Your floating hotel on the Canals and Rivers of the UK

Our guide to the waterways of the UK in detail.

The History of the Warwick & Napton Canal.

As soon as the Warwick & Birmingham was authorised in 1793 plans were started for another canal to complete the link from Birmingham to the Oxford canal. Despite considerable opposition from other canal companies the Warwick to Braunston was authorised in March 1794. After work had started it was altered in May 1796 to be the Warwick & Napton.

Work proceeded quickly and in December 1799, along with the Warwick & Birmingham it was formally declared open. Final work to fully complete meant that it was however not open for trade until March 1800.

Water supply was a problem at the start. So in 1809 a reservoir was built at Boddington on the Oxford Canal to supply water for the Warwick & Napton. Then in 1833 Bodington Reservoir was greatly extended.

Coal was more for local use. Six coal merchants were established at Leamington, mainly at Eagle and Ranelagh wharves. The lime works at Stockton were supplied from Coventry area as was Hatton Asylum. In 1905 only 17,000 tons of coal were carried even then however this was only 10% of its total traffic.

In 1840 to 1844 it was involved in the construction of the Warwick & Birmingham Junction Canal. The loans to do this proved a very heavy financial burden. So in 1845 it was involved with the offer by the London & Birmingham extension and Northampton, Daventry, Leamington & Warwick railway Company to buy all three Warwick canals. A £4,000 deposit was paid. When the railway found legal problems they had to withdraw but they lost their money.

However there was still considerable competition from railways forcing reduction of tolls. As a result in 1853 receivers were appointed for the canal. The arrangement of a new loan to repay some of the debts lead to the receiver being discharged in 1860.

Other sources of revenue were exploited over the years. In 1860 the United Kingdom Telegraph Company was allowed to carry its wires along the towpath.

In Leamington there was strong railway competition. Starting in 1850. Some private transhipment facilities were created and eventually company transhipment wharves at Clapham Terrace Lemington.

At the start of the 20th century long distance traffic was declining rapidly, but short distance traffic was buoyant, and the tolls from the Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal which were shared provided a welcome income. This enabled a purchase of a new steam dredger at first working on the Warwick & Birmingham then starting on the Warwick and Napton in July 1911 reaching Stockton in 1914 when it had to be suspended due to the shortage of labour with the outbreak of war.

The first world war had a major effect on traffic for the canals unlike the railways did not receive any financial assistance at first. Finally in 1917 the government assumed control of the canals and started to pay subsidies allowing more competitive wages. This was phased out in 1920

In 1929 the Grand Junction canal company, which had already absorbed the Old Union and the Leicester & Northampton Navigation joined with the Reagents canal, the Warwick & Napton, the Warwick & Birmingham and the Warwick & Birmingham junction canal companies to form the Grand Union Canal company.

In 1932 they also absorbed the Leicester Navigation, the Loughborough Navigation and the Erewash canal.

The new combined canal was over 300 miles long.

For further history go to the Grand Union notes.

Sources.

Nicholson Guides to the Waterways.

Roots & Routes, Peter Hardcastle's Website
http://www.canals.btinternet.co.uk/index.htm

Canal Companion, South Midlands J.M. Pearson. Published by Central Waterways Supplies of Rugby in 2004. ISBN 0-9545383-8-2

Some pictures of this canal?

Bull's Bridge to Marsworth / Paddington Arm. / Marsworth to Gayton / Aylesbury Arm

Gayton to Norton / Norton to Braunston / Braunston to Napton /Napton to Warwick / Warwick to Lapworth

Lapworth to Camp Hill. / Camp Hill to Salford / Digbeth Branch.

General information

History of the other canals which make up the present Grand Union canal.

The Grand Junction / Warwick to Birmingham / The Grand Union.

Find our information about other canals on the canal index page.

If you have any questions then do ring us on 07977 229103
or email us at martinreed@reedboats.co.uk