BASINGSTOKE CANAL PHOTO GUIDE

BYFLEET - SCOTLAND BRIDGE

The Basingstoke canal leaves the River Wey at Byfleet, about a half mile above New Haw lock. The junction is framed by the adjacent railway line, where two different bridges can be seen crossing the Wey - the original brick rail bridge And the addional later iron bridge. Also it is framed by the M25 which passes the junction on a tall and ungly concrete structure that defiles the tranquility of the junction area somewhat. For many years the turnover bridge from the Wey to the Basingstoke was in a perlious condition, and it was subsequently removed, leaving towpath walkers with the choice of a long detour and joining the Basingstoke further up at Scotland bridge. However a new crossing was constructed in the late 1980's, and once again a foot link is now afforded between the Wey and the Basingstoke. The new footbridge is called Woodham Bridge. The picture below shows the junction itself, - the railway bridge being behind the footbridge and the River Wey in the foregound with the Basingstoke leading off to the centre of picture. From here it is 31 miles to Greywell, although navigation officially finishes about half a mile before the tunnel. The Basingstone Canal once totalled 37 miles and out of this, just under a mile is Greywell Tunnel itself and the landlocked stretch to Penny Bridge takes well over a mile. The final 5 miles from Penny (or Penney) bridge to Basingstoke has been built over, returned to agriculture or made into new roads serving the locale, and very little remains of the canal.

The River Wey - Byfleet junction & Woodham Footbridge 

A short way up the canal from the junction, is the new pumping station, built in 2001, to enable back-pumping to the top of the Woodham locks. Immediately above this is Bottom Lock or No.1 which forms part of the Woodham flight of six locks - as seen in the left hand picture. Back-pumping on the Woodham flight is essential as there has never been an adequate water supply - compared to most other canals, no reservoirs were built and the primary source were springs inside Greywell Hill. When the pound above Woodham Top Lock is below a certain level, the pumps come into action and return water up the flight. The lock keepers can also return water manually if boats navigate the flight. However, as water supply goes, restrictions still remain and boats wishing to use the Basingstoke canal must inform the Basingstoke Canal Authority (01252 376523) and book passage through the Woodham flight.

Below left can be seen the controls for the back-pumping, which under normal conditions is automated. The right hand image shows the bays which return water to the top oif the Woodham flight. Lock No.1 is in the background.

Just past the pumping station is Bottom Lock, or no. 1 of the canal's 29 locks. This begins the Woodham flight which totals six. There are two plaques at the tail of Bottom Lock. One records the re-opening of 1991, whilst the other is in memory of Harley Watkins, Vice Chairman of the local IWA. The distinctive style of a Basingstoke lock is apparent here - there is no way of crossing the locks, except by the footbridge at the tail of each lock. In terms of navigation, lock operation on the Basingstoke is slower than on most other broad canals, but there is no hurry anyway if one is geniunely keen on exploring the canal by boat. The locks are locked to prevent uneccesary wastage of water, and are only unlocked when boats request a passage.

This part of Southern England was known as the 'stock-broker' belt. Hence Property prices were always quite high and so the Basingstoke became home to dozens of houseboats - the first of these are seen above Bottom Lock and the moorings extend as far as Scotland bridge. Of course, most of the original houseboats have now gone, replaced by narrow boats or steel barges. But a few of the original ones do remain, and their distinctive style can be seen.

Scotland Bridge is the first overbridge on the canal, and it is an original brick bridge. The busy traffic over it has seen the bridge somewhat abused and so traffic lights now control the traffic across it. A close inspection of the bridge will reveal various attempts to strengthen the bridge, including iron straps under the arch and tie bars through the arches.

 
Scotland Bridge & Lock No.2 Footbridge

BASINGSTOKE CANAL PHOTO GUIDE:

R. Wey - Scotland Bridge    Scotland Br - Woodham Top    Woodham - Chertsey Rd    Woking    St. Johns - Hermitage    Brookwood - Pirbright    Deepcut Locks   Deepcut - Frimley Aqueduct    Frimley - The Canal Centre    Through Ash Vale    Ash Aqueduct - Eelmoor    Eelmoor - Norris Hill    Norris Hill - Reading Road    Fleet - Chequers Bridge     Chequers - Double Bridge    Double Bridge - Dogsmerfield    Barley Mow - Broad Oak Bridge    Colt Hill - North Warnborough    N. Warnborough - Greywell    Main Page