THE BASINGSTOKE CANAL - BEYOND GREYWELL
PENNY BRIDGE - LITTLE TUNNEL
Site of Penny Bridge
When I first knew this section it was quite possible to walk along an often overgrown canal channel through to Frog Lane. Now that last bit is occupied by the Eastside Coach House. Above, is the site of Penny Bridge. To the left is the canal to Greywell, and to the right is the former, often obliterated, route of the canal to Basingstoke. Below is a view looking across to the former route of the canal whose alignment was on the left. The farm track leads to Little Tunnel, utilising the former route of the canal from Penny Bridge.
Here the picture looks from some chalk heaps that have been dumped on the line of the canal. Straight ahead, behind the haystacked trailers, and where the clump of trees sit atop the hill, is the location of Little Tunnel.
The route across fields to Little Tunnel Bridge
Above, and below: The canal once crossed this valley on a small embankment, now gone. In the picture above, the tunnel is in the trees to the right, and the canal's alignment followed closely where the track curves round to the right. Below, the haystack trucks can be seen on the far left, whilst Little Tunnel is to the right out of sight.
In days gone by, it was possible to walk along the towpath through Little Tunnel, and to Frog Lane but not without a struggle. Now it is an easier job if one accesses it from the rear of the Eastside Coach House in frog Lane. The tunnel is often used as a store for the local farmer, so at times it is not easy to see through the tunnel itself. Although it was officially called Little Tunnel Bridge, at just sjust 50 yards, it went through the ground therefore it was a proper tunnel. The road above it used to be known as Andwell Drove. Below right, the portals are in the same style as those found at Greywell, and they were restored some years ago. The structure is a grade 2 listed building. Both views are of the eastern portal. The left hand picture had to be taken from where a field now extends across the canal bed and is raised to almost the height of the tunnel's crown.
Little Tunnel as I first knew it was in 1981, taking a number of pictures of the eastern portal, one of which is seen below left. It was taken standing on the bed of the canal, however this part has since been filled in almost to the portal itself. The photgraph of the portal taken in 2002 (above right) was taken from about a mid-point on the upper half of the 1981 picture, and it shows how much infilling has since taken place. I alwatys wonder why the tunnel had a area of white painted above the portal (its clearly seen below) maybe there wa a notice or something at one time? The tunnel in 1981 then looked precarious and in danger of falling down, and I suppose it was such a state of affairs that prompted it to be listed, and subsequently restored. The western portal was quite overgrown with foilage and it was a job to fight through so no picture was taken. As mentioned earlier, it was possible to walk to Frog Lane, although extremely overgrown in places, the towpath having long ceased to be well defined. The situation in 2002 seems no different as the western portal is still extremely overgrown and almost impossible to see. The picture featured on the information board at Up Nately brickworks arm can be seen here, below right, and it is interesting because it shows the boats, Ada and Maudie, at the tunnel's western portal in about 1900. It is clear from this picture that the canal westwards of Greywell did not see much traffic considering the state of navigation. Persistent leaks in this section caused it to be stopped off at Brick Kiln bridge in the early 1900's after the last traffic to Basingstoke had ceased.
THE LOST ROUTE FROM GREYWELL TO BASINGSTOKE:
Lost Section - Introduction Over Greywell Hill Greywell - Brickworks Arm Brickworks Arm - Penny Br Penny Bridge - Little Tunnel Frog Lane - M3 M3 Motorway Section M3 - Church Lane (Basing) Church Lane - Crown Lane Basing House Redbridge La - Swing Br Cottages The Loop - Ringway East Eastrop Way - Basingstoke