Drayton Bridge

Just beyond Drayton Bridge occurs the most dramatic change in the history of the Wendover arm. For a short distance the canal has been diverted through a new cutting in order to accomodate a new by-pass road. At the Buckland (or Wendover) end of this new section, a winding hole will be made where it rejoins the old canal section. The former section of canal that includes the sump will be retained as a water channel for drainage purposes, but it will not be navigable.

The role of the sump was to facilitate the transfer of water out of the isolated western section of the Wendover arm to the rest of the canal system via the navigable eastern section. The water drops through the sump into Wilstone Reservoir, thence through the network of reservoirs to be lifted up to Tringford Pumping Station and back into the canal!