The Grand Union Canal - Lapworth Link via Hatton Locks to Royal Leamington Spa.

Photos and Features of the Grand Union Canal from Kingswood Junction via Shrewley Tunnel and the impressive Hatton Lock Flight on it's journey south to Leamington Spa.

Kingswood Junction Bridge marks the start of a short stretch of canal called the Lapworth Link which connects The Grand Union Canal Main Line with the Stratford-on-Avon Canal at Kingswood Junction - if walking, boating or cycling just here it is really worth diverting along the short canal link to at least take a quick look at Lapworth lock flight.

Kingswood Bridge 65	Kingswood Bridge 65	Kingswood Junction Bridge	Kingswood Junction Bridge	Weston Hall Bridge no.64	Weston Hall Bridge 64
Turners Green Bridge 63	Turners Green Bridge 63	Nice old beam cottages	Rowington Hill Bridge 62	Rowington Hill Bridge 62	White Bridge 61
White Bridge 61	Castle Meadow Bridge 60	Castle Meadow Bridge 60	Canal Syphon	Unknown but lovely brickwork	Bridge 59

Just by Turner's Green Bridge and somewhat lower than the towpath there is a really nice old beamed house or cottage well covered in foliage (see the photograph two rows up).
The immediate area around Shrewley Tunnel is very interesting - as you approach the tunnel the embankment either side of the canal is heavily wooded and there is plenty of water in the form of streams and rivulets coming down the embankment's sides. Shrewley Tunnel was opened in in 1799 and is 433 yards long - the tunnel is just wide enough to allow two 7 foot wide boats to pass. Shrewley tunnel is very wet inside and this has caused the creation of hundreds of small stalactites. There is no towpath through the tunnel so walkers and cyclists have to take a smaller 40 yard long tunnel which goes up to Shrewley Village and then continue back down along a clearly marked track and path to the canal's towpath on the other side.

Tythe Barn Bridge 59

Shrewley Tunnel - Northern entrance

Shrewley Tunnel - North entrance

Shrewley Tunnel South entrance

Shrewley Tunnel - South entrance

Balls Bridge 58

Balls Bridge 58	Gallows Bridge 57	Gallows Bridge 57	Bridge 56	Bridge no.56	St Johns Bridge 55
St. Johns Bridge 55	Hatton TopLock 46	Hatton TopLock 46	Hatton TopLock 46 (gates)	Hatton Lock 45	Hatton Lock 45
Hatton Lock 44	Hatton Lock 44	Hatton Lock 43	Hatton Lock 43	Hatton Flight	Bridge 54
Bridge 54	Hatton Lock Gates 42	Hatton Lock 42	Hatton Lock 41	Hatton Lock 41	Hatton Lock 40
Hatton Lock 40	Hatton Lock 39	Hatton Lock 39	Hatton Lock 38	Hatton Lock 38	Hatton Lock 37
Hatton Lock 37	Hatton Lock Flight	Hatton Lock 36	Hatton Lock 36	Middle Lock Bridge 53	Middle Lock Bridge 53

The magnificent 21 strong flight of locks which comprise Hatton Lock Flight raise or drop the Grand Union Canal 146 and a half feet - these locks were originally built as narrow or single locks but were modernised in the 1930s into full width locks. The location of the original locks beside them are still evident - see for instance our photo below of Middle Lock Bridge 53 with the old narrow lock (which is now used as an overflow sluice or weir) visible under the bridge's arch to the right. The area around Hatton Locks is really pleasant - not least because of the views of the whole run of locks either from the top or bottom of the flight. The area is teeming with a variety of wildlife - particularly you can find many birds living around the canal including heron, kingfishers, swans, moorehen, coots and - as always waiting for people to feed them - lots of apparently starving, fat mallard and other ducks.

Hatton Lock 35

Hatton Lock 35

Gates at Hatton Lock 34

Hatton Lock 34

Hatton Lock 34

Hatton Lock 33

Hatton Lock 33	Hatton Lock 32	Hatton Lock 32	Ugly Bridge 52	Ugly Bridge 52	Hatton Lock 31
Hatton Lock 31	Hatton Lock 30	Hatton Lock 30	Hatton Lock 29	Hatton Lock 29	Hatton Lock 28
Hatton Lock 28	Hatton Lock 27	Hatton Lock 27	Bridge 50c	Bridge 50c	Hatton Bottom Lock 26
Hatton Bottom Lock 26	Bridge 50b	End of The Saltisford Arm	The end of Saltisford Arm	The Saltisford Arm	Entrance to The Saltisford Arm

The Saltisford Arm starts where the Grand Union Canal performs a near left hand turn. Built in the 1790's the Saltisford Arm was the terminus of the Warwick and Birmingham Canal. This short Canal Arm is packed with moored narrowboats which are even to be found at the end basin making turning somewhat delicate. There are quite a few picnic tables and grass areas plus many ducks around the area making this quite a pleasant stop for a while if out towpath walking or cycling.

Budbrooke Junction Bridge 51	Budbrooke Junction Bridge 51	Bridge no50a	Bridge 50 a.	Wedgenock Park Bridge 50	Wedgenock Park Bridge 50
Cape Lock 25	Cape Lock 25	Cape Lock 24	Cape Lock 24	Footbridge 49b	Footbridge 49b
Footbridge 49a	Bridge 49a	Bridge 49	Bridge 49	Bridge 48	Bridge 48
A PipeBridge close to Bridge.47	Bridge 47	Bridge 47	Emscote Road Bridge no.46	Emscote Road Bridge no.46	River Avon Aqueduct
River Avon Aqueduct	River Avon Aqueduct	Bridge 45	Bridge 45	Railway Aqueduct	Railway Aqueduct
Bridge no.44	Bridge no.44	Bridge no.43	Bridge 43	Footbridge 42	Footbridge 42

These are our Grand Union Canal topics:

Birmingham (Salford Junction) through to Kingswood
Lapworth Link (Kingswood Junction) to Hatton - this page
Leamington Spa to Braunston
Braunston-Gayton Junction-Blisworth Tunnel-Stoke Bruerne-Wolverton
Grand Union Canal Wolverton to Horton
Ivinghoe Lock to Kings Langley
Kings Langley to the end of the Grand Union at The Thames

We have picked out a few Books about England - concerning the waterways of England. The Nicholsons Waterways Guides are a "must take" for anyone going on a Canal Barge or Narrowboat holiday (as well as anyone visiting the canals) as they are packed with really useful information. (The relevant Nicholoson Guide covering The Grand Union Canal is BOOK 1.)
If the development and history of our English and British Canals is of particular interest consider looking at the Anatomy of Canals series which are really good reading!.