SECTION FROM BRIDGE 19 TO BRIDGE 22 (BUCKINGHAM ARM)
Feature, Map Ref, Notes
Aqueduct 742364 Shown on 1924 and 1900 maps as 'Cattleford Bridge'. Exists, parapet missing. Brickwork appears in reasonable condition. Very overgrown.
Bridge 20 741363 Shown on 1924 map as 'Draw Bridge No. 20'. Shown on 1900 GJCC map as Swing Bridge, and annotated 'No. 23'. Lift? Swing? bridge. No visible remains.
Bridge 21 740361 Shown on 1924 map as 'Draw Bridge No. 21'. Shown on 1900 GJCC map as Swing Bridge, and annotated 'No. 24'. Lift? Swing? bridge. Site not determined, no evidence found.
Milepost 7 739360 Shown on 1924 map as '7M'. Shown on 1900 GJCC map. No evidence found.
Culvert 739359 Shown on 1924 map as 'Culvert Bk.'. No visible remains, stream crossed by 2 planks made from LMS Railway sleepers.
Wharf 738358 Leckhampstead Wharf. Some buildings still exist, but have been modernised. Site is now an equestrian centre and new buildings have been added.
Bridge 22 737358 Shown on 1924 map as 'Bridge No 22'. Annotated on 1900 GJCC map as 'Bridge No. 25'. Masonry bridge. Still exists and carries road. Has been filled in underneath, no visible remains of brickwork. 2 culverts run underneath following line of canal.
Condition of Canal Bed
From Bridge 19 to Aqueduct: Canal bed in good condition. West of Bridge 19, depth of canal banks was measured at c. 5 ft.
From Aqueduct to Culvert: Canal bed has been obliterated and very difficult to discern line of canal. A new fence runs across the line of the canal between Bridges 20 and 21. The field between this fence and Bridge 21 is used for crops, and is regularly ploughed up.
From Culvert to Bridge 22: Canal bed has been filled by a yard and access road for the equestrian centre.
Condition of Towpath/Footpath
From Bridge 19 to Aqueduct: In good condition, and has recently been cleared through woods north of aqueduct, (with renewal of stile at edge of wood).
At the Aqueduct, public footpath crosses line of canal to north side, along the edge of the A422 road over Cattleford Bridge, then rejoins line of canal to the south of the aqueduct.
From Aqueduct to Culvert: Tow/footpath is not discernable. Stile exists where a new fence runs across line between bridges 20 and 21. Beyond this fence, footpath is obliterated by crops.
From Culvert to Bridge 22: The public right of way has been diverted to the south of the original towpath. (AVDC (Footpath No. 25 Parish of Leckhampstead) Public Path Diversion Order 1989. Confirmed 15/9/89). This diversion passes through a number of small paddocks (with horses in ) and uses a number of new stiles.
Public right of way.
Ownership
Unknown.
Other Notes
1900 GJCC map shows area to west of Bridge 22 as owned by the company. Area to the east, together with the buildings as not owned by the company.
SECTION FROM BRIDGE 22 TO BRIDGE 23 (BUCKINGHAM ARM)
Feature, Map Ref, Notes
Winding Hole 737358 Shown on 1924 and 1900 maps. Clearly visible, and covered in short grass.
Culvert (1) 736357 Shown on 1924 map as '9" G.E. Pipe Under Canal'. No evidence found.
Flood Paddle 734356 Shown on 1924 map as 'Flood Paddle'. The walls are clearly visible. the brick work on both sides of the towpath is in good condition and the culvert beneath the towpath appears to be clear. The paddle and mechanism are now missing, and a concrete slab covers the hole where the paddle mechanism once stood.
Blockage (1) 733356 Just to the west of the flood paddle, the canal bed has been filled with earth to create a farm track/access.
Culvert (2) 733356 Shown on 1924 map as '13" C.I. Pipe'. No evidence found.
Blockage (2) 731356 Just to the east of Culvert (3) a large earth bank is blocking the line of the canal bed.
Bridge 731356 At site of Culvert (3), embankment on both sides of the canal have been removed and a wooden bridge carries the footpath across the culvert channel.
Culvert (3) 731356 Shown on 1924 map as '9" G.E. Pipe Under Canal'. Now exists as an open channel carrying water across the bed of the canal.
Blockage (3) 729355 Canal bed has been filled in to create a farm track/access.
Bridge 729355 At site of Culvert (4), embankment on both sides of the canal have been removed and a wooden bridge carries the footpath across the culvert channel.
Culvert (4) 729355 Shown on 1924 map as '? ? Under Canal'. Annotated on 1900 GJCC map as 'Culvert'. Now exists as an open channel carrying water across the bed of the canal.
Bridge 23 729354 Shown on 1924 map as 'Draw Bridge No. 23'. Shown on 1900 GJCC map as Draw Bridge, and annotated 'No. 26'. Lift bridge. Now a fixed low level wooden bridge carrying a public footpath across the canal. The parts visible above the water line appear in good condition. Some of the original timbers from the draw bridge appear to be still in place below the new wooden deck.
Condition of Canal Bed
From Bridge 22 to Culvert (4); The canal bed is clearly defined and appears in good condition, apart from the blockages for farm track/access. Covered in short grass reeds, some brambles and the occasional small tree.
From Culvert (4) to Bridge 23: The canal is in water, with a large amount of reed growth.
Condition of Towpath/Footpath
From Bridge 22 to Bridge 23: The towpath is in a good to reasonable condition. In places is overgrown, and with one or two fallen trees, but is passable.
Public right of way.
Ownership
From Bridge 22 to Culvert (4): Unknown.
From Culvert (4) to Bridge 23: A nature reserve owned by BBONT.
Other Notes
Area between Winding Hole and Lock 1 is annotated on 1900 GJCC map 'JJ Davies Thornborough'.
SECTION FROM BRIDGE 23 TO BRIDGE 25 (BUCKINGHAM ARM)
Feature, Map Ref, Notes
Weir 728354 In good condition. Water flowing freely into canal from north-west and out towards the River Great Ouse to the south-east.
Bridge 727353 Wooden bridge at tail of lock carries footpath over the canal.
Lock 1 727353 Shown on 1924 map as 'Lock No. 1'. Shown on 1900 GJCC map as Lock, and annotated 'No. 1'. Exists and holding water. Chamber appears to be in very good condition with the walls in remarkably good condition, although the sides are very overgrown making inspection difficult. Apart from a small section of the bottom of the top gate, no other parts of the lock mechanism were found. It may be possible that more remains of the mechanism could be hidden in the undergrowth.
Milepost 8 726351 Shown on 1924 map as '8M'. Shown on 1900 GJCC map. Still exists. In good condition, with light surface rusting.
Culvert (1) 726350 Shown on 1924 map as 'Culvert'. No evidence found.
Bridge 24 725347 Shown on 1924 map as 'Draw Bridge No. 24'. Annotated on 1900 GJCC map as 'Bridge No. 27'. Lift? Masonry? bridge. Possible remains of the south-eastern side of the bridge exists - some minor brickwork.
Culvert (2) 724346 Shown on 1924 map as '9" E. Pipe'. No evidence found.
Bridge 25 717344 Shown on 1924 map as 'Draw Bridge No. 25'. Shown on 1900 GJCC map as Draw Bridge, and annotated 'No. 28 (25)'. Lift bridge. No evidence found, area has been infilled.
Condition of Canal Bed
From Bridge 23 to Lock 1; Canal is in good condition and holding water up to the top gate of the lock.
From Lock 1 to Culvert (1): Bed of canal is dry, but in very good condition. Covered in medium undergrowth of reeds and grasses. Small areas show signs of holding water.
From Culvert (1) to Bridge 24: The towpath embankment has been levelled, though the western embankment exists and appears to be in good condition. The canal bed is very overgrown with brambles and is impassable.
From Bridge 24 to Bridge 25: The canal bed has been infilled and levelled with little evidence of the canal. The line can be ascertained by the route of a farm track.
Condition of Towpath/Footpath
From Bridge 23 to Culvert (1): Towpath is in good condition, with little undergrowth.
From Culvert (1) to Bridge 24: Towpath is very overgrown with brambles and is impassable, necessitating a detour to the east. From Bridge 24 to Bridge 25: Towpath difficult to ascertain as canal has been infilled and levelled. The public footpath is clearly visible. At Bridge 25, the towpath changes side to the northern bank.
Public right of way.
Ownership
From Bridge 23 to south-west of Lock 1: A nature reserve owned by BBONT.
Remainder: unknown.
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