User:Bywhacky/sandbox/Rugby Canals

Rugby Canals Rugby Canals

There is no canal called Rugby Canal, however there are 20 miles of navigable canal that goes through the borough of Rugby. Primarily it is the North Oxford Canal dating back to 1790 which runs from the West of Antsy up to the side of the M6 motorway to Kilsby Lane just off the A428 of the borough.

There is also a short stretch of the Grand Union Canal which runs from just east of Wolfhampcote to east of Lower Shuckburgh before leaving borough for a short distance and re-entering just beyond Calcutts Boats and passing Ventor Marina and Nelsons wharf heading North West for a short distance and leaving the borough boundary just before The Boat Inn pub by the A426.

Along the length of the canal you will find the 1829 Grade II listed Newbold Tunnel on the North Oxford canal at Newbold-Upon-Avon which is 230 metres long built during the straightening of the Oxford Canal. This is not the original Newbold Tunnel. The Original tunnel though now derelict is still in existence though now bricked up.

Also on the North Oxford canal are the Hillmorton Locks, reputedly the busiest locks on the canal network in the UK. They were completed in 1774, with further works to double the locks following the straightening of the canal in 1840.

The charity Canal and River trust are currently responsible for this navigation having taken over from British Waterways.

There are many businesses based upon the canal building and repairing boats, as well as One pub The Barley Mow at Newbold, a cafe/bar The Canal Lounge at Clifton Cruisers, The Canal Chef at Hillmorton all welcoming boaters and non boaters alike and also attracting visitors to the area. Also based along this stretch are 2 historical boats moored outside The Canal Chef at Hillmorton Locks.

A boaters peer group for Disabledboaters.is also located along the canals within the borough of Rugby

Moorings

There are several marinas,wharfs, farm moorings, online moorings, and old arms along the 20 miles of canal, providing moorings for over 1200 boats.

Ventnor Marina, Dunchurch Pools, Barby Moorings, Brinklow Marina,Lime Farm Marina,Hillmorton Wharf,Clifton Wharf, Rugby Wharf, Barby Moorings, Nelsons Wharf, Rose Narrowboats, Colehurst Farm, as well as Canal and River Trust long term moorings along the towpath of the canal through the borough.

Tourism

The canals in the borough are popular tourist destination due to the miles of lock free cruising depending on which direction you go in.

Armada Boats, Rugby Wharf. Rose Narrowboats,Clifton Cruisers.

History along the Canal There is a wealth of History to be found all along the canal and away from it from the Hillmorton Locks to Clifton Wharf to Newboad Tunnel. Even though the contour canal was straigtened in the 1820's you can still find evidence of the original route such as the Old Newbold Tunnel which is now bricked up at Newbold-Upon-Avon or the Brinklow Arches which were part of a canal viaduct

In its heyday the route was one of the busiest in the country transporting goods, now it is blossiming again with tourism as well as several canalside businesses still building boats.

There are now plans by boaters along this stretch to put on a canal festival to celebrate their passion for it Rugbycanalfest. ...