BASINGSTOKE CANAL PHOTO GUIDE

FRIMLEY - BASINGSTOKE CANAL CENTRE

Looking towards Guildford Road Bridge

One the south side of Frimley aqueduct, the canal passes some narrows (the other one being at Frimley Green on the far side of the aqueduct.) In the background is Guildford bridge (also below). Built in a mixture of stone and brick, it is attractive and a rarilty, along with Mytchett Place bridge, on this canal. Sprats Hatch bridge, near North Warnborough, has a very similar appearance, though its rendered totally with bricks and reflects the original style by John Pinkerton. Both Guildford Road and Mytchett Place Canal Bridge are in fact modern replicas built to retain the traditional styles that reflected the canal's character. The original Guildford Road Bridge was planned for replacement with a dual carriageway, but local people protested and so the more traditional, time honoured way of bridge building was adapted, using modern materials as far as possible and finished in brick and stone facing, using original techniques such as the 100ft line. The structure was finished in 1997. By Guildford Bridge was a boathouse run by Alec Harmsworth until about 1940. There was also an annual regatta here.

Guildford Road (or Kings Head) bridge of 1997

Guildford Road is another point where the towpath changes sides. In fact it is the final towpath change-over point on the entire canal - for the towpath now stays on the north side all the way to Penny bridge (on the far side of Greywell Tunnel) and indeed it remained on that side all the way into Basingstoke. As is the case with other Basingstoke turn-over points, the bridge must be crossed in order to access the different sections of towpath.

This is an attractive view looking from the arch of Guildford Road bridge back towards Frimley aqueduct. The stop gate narrows can be seen adjacent to the the attractive white canalside cottage - which is a gatehouse lodge (belonging to 'Frimhurst', the place where Ethel Smyth, composer and pianist, lived. The Frimhurst estate was cut through by the new LSWR railway, leaving the lodge and the main house isolated from each other except by means of walking along the canal..) It is in some ways remniscent of the toll houses built by Thomas Telford on his London - Holyhead road. At this point the canal widens and the setting is idyllic.

Frimley Lodge Park minature railway runs adjacent to the Basingstoke Canal for a considerable distance. The line is similar to the nearby Great Cockrow railway. The area seems popular for small gauge railways as at one time there was the 10 and quarter inch Surrey Border and Camberley Railway which connected Farnborough and Camberley, over two miles apart, and the Foxhill and Farnborough. Timetabled trains ran all year on the SB&CR until its end just before the second world war.

The very modern swing bridge enables towpath visitors to access the Basingstoke Canal centre at Mytchett. There is a cafe, vistor facilites, boater and mooring facilities, as well as a boating and canoeing club. On a Saturday a useful car boot sale is held in the field adjacent to the centre. Any copies of 'London's Lost Route to Basingstoke.' for sale?

Basingstoke Canal Centre Opening Times:
Easter - September: Tue - Fri 10.30am - 5.00pm, Sat/Sun/B Hols 11am - 5.30pm October - Easter: Tue - Fri 11am - 4pm Call to check if open Sundays in October. Tel: 01252 370073