Blisworth Tunnel

Geobox|Canal Tunnel
name = Blisworth Tunnel
category = Canal Tunnel

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image_caption =Southern Portal of Blisworth Tunnel


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country = England
state = Northamptonshire
region = East of England
district = South Northamptonshire
municipality = Blisworth
location = on the Grand Union Canal
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length = 2794.406
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material =Brick
established =1793
date =Opened on 25 March 1805
owner = British Waterways
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visitation =Open all year round
visitation_date = Narrow Boat trips available
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Location map
Northamptonshire
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lat = 52.1560
long = -0.9285
background = white
caption = Location of Blisworth Tunnel at grid reference SP734514, shown within Northamptonshire
float = right
width = 175

Blisworth Tunnel is a canal tunnel on the Grand Union Canal in Northamptonshire, England between the villages of Stoke Bruerne (southern end) and Blisworth (northern end). The northern end is 29.2km from the northern end of the Grand Junction Canal at Braunston, Northamptonshire; the southern end is 32.0km away.

At 3,076 yards (2,813m) long it is the third-longest navigable canal tunnel on the UK canal network after Standedge Tunnel and Dudley Tunnel (and the ninth-longest canal tunnel in the world). At its deepest point it is "ca."143 feet ("ca."43m) below ground level.

Construction started in 1793, but errors by the contractor left a wiggle in the tunnel, and after three years work it collapsed due to quicksand, claiming the lives of fourteen men. It was then decided to begin again with a new tunnel.cite web|url=http://www.blisworth.org.uk/images/Tunnel%20Story/Tunnel-Story.htm|title=Third Time Lucky]

By the time the rest of the Grand Junction Canal had opened between London and Braunston, Northamptonshire in 1800, apart from the crossing of the River Great Ouse, the bit of the canal from Blisworth to the bottom of Stoke Bruerne locks was the only section that had not been finished. This was despite the tunnel having been under construction for seven years: the gap was filled by a temporary horse-drawn tramway over the top of the hill, with goods being transported from boat to wagon and back again. The tramway, built in 1801, was Northamptonshire's first railway. In March 1805, the tunnel was finally opened and the rails were used to connect the main line of the canal to the River Nene until the branch canal to Northampton was constructed.

There was some major rebuilding of the tunnel in the 1980s, with sections lined with pre-cast concrete rings. It was also used to test out the materials that were later used on the Channel Tunnel. One of the unused rings is on display just outside the Southern portal of the tunnel.

Features

References

External links

* [http://www.blisworth.org.uk/images/ Blisworth Images] - A compilation of archival and modern photographs recorded since c. 1880 and a collection of articles on both the heritage and the history of the village.
* [http://www.blisworthtunnel.co.uk/ Blisworth Tunnel Narrowboats] - Day Boat Hire, Narrow Boat servicing and base for Ownerships Afloat.
* [http://www.williampipernarrowboats.com/ William Piper Narrowboats] - Experienced Canal Boat Builders based at Blisworth Tunnel Narrowboats.