THE BASINGSTOKE CANAL - BEYOND GREYWELL
EASTROP WAY - BASINGSTOKE
We now come to the final section of the Basingstoke Canal. The route of the canal, after it was sold off, remained as an access track off Eastrop Lane for farmers, and subsequently also as a cycle lane to Basing. In 1961, major developments began to take place in Basingstoke and the surrounding area, with roads being added or altered. The (then) new Basingstoke Bus Station was built on the actual site of Basingstoke Wharf, although the frontage to the wharf itself on Wote Street, remained a little longer until the New market development took place. The track that extended along the canal route eastwards of course became Eastrop Way itself. It is doubtful if any orignal trees along the canal's alignment remain - with the exception of possibly just one. As for Basingstoke itself, the last bridge at Eastrop Lane, was dropped and the canal culverted in 1927. Basingstoke Wharf was sold off in 1936 and soon became a depot for the local bus company. In 2002, the centre of Basingstoke has changed once again, and the bus station of 1961 has been swept away, replaced by a new bus station aligned south to north, although its southern end is still on the location of part of the actual wharf. If one walks through Eastrop Park on the south side, the slopes that carried the canal' s route above the valley of the River Loddon can still be seen in places. However, the canal's actual alignment is now Eastrop Way.
View along canal alignment towards Ringway East
This view looks east towards the Ringway. The pedestrian underpass as seen in the previous section, is round to the left out of sight. The trees on the left are the canal's northern boundary, and in the distance a clump of trees mark a very small piece of the canal's alignement left where the Ringway has cut across the route. The trees on the left also mark the canal's northern boundary, but they do not seem to be original trees. Further on, this footpath, by the Sports Centre, becomes Eastrop Way itself.
Eastrop Way looking west
Was this tree there when the canal existed? Its defintely an old tree and certainly although all the trees that lined the canal were chopped down, aerial photographs belonging to Hampshire Council show one tree that stood slightly back in relation to the other trees at this location. Is this the same tree? In the distance is the 'spire' of Basingstoke's new Festival Place (completed October 2002).
The last bends on the Basingstoke Canal before the terminus
Further along, nearer to Basingstoke, modern buildings make themselves more prominent, as seen above. The Basingstoke Canal's last curves into the town are reflected here by the alignment of the present Eastrop Way. The grass verge on the right would have once been the towpath itself, whilst the hedge along it mark the canal's northern boundary.
Just off Eastrop Way at the point where it meets Eastrop Lane, is this Basingstoke Canal heritage trail board, marking the site of Eastrop bridge. The actual bridge was to the right of the picture. The heritage trail takes one through Eastrop Park and although it does follow the canal's route, it is not the actual canal's alignment however. This is not made clear on neither the information boards or the Heritage Trail leaflets. Where the hedge is, what was the canal's northern flank can be seen where its banks once sloped down to the shallow, broad valley of the River Loddon. Eastrop Park itself now takes up much of this former river valley and little trace of the river's original course is left.
Above left: At the far end of Eastrop Way/Eastrop Park, the former canal alignment is being rekindled in some respects with this new underpass as seen during construction works in early October 2002. Looking the other way (above right) the access road through the arches to the old bus station still exists in the centre, now of course forming the exit road from the new bus station! This view would have at one time looked from a point west of Eastrop Bridge, approximately where the timber merchants, E C White & Sons stood, towards the end of Basingstoke Wharf and of course, the furthest extremity of the Basingstoke Canal.
Basingstoke Bus Station and Festival Centre in October 2002
The new 2002 bus station. that has replaced the original 1961 bus station. Although the new bus station is smaller, the wharf once stood where this view now looks southwards to the new Festival Place shopping centre. The leaflet shown here is part of an excercise published by Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council in 1995, as part of a consultation whose objective was to bring the Basingstoke Canal back to the town in conjunction with the new development. As events have now shown, the new development is finished - without the Basingstoke Canal of course. Costs were abortive, something like 27 million at 1995 prices, including a new tunnel through Greywell Hill or locks over the hill and the M3, as well as the demolition of many properties and repurchase of land. In many respects, it is now generally accepted that the canal can never be restored to Basingstoke. But there is a view to link it instead to the Kennet and Avon, which is no more than about 12 miles away at one point, although such an idea is not original, having been mooted as early as the 1800's.
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