THE BASINGSTOKE CANAL - BEYOND GREYWELL

CHURCH LANE - CROWN LANE (BASING)

The Mead, Basing

Above: Properties situated off Milkingpen Lane in Basing, where the old vicarage used to be. This development known as The Mead and it is actually on the line of the Basingstoke Canal. The houses in the picture sit on top of the canal's alignment. Of course, the canal was in a cutting and like other parts of Basing, it has been made to level with the surrounding land. Behind the house at the far end is Chuch Lane bridge (or the remains of it) and the canal went from centre of picture to left going towards Basingstoke.

A footpath leads from Church Lane to Crown lane. It veers off near the church and soon heads south west. This seemingly quiet path runs alongside an extension to the cemetery (on the right hand side) but on the left hand side, behind this fence, stood Basing Wharf. The wharf was in a widened section of cutting and the path travelled along the edge of the wharf as shown on old maps.

Site of Crown Lane Bridge

Crown Lane Bridge - no longer there but a slight hump reveals where it once stood. Of course, it may still be buried under the road, as research shows that at one time, only the parapet remained (like at Church Lane) but being so much lower, it actually formed the kerb of this part of the pavement on Crown Lane! Redevelopment and road improvements have seen this unusual state of affairs swept away. On the other side of Crown Lane can be seen Musket Copse. This private road is the canal's actual alignment. The houses were built in the 1970's when the cutting was filled and levelled. At one time it would have been possible to stand somewhere along here and looking along the canal cutting, view Basing House bridge, which is about where the centre of the picture is - perhaps 200 yds away. None of the cutting remains until one reaches Basing House Bridge itself. Both views (above and below) are taken looking along the canal's alignment. It came under Crown Lane diagonally, and Basing Wharf was sited to the left in the above view.

Musket Copse, Basing

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