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Coordinates: 51°12′32″N 1°28′41″W / 51.209°N 1.478°W / 51.209; -1.478

Andover Canal
Remains of the Andover canal near Romsey
Original Owner	Andover Canal Navigation Company
Principal Engineer	Robert Whitworth
Date of Act	1789
Date of first use	1794
Date Closed	1859
Maximum Boat Length	65 ft 0 in (19.81 m)
Maximum Boat Beam	8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Start Point	Andover
End Point	Southampton Water
Connects to	Salisbury and Southampton Canal
Locks	24 (level dropped 179 ft)
Status	Railway built over route

Andover Canal
legend River Anton, Andover Andover Wharf 9 locks (Andover - Stockbridge) Fullerton River Anton aqueduct River Test aqueduct Stockbridge Kings Somborne 8 locks (Stockbridge - Romsey) Salisbury and Southampton Canal Kimbridge Romsey 6 locks (Romsey - Redbridge) Redbridge Salisbury and Southampton Canal Entrance lock Southampton Water

The Andover Canal was a canal built in Hampshire, England. It ran 22 miles (35 km) from Andover to Redbridge through Stockbridge and Romsey. The canal had a fall of 179 feet (55 m) through 24 locks, and for much of its length paralleled the River Anton and River Test.

The first survery for an Andover Canal was carried out in 1770 by Robert Whitworth however this effort failed.^[1] In 1789 Robert Whitworth carried out another survey and an Act of Parliament was gained on the 13th July ^[1]. The canal was completed in 1794 at a cost of £48,000; £35,000 from shares and £13000 from a loan. The canal locks were built to take boats up to 65ft*8ft 6in^[2]. The main cargos of the canal coal, slates and manure when coming in from Southampton water and agricultural produce when going out although boats were often unable to find cargos for the journey back out to Southampton water.^[2] The canal was never successful enough to pay a dividend until it closed in 1859, when income from the sale to Andover & Redbridge Railway ^[3] produced one. In 1827 the canal was 8 years behind on its interest payments although this had improved to only one year by 1851.^[1]

Much of the length of the canal was converted to a railway, Sprat and Winkle Line, in 1865, and much of this railway has since also been abandoned. As a result, most traces of the canal have completely disappeared, although the remains of a stretch of the canal can still be seen between Timsbury and Romsey.^[4]

References

See also

UK Waterways portal

• Canals of Great Britain

External links

• Image showing the original map of the Canal