BASINGSTOKE CANAL PHOTO GUIDE

DEEPCUT - FRIMLEY AQUEDUCT

Above: Deepcut (literally.) The long and deep canal cutting is what gives the locale its name. It stretches for about a mile, but apart from being the deepest, is it the longest cutting on the Basingstoke Canal? The other contenders length-wise has to be the one on the west side of Greywell Tunnel or round Basing Village.

Deepcut Bridge

This bridge spans the Deepcut and for a seemingly modern bridge it presents a fairly pleasant styling. It is known as Deepcut bridge, and was built in1941. Connected to the canal at Frimley Green is a lake that even has an ornamental bridge on its far side, and is part of the Lakeside Country Club. Wharfenden Lake was once a popular destination for boats from Alec Harmsworth's boat hire base on the south side of the aqueduct.

On the north side of Frimley aqueduct, is a narrows which once held one of two stop gates that protected the sections on either side of the aqueduct should there be any failure. These were unusually a single gate with a pair of paddles, and by standards were very wide - considering the Basingstoke is a broad canal. Here's a picture of the north side gate from 1977.

Frimley Aqueduct Stop Gate - 1977

Frimley Aqueduct Stop Gate - 2002

Although it does not look the same scene as that in 1977, it is exactly the same view! The gate has gone but the slanting silver birch trees in both pictures are the same, having grown bigger. The narrowboat is actually moored on the aqueduct itself. Right at the far end of the picture can be seen the abutment of the south end stop gate narrows.

Above and Below: Before and after views of Frimley Aqueduct. The aqueduct in 2002 as compared to this waterless view taken on 25th September 1977. Although the perspective is similar, the view looks different because foilage makes it impossible to see the nearby B3012 road bridge (this road crosses the canal a little distance away at Guildford bridge.)

A train speeding through the down fast arch at Frimley Aqueduct. The aqueduct is a very large structure mainly because the canal crosses the railway route diagonally, although the superstructure itself is built at right angles to the railway. It is said that the aqueduct was lined with lead at one time in order to to prevent persistent leaks. In 1980 British Rail repaired the aqueduct as it was leaking onto the railway, and it was relined with polythene. They found that the aqueduct had indeed been lined with lead on the older (or northern half) of the aqueduct.

BASINGSTOKE CANAL PHOTO GUIDE:

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