal to the town that the price of coal was
halved in Aylesbury when the arm opened.

Broughton
Beside the lock lie the foundations of a lock cottage which was demolished
in the early 1900s. A few houses and Manor Farm are all that remain of the
large village of Broughton. In the field next to Manor Farm are the contours
of a large moat, which contained the original manor house and part of the
village.

Canal Wildlife
Over 150 species of plant and many varieties of bird have been found on the
arm which is recognised as an important wildlife site. You may see Herons,
ducks, Moorhens and the occasional metallic blue Kingfisher. In winter, birds
migrating from Russia and Scandinavia scavenge on the surrounding pasture.

Marsworth Junction
The British Waterways office was formerly a carpenters shop and stores with a
stables adjacent, and a factory which made concrete piles for canal bank
protection. In January 1995, the 30 year old lock gates of Marsworth locks 1
and 2 were replaced by new oak gates made at Bulbourne Workshops.

Marsworth
Mentioned in the Domesday Book and known as Maffers by working boatmen,
Marsworth is noted for its 14th century church, excellent pubs and flight of
six locks. Nearby Tring Reservoirs were built between 1802 and 1839 to supply
water to the canal. The four reservoirs are a famous haven for wildlife,
especially birds.

Wilstone
The village is famous for its association with Hertfordshire's last recorded
witch hunt in 1751 which resulted in the death of Ruth Osborn, the so-called
'witch'. The coroner's inquest on Ruth was held at the Half Moon pub in front
of "25 good men and true" and Thomas Colley, the instigator, was hanged at
nearby Gubblecote. Colley's ghost and that of his black dog are reputed to
have haunted the scene long after.

Right column
British Waterways
British Waterways manage 2000 miles of canal and rivers in Britain. Every
year two million people find peace and quiet, exercise and fun on our
waterways. For further information about walking, cruising, fishing and other
leisure opportunities on the Grand Union Canal and its arms, telephone 01442
825938 or call into our canalside office at Marsworth.

Aylesbury Countryside Management Project
The ACMP works around Aylesbury and the Thames Valley, helping to look after
the countryside and urban fringe. The main aims are to help people to enjoy
the local environment and to protect its landscape and wildlife heritage.
For further information telephone 01296 427972.

* With special thanks to Buckinghamshire County Council for supplying artwork
for the map.

Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright David Hillas and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
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1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
TIP: Click the map for more Large scale mapping
Grid Square
SP9114, 323 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
David Hillas   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Monday, 26 August, 2019   (more nearby)
Submitted
Sunday, 9 February, 2020
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SP 9170 1438 [10m precision]
WGS84: 51:49.2319N 0:40.2587W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SP 9169 1436
View Direction
North-northeast (about 22 degrees)
Clickable map
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NW N NE
W Go E
SW S SE
Image Type (about): close look 
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