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50328

The Leicester Line section of the Grand Union Canal, in Loughborough, Leicestershire.

What is now called the ‘Leicester Line’ comprised two canals that were bought by the Grand Junction Canal in 1894: the Leicestershire & Northamptonshire Union Canal and the ‘old’ Grand Union Canal.

The River Soar had been made navigable up to Loughborough by 1780, and the route was extended to Leicester in 1794. The Leicestershire & Northamptonshire Union Canal was promoted to continue the waterway to Market Harborough and Northampton, where it would meet the River Nene and the planned branch from the Grand Junction Canal at Gayton.

By 1797, when construction had only reached Gumley Debdale, the money had been used up. More was raised in 1805, and the canal got to Market Harborough four years later.

Meanwhile, the Grand Junction Canal from London to Braunston had opened. Alternative routes for joining the two canals were discussed and it was decided that a separate company to be called the ‘Grand Union Canal’ should be formed to make the link. (It is now often referred to as the ‘old’ Grand Union, to distinguish it from the canal of the same name created in 1929 when the Grand Junction merged with several other canals.) This opened from Norton Junction to Foxton in 1814, providing a direct route from the East Midlands coalfield and industrial towns to London.

Never prosperous, railway competition from the 1840s meant declining revenues, which led to reductions in maintenance. When in the early 1890s the Grand Junction was looking to revive the East Midlands trade, the two companies were very willing to be bought out, so in 1894 the Grand Junction paid £6,500 for the L&NU and £10,500 for the ‘old’ Grand Union.

The Grand Junction rectified the arrears of maintenance, dredged their new purchases, and built the inclined plane at Foxton, bypassing the ten locks and speeding the passage of the boats. It was all too late: traffic grew slightly, but not by enough to make working Foxton incline economic, and in 1910 it was closed, and traffic reverted to using the locks.

Information Source:
canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-and-rive...

Taken in: UK / England / Charnwood District / Loughborough (show map)

Taken on: June 23, 2018

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Loughborough

Leicestershire

Midlands

England

English

United Kingdom

Great Britain

Britain

British

city

urban

Leicester Line

Grand Union Leicester Section

Grand Union Canal

Grand Junction Canal

Leicestershire & Northamptonshire Union Canal « less

Sets appears in: • Leicester Line • Loughborough more » • Leicestershire « less

Groups appears in: • loughborough • Water... Oceans, Lakes, Rivers, Creeks more » • canals • Leicestershire • Waterscapes • Boats of All Kind • Unlimited! • Canals and Waterways of Great Britain • Leicestershire Photographers • Summer's shots • I Will Photograph Anything...Will You ? • CANALMANIA • Anything Reflected • The Very Great Outdoors • Boats, Yachts And Ships (No 30/60 Groups Rule) • CANALBOAT WORLD • Flickr Photo Album Unlimited & Instant Posting • A HISTORY • The Shires • TRANQUIL TOWNS AND VILLAGES « less

Camera: Nikon D7100, f/8.0, 1/250 sec, 45mm (=67mm), ISO 110 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D7100
Aperture:	f/8.0
Exposure Time:	0.004 sec (1/250)
Focal Length:	45mm (35mm equivalent: 67mm)
ISO:	110
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Not Defined
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Contrast:	High
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Lightroom 7.2 (Windows)
Show full info

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