Route
The main canal was 52 miles (84 km) long, with branches totalling 6 miles (9.7 km) to Chippenham, Calne, Wantage and Longcot. It was cut to take narrowboats 72 feet (22 m) long and 7 feet (2.1 m) wide. There were 42 locks on the main line and three on the Calne branch. There were three short tunnels.
While the main canal was opened in 1810, some branches were operating before this and others added afterwards. The North Wilts Canal from Swindon to the Thames and Severn Canal at Cricklade was opened in 1819; it had 11 locks. It was originally a separate company, but merged with the Wilts & Berks following an Act of Parliament in 1821.
| Key Locations on Route | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | OS Grid Ref | Coordinates (Links to map resources) |
Notes |
| Jubilee Junction | SU496949 | 51°39′04″N 1°16′55″W / 51.651°N 1.282°W / 51.651; -1.282 | junction with River Thames |
| Wantage | SU384887 | 51°35′46″N 1°26′17″W / 51.596°N 1.438°W / 51.596; -1.438 | |
| Shrivenham | SU234880 | 51°35′24″N 1°39′43″W / 51.590°N 1.662°W / 51.590; -1.662 | |
| Cricklade | SU104945 | 51°38′56″N 1°50′56″W / 51.649°N 1.849°W / 51.649; -1.849 | junction with Thames and Severn Canal |
| approximate midpoint | SU135834 | 51°32′56″N 1°48′18″W / 51.549°N 1.805°W / 51.549; -1.805 (Wilts & Berks Canal (mid point))Coordinates: 51°32′56″N 1°48′18″W / 51.549°N 1.805°W / 51.549; -1.805 (Wilts & Berks Canal (mid point)) | junction with North Wilts Canal |
| Seven Locks | SU201808 | 51°31′34″N 1°58′16″W / 51.526°N 1.971°W / 51.526; -1.971 | |
| Stanley Junction | ST959726 | 51°27′07″N 2°03′29″W / 51.452°N 2.058°W / 51.452; -2.058 | junction with Calne branch |
| Semington Junction | ST898610 | 51°20′53″N 2°08′46″W / 51.348°N 2.146°W / 51.348; -2.146 | junction with Kennet & Avon Canal |
Read more about this topic: Wilts & Berks Canal
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