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STRATFORD UPON AVON CANAL
GUILLOTINE STOP LOCK.
FIRST LOCK ON THE CANAL, ALWAYS OPEN.
LAPWORTH, OR KINGSWOOD JUNCTION.
THIS SHORT LENGHT OF CANAL IS RELATIVELY NEW.
Using this short cut avoids having to use two locks. The canal the boat is entering joins to the Grand Union.
STRATFORD UPON AVON LOCK.
DROPS THE CANAL DOWN TO THE RIVER AVON
For a larger map click on the image
Locking up from the Lower Stratford.
To the left of the picture is the short length of canal shown in the next photo.
The canal from the Alcester Road bridge
at the side of the Three Horse Shoes Pub.
Locking Down on the Lapworth Flight.
Just below the 'Boot Inn'.
Stratford upon Avon canal is 25 miles long with 55 locks, the only broad lock is from the River Avon into the canal basin at Stratford. The canal leaves the Worcester and Birmingham canal at Kings Norton Junction.
The only tunnel on the canal is soon encountered at Brandwood End, the canal is lock free for the first half of its length.
After this the locks come suddenly, there being 25 in the first flight at Lapworth, a further group of 11 are at Wilmcote. The Edstone Aqueduct at Bearley, is noteable, it is 475 feet long, also the barrel roofed lock cottages are unusual.
The canal eventualy terminates in Bancroft Gardens in front of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, very close to the town centre.
The canal is known for its split bridges.
This example is at Morton Bagot, near Henley in Arden. A good pub is near this bridge the 'Crab Mill'.
The Wotton Wawen Aqueduct.
The plaque is attached to the side of the iron trough of the aqueduct, and can be seen from the roadway below.
EDSTONE AQUEDUCT, BEARLEY.
The aqueduct crosses a road, a stream and the railway. it is 475' (146m) long, as can be seen it is an iron trough on brick pillars, with the tow path slung below the water line.
Built by William Whitmore 1813.
Bancroft Gardens, the Gower memorial to William Shakespeare can be seen in tStratford upon Avon Canal basin in he background.
The towns High Street is at the far side of the basin, mooring is also possible on the River Avon, above and below the bridge.
The last short stretch before the basin.
The pub to the left of the photo serves meals all day.
across the road is a British Home Stores with a first floor restaurant who's window overlooks the canal basin,
billchambers@1waterways.freeserve.co.uk