BASINGSTOKE CANAL PHOTO GUIDE
NORTH WARNBOROUGH - GREYWELL
The narrow section west of Swan Bridge
Swans on the canal near North Warnborough Lift Bridge
North Warnborough Lift Bridges - first replacement on left - old on right (22 April 1979)
There was originally a swing bridge here, built in 1954. Hampshire County Council decided to make it a hydraulic lifting bridge and this was done in 1958. The operation took 25 minutes and with the introduction of trip boats, this was too long. So in 1988 a completely new lift bridge was installed, but in 1980 with the completion of further dredging eastwards, trips were offered to the Barley Mow Inn at Winchfield. In the 21st century it has been replaced by a much better bridge.
King Johns Castle is right by the canal at North Warnborough. It is confusingly known as Odiham Castle (this being its official name.) Its a norman castle of about the 12C, and once had a moat. What remains is juts the octagonal keep - itself a unique design for norman times. It is named after King John, who signed the Magna Carta at Runnymede in 1215. He came to the castle in early June 1215 - from whence he went eastwards to Windsor and along the Thames thus to Runnymede itself. Ironically commercial boats travelling from London past King Johns Castle to points on the Basingstoke westwards of Greywell also had to past the very spot by the banks of the Thames at Runnymede where the Manga Carta was signed. The castle is adjacent to the River Whitewater, which passes under the canal only a few yards away by means of what is technically a siphon, rather than a true aqueduct. As mentioned elsewhere, the Baisngstoke Canal as constructed did not have a single aqueduct built replying instead on the lower costs options of using culverts and this one siphon.
The rebuilt Whitewater Aqueduct
The Whitewater (or King Johns) winding hole is sited immediately on the west side of the aqueduct. Beyond is the barrier (seen picture below) that marks the end of navigation. The few hundred yards beyond to Greywell Tunnel are only for canoes. The water since North Warnborough has been very clear and on the approach to the tunnel it becomes crystal clear.
Above: Greywell Lock. The depth in Greywell Tunnel was often not sufficient for navigation as the canal did not have a unlimited supply of water, relying on springs inside Greywell Tunnel and elsewhere. It was decided to build a lock here east of the tunnel in order to facilitate greater depth and an easier passage for boats through the tunnel. This certainly was achieved with the difference in levels being a foot.I suspect however that another, lesser known reason for the lock was to put extra water in the canal all the way to Basingstoke as this section suffered badly from persistent leaks and any extra water would alleviate the situation as much as possible. Earlier we discussed Ash Lock as being the only one in Hampshire. Greywell Lock is also in Hampshire and so the Basingstoke Canal actually had two locks in that county. One oddity about Greywell lock is that on old maps the narrows themselves where the lock was situated is most definitely described as a wharf! The only possible explanation is that as there was once a timber yard alongside the north top of the cutting, perhaps the narrows of lock 30 was the most convienent spot for loading boats.
Above and below: Greywell Tunnel, length 1230 yards. Last used in 1913, and collapsed in 1932. The tunnel's collapse is not exactly the reason for the demise of the section to Basingstoke, although the collapse did accelerate it. There had been no regular traffic to Basingstoke since 1910, and in 1913 Alfred Harmsworth got as far as Basing. But the fact that the section west of Greywell (Penny Bridge) suffered bad leakages meant that it was not worth maintaining a navigation when there was no traffic at all. So in the 1920's the stretch by Basing House was infilled, and the severance of the route was effectively implemented with the culverting of Eastrop Bridge in Basingstoke, cutting off the towns wharf from any possible re-use. Just those five years later the tunnel collapsed, and even though there was talk of re-opening it, with the loss of Basingstoke's Eastrop Bridge and the Basing House stretch, it was really a no-go. The tunnel's collapse simply accelerated the process of infilling or selling off redundant portions of the canal. Unlike most canal tunnels, the construction of Greywell Tunnel did not involve the installation of a brick floor for extra strength, and it has stood the test of time well despite that shortcoming. The view below shows the tunnel's brickwork at the eastern portal, and it is in excellent condition. The reflection in the water is that of the steel gates, installed to prevent people entering the tunnel and disturbing the bats. That is the other question. Since bats are a protected species, and with a collapsed section now extending over about 200 yards, any prospects for re-opening Greywell Tunnel are very remote.
Clear water just inside Greywell Tunnel
Although the towpath is now diverted over the tunnel's portal, the actual boat-horse path came through where this farm gate now stands (below), and down a private access road. At the far end it crossed the main road and climbs uphill through the woods. There is mile or so of canal from the west end of Greywell Tunnel that is walkable. Beyond that there is very little left of the Basingstoke canal. (Aspiring explorers can continue to Basingstoke by clicking on the section entitled 'Beyond Greywell.'
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