Feature, Map Ref, Notes
Overflow Weir 795422 East bank. Leads to pound below Cosgrove Lock. Still in operation.
Culvert 795422 Shown on 1924 map as 'Wooden Trunk'. No evidence found.
Winding Hole 794421 Shown on 1924 and 1900 maps. Silted up.
Bridge 1 794421Shown on 1924 map as 'Bridge No 1'. Annotated on 1900 GJCC Map as 'Bridge No. 1'. Masonry bridge. Infilled. Parapet dismantled - bricks thrown in cut and probably part of infill. Brick work leading into bridge hole still in place.
Condition of Canal Bed
In water. Used for moorings by Cosgrove Marina.
Condition of Towpath/Footpath
Towpath on the southern/eastern bank of canal. In good condition.
Public right of way.
Ownership
British Waterways.
Other Notes
1900 map shows both arms as 'Grand Junction Canal Buckingham Branch'.
The swing bridge that was once over the lock at Cosgrove is now in use at Winkwell.
SECTION FROM BRIDGE 1 TO BRIDGE 2 (STRATFORD ARM)
Feature, Map Ref, Notes
Blockage (1) 790417 Bed of canal has been raised to create a farm track/access.
Pipe 790417 North bank has been cut for a drainage (?) pipe. Old pipes thrown in canal. Possibly existed before abandonment of canal.
Arm 788417 Shown on 1924 and 1900 maps. 1900 map indicates not owned by GJCC. Short arm c. 50 yards in length from north bank. Only barely discernable. Has been infilled for some time (possibly by dredgings or similar). East side of arm is a ploughed field. West side is a small copse.
Manhole 787418 Circular manhole cover on south bank. Possibly for access to sewage system and probably in existence before abandonment of canal.
Blockage (2) 787418 Bed of canal has been raised to create a farm track/access.
Pipeline 787418 Marker post, labelled UKOP (UK Oil Pipeline?), showing position of pipeline running from North-west to South-east beneath canal. Bed has been restored, depth of pipeline unknown. Other marker posts are visible to North-west and South-east.
Bridge 2 785418 Shown on 1924 map as 'Bridge No 2'. Annotated on 1900 GJCC map as 'Bridge No. 2'. Masonry bridge. Lowered and infilled, but still in use as farm access and for a public footpath. Sloping access and some stone walling, including brick work into bridge hole.
Condition of Canal Bed
In good condition, apart from reeds and small trees growing in the bed. Access ways have been made at two points, resulting in raising of the canal bed and lowering of the banks.
Condition of Towpath/Footpath
In good, walkable condition. Stile at 790417. Post and wire fencing between towpath and canal along part of section north of stile.
From Bridge 1 to Blockage (2) is a public right of way.
The public right of way from blockage (2) continues to the south of the canal, to a point south of Bridge 2, then crosses Bridge 2 to join Stratford Road.
Ownership
British Waterways
SECTION FROM BRIDGE 2 TO END OF STRATFORD ARM
Feature, Map Ref, Notes
Flood Paddle 784418 Structure in good condition, but paddle and operating gear removed.
Culvert 783417 Shown on 1924 map as 'Culvert (Large Stone)'. Water course still in operation. Overgrown.
Milepost 1 782416 Shown on 1924 map as '1M'. No evidence found.
Blockage 782415 Line of canal has been cut by the construction of the A5 Trunk Road (in 1975-1976). The road is approximately 10 ft below the level of the canal.
Wharf 782414 Lay-by wharf. Only just discernable from the footpath alongside the A5 Trunk Road. There is a building along the (west?) side.
Pipe Bridge 782414 A pipe crosses the canal just south of the junction with the lay-by.
Bridge 3 782413 Shown on 1924 map as 'Bridge No 3 (Swing)'. Annotated on 1900 GJCC map as 'Swing Bridge No. 3'. Swing bridge. Abutments still in good condition. Blue engineering bricks with date 1903. Large blocks of stone on access. Remains of bridge - rotting wood, some iron bolts, lengths of iron (part of pivot mechanism?). A tree has fallen over it.
Footbridge 782413 Small footbridge south of Bridge 3. No handrail.
Wharf 782412 Hayes Basin. At least one brick building alongside. Wall alongside east bank.
Condition of Canal Bed
Still in reasonable condition. Some growth of reeds and small trees. Blockage where the A5 Trunk Road cuts the line of the canal. Final half of the wharf length appears to have been infilled. No buildings appear to have been constructed on the bed.
Condition of Towpath/Footpath
From Bridge 2 to A5 Trunk Road: Towpath is in good walkable condition.
South of the A5 Trunk Road: Towpath is not accessible.
Public footpaths leave the old Cosgrove Road, follow both sides of the A5 Trunk Road, crosses the route of the canal and meet at a pedestrian bridge over the A5 Trunk Road, approximately 100yds from the canal route. Another path leaves the pedestrian bridge in a southerly direction and passes close to Bridge 3.
1:25000 map shows public right of way (as at 1.10.1988) along the towpath south of the A5 Trunk Road to the junction with Hayes Basin.
Ownership
From Bridge 2 to A5: Owned by British Waterways.
From A5 to end of the Stratford Arm: Unknown.
Other Notes
1900 GJCC map indicates that the lay-by wharf was not owned by the company.
1900 GJCC map shows 3 buildings at Hayes Basin; two on the north-west side, and one on the south-east side. The area around the wharf, together with a roadway to Watling Street is annotated 'Purchased from CH Cove 4 July 1933'. A second area between the wharf and Cosgrove Road is annotated 'Purchased from Allan Giles Nov 1934'.
SECTION FROM START OF BUCKINGHAM ARM TO BRIDGE 4 (BUCKINGHAM ARM)
Feature, Map Ref, Notes
Bridge 1 781413 Shown on 1924 map as 'Bridge No 1 B.A.'. Annotated on 1900 GJCC map as 'Bridge No. 4'. Masonry bridge. Roadway has been lowered, and is still in use.
Bridge 2 779412 Shown on 1924 map as 'Bridge No 2'. Annotated on 1900 GJCC map as 'Bridge No. 5'. Masonry bridge, with no towpath underneath. Known as the "Old Stratford Tunnel". Roadway has been lowered, and is still in use, but has been infilled.
Bridge 3 778410 Shown on 1924 map as 'Bridge No 3'. Shown on 1900 GJCC map as Draw Bridge, and annotated 'No. 6'. Lift bridge. Now a concrete level bridge, with space underneath and service pipe access. Situated by a Northamptonshire County Council Post and a road 'Barrow Close'.
Blockage 776404 Line of canal is cut by the construction of the A422 Old Stratford By-pass (in 1989-90).
Bridge 4 776404 Shown on 1924 map as 'Bridge No 4'. Shown on 1900 GJCC map as Draw Bridge, and annotated 'No. 7'. Lift Bridge. No longer exists, a new road, the A422 Old Stratford by-pass, having been built. A new road access to the field served by the bridge has been created between the by-pass and a road sign "Old Stratford". Site is probably at side of the new road access coincident with a bramble patch.
Condition of Canal Bed
From junction with Stratford Arm to Bridge 1; intact and in reasonable condition, including under the bridge.
From west side of bridge 1 to bridge 2; has been infilled.
From Bridge 2 to Bridge 3; Three house have been built upon the line (one up for sale), otherwise clear apart from cultivation as gardens.
From Bridge 3 to Bridge 4; still exists in reasonable condition. Access used to garden rubbish access (Gas Pipe line sign by '30mph').
Condition of Towpath/Footpath
From junction with Stratford Arm to Bridge 1; intact.
From Bridge 1 to Bridge 2; not discernable due to infill.
From Bridge 2 to Bridge 3; indiscernible due to cultivation and house building.
From Bridge 3 to Bridge 4; exists, but overgrown (not walkable).
No public rights of way exist.
Ownership Unknown.
Other Notes Wharf ('Old Stratford Wharf') before Bridge 2?
