Ray T Posted November 18, 2019 Report Share Posted November 18, 2019 (edited) 11 hours ago, zenataomm said: Don't forget everyone that Hawkesbury is not the original junction between the two canals. When built the junction was at Longford. What's the chances that boats leaving the basin at Bishop Street and heading for Oxford would have been gauged at Longford. While boats heading up the Coventry would gauge at the pump house? As I said in post No 6. Could this be the remnants of a lock gate, beyond the strapping post? Picture from "A Canal People" Rolt / Longdon. Edited November 19, 2019 by Ray T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris M Jones Posted November 18, 2019 Report Share Posted November 18, 2019 Toll taking was done twice at Hawkesbury Junction up until 12th February 1909. Thereafter a single office was used and jointly funded by both companies but managed by the Oxford, which also explains the date of 1909 on the gable end of the toll office. The narrows on the Coventry side were closed by the toll clerks so boats could not sneak through and avoid paying before the toll office opened in the morning. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heartland Posted November 19, 2019 Report Share Posted November 19, 2019 Map evidence do not show any gauging facilities at Longford, simply Hawkesbury. Early distance tables for the Oxford Canal do not show anything at Longford, but mention the stop at Hawkesbury. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dav and Pen Posted November 19, 2019 Report Share Posted November 19, 2019 Always thought the narrows on the Coventry where for gauging. Coming south loaded we would stop there and get off so as to have a look at the state of play by the pub and set the lock ready for tackling the turn. Tried to get round before Joe or Rose had a chance to have a laugh. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris M Jones Posted November 19, 2019 Report Share Posted November 19, 2019 Just out of interest The Oxford canal chain survey book (from an actual survey of July 1840) starts at Longford with a Towpath bridge No.1 presumably spanning the original junction. The next bridge is No.2 parish road bridge, then Victoria Colliery Landing just before Hawkesbury Junction at 7 furlongs from the start, where there is Lock No.1 and bridge No.3, a wooden towpath bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heartland Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 Thanks Chris, this later survey would be the same at the earlier one, with lock 1 being at Hawkesbury. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 We've boated through Sutton's many times and I've never noticed any sign of Longford junction. Are there any visible remains? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magpie patrick Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 On 18/11/2019 at 22:07, Chris M Jones said: Toll taking was done twice at Hawkesbury Junction up until 12th February 1909. Thereafter a single office was used and jointly funded by both companies but managed by the Oxford, which also explains the date of 1909 on the gable end of the toll office. The narrows on the Coventry side were closed by the toll clerks so boats could not sneak through and avoid paying before the toll office opened in the morning. Thank you That is also a useful reminder that gates weren't necessarily water control structures, they could also be boat control structures! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray T Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Athy said: We've boated through Sutton's many times and I've never noticed any sign of Longford junction. Are there any visible remains? Apart from the width, none I have been able to discern. Whilst having a mooch around the narrows on the Coventry this lunch time, quite by chance, I met a Bedworth historian now in his late 70's who assured me the narrows had once been a gauging lock with at least one set of gates. Edited November 20, 2019 by Ray T 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archie57 Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 The site of the junction at Longford is where boats used to wind before going stern first up to the loading shutes 1/2 mile further on towards Coventry. Tight for a full length boat, you probable couldn't do it now because of the moored boats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray T Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 (edited) 4 minutes ago, archie57 said: The site of the junction at Longford is where boats used to wind before going stern first up to the loading shutes 1/2 mile further on towards Coventry. Tight for a full length boat, you probable couldn't do it now because of the moored boats. Pictures from "A Canal People" Rolt / Longdon and the IWM Edited November 20, 2019 by Ray T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beetlejuice Posted November 21, 2019 Report Share Posted November 21, 2019 The brick work has been altered at some time , and this was at one time a toll lock or gate. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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