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 River Soar.

The River Soar from it's mouth up to Leicester was controlled by two separate navigation authorities at first and then latter they both became part of the Grand Union canal Company.

Loughborough Navigation.

The River Trent to Loughborough.

In 1634 Thomas Skipwith obtained an Act to create a Navigation but only managed to complete the first 5 or 6 miles. In n1736 a second attempt failed to get its Act.

A commission was set up on the day that the Trent & Mersey and the Staff & Worcs canals were authorised in 1766 and Brinley was called in to advise. He suggested a canal but nothing was done.

In 1775 the idea of a Navigation was revived, at first using Stanches then they called in William Jessop who recommended the use of pound locks. On this base in 1778 a fresh act was obtained. It was to be a river navigation with six broad locks and a cut one and a half miles long at Loughborough. Completed by 1780 it only cost £10,000.. It carried extensive traffic and for a while was very prosperous.

The Leicester navigation extended traffic further up the river when it opened in 1795. However the connection south to London did not come until the Old Union canal opened in 1816, but with each extension trade grew. Since the canal was built quite cheaply by 1810 it was returning dividends of 94%!

In 1893 the Grand Junction purchased the Leicester & Northampton Junction canal for £10,500 and the Old Union for £6,500. It also organised a guarantee of minimum receipts with an option to purchase for the Loughborough, Leicester navigations and the Erewash canal..

Then in 1932 the Grand Union purchased the navigation for £11,000.

Leicester Navigation.

Leicester to Loughborough.

The navigation from the Trent to Loughborough was completed in 1780 and it was a success. So attention was on extending further up the river Soar.

Authorised in 1791 and completed by 1795. It was a river navigation although there were extensive cuts. It ran for 16 miles from Loughborough to Leicester with 9 broad locks and one flood lock It cost £80,000. It carried heavy traffic and for a while was very prosperous.

In 1793 the Leicester & Northampton Navigation was authorised this would have created trough traffic from London and the Nene valley for this navigation but it only got as far as Debdale Wharf by 1797 and then stopped due to lack on money. In 1808 it was extended to Market Harborough. The through line to London was created by the Old Union in 1814.

Like most river navigations the company had endless troubles with millers over water. There were ten mills on its line.

In 1893 the Grand Junction purchased the Leicester & Northampton Junction canal for £10,500 and the Old Union for £6,500. It also organised a guarantee of minimum receipts with an option to purchase for the Loughborough, Leicester and Erewash navigations.

Then in 1932 The Grand Union purchased this navigation for £48,000.

For further history see the Grand Union notes.

Sources.

Nicholson Guides to the Waterways.

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

Some pictures of this river?

Pictures of the Soar.

General information on the river.

Find our information about other canals and rivers 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