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~ Return to Wendover ~ Little Tring to Drayton Beauchamp

Above and below - the same section taken six years apart. The electrical transmission lines can be seen in both photos. The canal bed is currently used by construction equipment needing to reach the works at Drayton bridge

  
In pre-restoration days one had to cross the bed of the canal to gain access to two public footpaths heading southwards. Two new wooden bridges have been built at these locations, and the first is Pat Saunders bridge (no 4) as shown above. Many of those who donated funds towards the restoration have had their names inscribed on plaques on the bridge structure


This is the same location six years previously, clearly showing the public footpath crossing the canal bed


This is the second new crossing. The picture clearly shows some of the names of those who contributed towards the restoration funds. One of the most notable listed is David Suchet, Patron of the Wendover Arm Trust


Concrete and stone lining works are underway near Drayton bridge.View looking westwards


Another view of the same section looking east


A short but delightful stretch of restored and watered canal just before Drayton bridge


The watered canal just before Drayton bridge. One wonders why motorway type crash barriers are needed (will be needed) four feet below the surface of the water...

Above and below. The same location with a difference. The new section of canal to accomodate the Drayton by pass had not been long under construction, whilst the original course still remained and diverged to the right. The original course has been obliterated, although a small section remains further along. Saxon Way bridge can be seen in the distance in both photogrpahss

   
Two views at Saxon Way bridge. As the large plaque explains it is named after the discovery of a Saxon burial site nearby


The Drayton sump with the new by pass under construction, the year being 2002. This view was not show in the original Wendover set. As explained in the original feature, this was where the water from Wendover entered a sump that took the water through pipes to the Tring reservoirs

Not exactly the same perpective, but the similarity is there as Saxon Way bridge can be seen in the background, and the same tree still exists! This is where the new Drayton canal section rejoins the original Wendover route. When the 'dry section' between Little Tring and Drayton is completed, it is expected boats will be able to reach as far as this point, as width has been left for a winding hole. Estimated date for completion is 2010. The rest of the canal to Wendover will take a lot of work because of three lowered bridges and the concrete stretch through Green Park

Next: Buckland Wharf - Wendover

Tringford - Little Tring    Little Tring - Drayton Beauchamp    Buckland Wharf - Wendover

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