The Marsworth Flight of Locks, Grand Union Canal (for Information)

Image: © Chris Reynolds Taken: 5 Mar 2009

This is provided an introduction to the Marsworth flight of locks on the Grand union Canal near Tring. For more general information on the canal and reservoirs see Image The text is taken from the notice board from the car park at Startops End, Marsworth. A BUSY HIGHWAY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY The construction of the Grand Union Canal, between 1793 and the early 1800s, marked a turning point in the development of industry and commerce in Britain. It was the first cost effective trade route between the industrial towns of the Midlands and London, which opened up new trading opportunities for small towns and villages along its route. During the 1800s Marsworth Locks were a hive of activity. Narrowboats heading for London, laden with coal, agricultural produce and manufactured goods passed boats travelling to the Midlands carrying sacks of sugar, chests of tea, tinned foods and spices from London docks. The lock keepers had a busy life – their job sometimes included controlling fights between rival carriers, eager to keep their place in the queue. LOST LOCKS Bridge 132 here at Startop's End has two arches but only one crosses the canal. The other arch once crossed a second lock, built in 1838 to speed up traffic through this busy section of the canal. WATER SAVERS Side ponds were built beside the locks to save water. When the lock was emptied half the water was channelled into the side pond to be used again next time the lock was filled. These water stores are no longer used but are important for wildlife like moorhens and dragonflies. A STAIRCASE OF WATER Look out for the 'staircase' lock at the start of the Aylesbury Arm Canal. The bottom gates of one lock form the top gates of the next. DID YOU KNOW? The Grand Union Canal was originally called the Grand Junction Canal. A merger with seven canal companies in 1929 created the Grand Union Canal Company in an attempt to fight off growing competition from the railways for trade. You can still see the name 'Grand Junction Canal' on some of the old signs and bridges. HAVE YOU SEEN IT? Follow the canal to Bulbourne to see where hundreds of oak and metal lock gates were made and repaired between 1903 and 2004. --- The following links allow you to travel up the flight of locks between the Marsworth Junction with the Aylesbury Arm Image to the Tring Summit, starting at Bridge 132. At each “stop” you will have the chance to see other pictures of features on the route. Image Image Image Image including Bluebells, a café that was formerly a lock keeper's cottage. Image Image Image Image Image Image and Lock Keeper's Cottage. Image Image Image Image and Lock Keeper's Cottage. Image Image and Dry Dock. {Links to Tring Summit and the Wendover Arm to be added}

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