Andover Canal: A Portrait
Andover to Fullerton
Distance: 4.6 miles (7.4 km)
Andover Wharf
It seems that the wharf at the terminus in Andover was opened in 1794 and remained open until 18th September 1859 when the canal was closed pending it’s reconstruction as a railway. This opened as a single track line on 6th March 1865. The line was converted to double track between 1883 and 1885.
Whilst the railway south of Romsey remains very much in use, north of Kimbridge Junction to Andover the line was closed on 7th September 1964. As much of the railway was built on the course of the canal, very little remains of the waterway along this northern section.
Andover Wharf covered an area south of Bridge Street between the Station Hotel and Sainsbury’s, parts of the Borden Gates and Asda car parks and the intervening roundabout. Most of this latter covers the site of the terminal basin. The town’s gas works were established on the south side of the wharf when Andover gained gas street lighting in 1838. The gas works occupied much of the area of the Asda car park.
Opened in March 1865, Andover Town station and its goods yard were built on the site of the canal wharf obliterating the latter entirely. To reach the main line to Salisbury, the railway crossed Bridge Street by means of a level crossing right next to the Station Hotel and along what is now the northbound carriageway of Western Avenue. Today, all signs of the railway in the wharf area have in turn disappeared.
The Station Hotel in Bridge Street remains - it did not belong to either the canal or the railway. It was originally called the Eight Bells when it opened in 1790 adjacent to the wharf whilst the canal was under construction.
Site of Andover Wharf
The wharf lay on the south side of Bridge Street and occupied all of the area this side of the supermarket and some of the car park to its right. The terminal basin was filled in as part of the railway goods yard but much is now covered by the roundabout.
Image date: 9 Nov 2005. © 2005 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU362451. WGS84: 51° 12′ 17″ N, 1° 28′ 58″ W.
Site of Andover Wharf
Much of the site of the terminal basin is now covered by the roundabout.
Image date: 9 Nov 2005.
NG Ref: SU362451.
WGS84: 51° 12′ 17″ N, 1° 28′ 58″ W.
(92.2KB)
Site of Andover Wharf
Looking north from Anton Mill Road at the site of Andover Wharf which lay on the south side of Bridge Street. Andover Town Station occupied the grassy area on the left whilst the railway goods yard occupied much of the rest of the picture.
Image date: Aug 2018. © 2020 Google. Image from Google Street View. NG Ref: SU362451. WGS84: 51° 12′ 17″ N, 1° 28′ 57″ W.
Site of Andover Wharf
Looking north from Anton Mill Road at the site of Andover Wharf which lay on the south side of Bridge Street.
Image date: Aug 2018.
NG Ref: SU362451.
WGS84: 51° 12′ 17″ N, 1° 28′ 57″ W.
(54.9KB)
Andover Town Station
Looking north this view shows the level crossing over Bridge Street and the pedestrian bridge. The Station Hotel lies on the west side of the track.
Image date: Pre 1914. Image scanned from undated postcard. NG Ref: SU362452. WGS84: 51° 12′ 19″ N, 1° 28′ 57″ W.
Andover Town Station
Looking north this view shows the level crossing over Bridge Street and the pedestrian bridge. The Station Hotel lies on the west side of the track.
Image date: Pre 1914.
NG Ref: SU362452.
WGS84: 51° 12′ 19″ N, 1° 28′ 57″ W.
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Station Hotel
Formerly called the Eight Bells, the Station Hotel once lay beside the railway and, before that, next to the wharf. The grassy area next to the hotel is the site of the Town station.
Image date: Aug 2018. © 2020 Google. Image from Google Street View. NG Ref: SU362453. WGS84: 51° 12′ 21″ N, 1° 28′ 57″ W.
Station Hotel
Formerly called the Eight Bells, the Station Hotel once lay beside the railway and, before that, next to the wharf.
Image date: Aug 2018.
NG Ref: SU362453.
WGS84: 51° 12′ 21″ N, 1° 28′ 57″ W.
(50.9KB)
Leaving Andover Wharf
The site of the canal looking towards Redbridge from near the entrance to the wharf. The trees on the right are on the offside bank of the canal whilst Keens House on the left encroaches upon the site of the canal, towing path and the later railway.
Image date: 9 Nov 2005. © 2019 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU362451. WGS84: 51° 12′ 17″ N, 1° 28′ 59″ W.
Leaving Andover Wharf
The site of the canal looking towards Redbridge from near the entrance to the wharf.
Image date: 9 Nov 2005.
NG Ref: SU362451.
WGS84: 51° 12′ 17″ N, 1° 28′ 59″ W.
(89.9KB)
Andover Wharf to Rooksbury Mill
Although a public footpath follows the line of the canal/railway from Andover to Upper Clatford only a few traces of the waterway can be seen. When the canal was converted to the railway, a public footpath was constructed on the south side the railway as a replacement for the canal towing path between the wharf and Upper Clatford. The footpath now used by the public runs along the line of the canal/railway itself.
The line of the canal/railway and the modern path is crossed by Redbridge Drive which gives access to some modern housing lying between the canal/railway and the River Anton. A little south of here the remnants of the replaced towing path lie between the modern path and the gardens of houses in Sainsbury Close.
Rooksbury Mill lies on the south-east side of the former canal. Although the present mill building dates from the late 16th or early 17th century, it may be one of the eleven mills that, according to the Domesday Book, existed in Andover in 1089. Flour milling ceased at the site in the early 20th century.
The first bridge south of the wharf carried the access road to the mill over the canal. When the railway was built, the bridge was demolished and replaced by a level crossing. This bridge features in what is said to be the only known contemporary picture of any part the canal.
Looking back towards Andover Wharf
The site of the canal and later railway (looking back north-east towards the wharf). The stream is a remnant of the canal left for drainage purposes when the rest of the width was infilled to lay the railway track. The red Range Rover is standing on part of the site of the channel and towing path.
Image date: 9 Nov 2005. © 2005 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU360450. WGS84: 51° 12′ 13″ N, 1° 29′ 06″ W.
Looking back towards Andover Wharf
The site of the canal and later railway (looking back north-east towards the wharf). The stream is a remnant of the canal left for drainage purposes.
Image date: 9 Nov 2005.
NG Ref: SU360450.
WGS84: 51° 12′ 13″ N, 1° 29′ 06″ W.
(90.3KB)
South west of Andover Wharf
Line of canal/railway looking south-west from beside the Anton Trading Estate.
Image date: 9 Nov 2005. © 2005 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU359450. WGS84: 51° 12′ 12″ N, 1° 29′ 11″ W.
South west of Andover Wharf
Line of canal/railway looking south-west from beside the Anton Trading Estate.
Image date: 9 Nov 2005.
NG Ref: SU359450.
WGS84: 51° 12′ 12″ N, 1° 29′ 11″ W.
(104.2KB)
The present public footpath
Looking north from Redbridge Drive along the former canal/railway.
Image date: 4 May 2019. © David Martin (cc-by-sa/2.0). Image from www.geograph.org.uk. NG Ref: SU357449. WGS84: 51° 12′ 08″ N, 1° 29′ 25″ W.
The present public footpath
Looking north from Redbridge Drive along the former canal/railway.
Image date: 4 May 2019.
NG Ref: SU357449.
WGS84: 51° 12′ 08″ N, 1° 29′ 25″ W.
(98.8KB)
The present public footpath
Looking south from Redbridge Drive along the former canal/railway.
Image date: Jan 2009. © 2020 Google. Image from Google Street View. NG Ref: SU357449. WGS84: 51° 12′ 08″ N, 1° 29′ 25″ W.
The present public footpath
Looking south from Redbridge Drive along the former canal/railway.
Image date: Jan 2009.
NG Ref: SU357449.
WGS84: 51° 12′ 08″ N, 1° 29′ 25″ W.
(50.3KB)
Former public footpath
At the rear of houses in Sainsbury Close, looking south along the line of the public footpath that ran beside the railway as a replacement for the canal towing path between the wharf and Upper Clatford. The modern public path now runs along the line of the canal/railway behind the bushes on the right.
Image date: 9 Nov 2005. © 2019 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU356448. WGS84: 51° 12′ 07″ N, 1° 29′ 27″ W.
Former public footpath
At the rear of houses in Sainsbury Close, looking south along the line of the public footpath that ran beside the railway as a replacement for the canal towing path.
Image date: 9 Nov 2005.
NG Ref: SU356448.
WGS84: 51° 12′ 07″ N, 1° 29′ 27″ W.
(132.5KB)
Entrance to Rooksbury Mill
Line of canal/railway looking north at the entrance to Rooksbury Mill, Andover.
Image date: 9 Nov 2005. © 2019 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU354445. WGS84: 51° 11′ 57″ N, 1° 29′ 40″ W.
Entrance to Rooksbury Mill
Line of canal / railway looking north at the entrance to Rooksbury Mill, Andover.
Image date: 9 Nov 2005.
NG Ref: SU354445.
WGS84: 51° 11′ 57″ N, 1° 29′ 40″ W.
(117.5KB)
Canal at Rooksbury Mill
Entitled ‘Andover Canal below Rooksbury Mill’, this painting is thought to be the only contemporary picture of any part of the canal. It is looking north at the bridge at the entrance to Rooksbury Mill, Andover.
Image date: 1833 - Artist unknown. NG Ref: SU354445. WGS84: 51° 11′ 57″ N, 1° 29′ 40″ W.
Canal at Rooksbury Mill
Entitled ‘Andover Canal below Rooksbury Mill’, this painting is thought to be the only contemporary picture of any part of the canal.
Image date: 1833 - Artist unknown.
NG Ref: SU354445.
WGS84: 51° 11′ 57″ N, 1° 29′ 40″ W.
(68.1KB)
Rooksbury Mill to Upper Clatford
About 85 yards (75m) south of the mill entrance, the line of the canal diverges to the east of the course of the railway to skirt the lower slopes of Balksbury Hill whilst the railway navvies dug a slight cutting to maintain a straighter line. The line of the canal is hardly discernible and is much overgrown by woodland.
The A303 Andover Bypass, which opened in 1969, crosses the lines of both the canal and railway. The subway under the dual carriageway for the modern path is a few yards east of the line of the railway. The course of the canal passes under the line of the bypass about 40 yards (35m) east of the subway.The course of the canal rejoins the line of the railway just north of the railway crossing of the Pillhill Brook. This culvert replaced the structure that carried the canal over the stream.
Some 250 yards (230m) south of the brook, we arrive at the site of Pill Hill Lock which was the first in the descent to the sea. Immediately before the lock, on the offside, there was a triangular widening for about 80 yards (70m) along the canal and almost 30 yards (27m) wide at its southern end which was about where the front of the two eastern modern bungalows is situated. This was the private wharf for the Waterloo Iron Works established by Robert Tasker in about 1815 at a site (since demolished) approximately ⅔ mile (1 km) west of the waterway. When the railway was built along the canal, the wharf was replaced by a siding. This remained private until 1933 when it became available for public use until the end of 1945. The railway was dismantled in 1968.
Since the demise of the railway, the bridge that carried Water Lane over it has also been demolished and the road realigned. This railway bridge was on the site of an earlier bridge carrying the road over the canal a few yards south of Pill Hill Lock. The lane turned sharply at the east end of the bridges, the site of which is now on the grass verge to the south of today’s realigned lane.
Path under Andover Bypass
This well lit underpass takes the modern path under the A303 bypass into Upper Clatford.
Image date: 11 Dec 2010. © Chris Talbot (cc-by-sa/2.0). Image from www.geograph.org.uk. NG Ref: SU354443. WGS84: 51° 11′ 51″ N, 1° 29′ 40″ W.
Path under Andover Bypass
This well lit underpass takes the modern path under the A303 bypass into Upper Clatford.
Image date: 11 Dec 2010.
NG Ref: SU354443.
WGS84: 51° 11′ 51″ N, 1° 29′ 40″ W.
(112.2KB)
Culvert at Pillhill Brook
The culvert that carried the railway over the Pillhill Brook and the site of the earlier canal crossing.
Image date: 9 Nov 2005. © Peter Oates 2019. NG Ref: SU354441. WGS84: 51° 11′ 44″ N, 1° 29′ 41″ W.
Culvert at Pillhill Brook
The culvert that carried the railway over the Pillhill Brook and the site of the earlier canal crossing.
Image date: 9 Nov 2005.
NG Ref: SU354441.
WGS84: 51° 11′ 44″ N, 1° 29′ 41″ W.
(103.9KB)
Watery Lane, Upper Clatford
The first lock south of Andover was Pill Hill Lock. Watery Lane crossed the canal over a bridge where the grass on the right is now. The lock stretched from the modern road to near the front of the further bungalow.
Image date: Jun 2011. © 2020 Google. Image from Google Street View. NG Ref: SU354438. WGS84: 51° 11′ 35″ N, 1° 29′ 37″ W.
Watery Lane, Upper Clatford
Watery Lane crossed the canal over a bridge where the grass on the right is now. The lock stretched from the modern road to near the front of the further bungalow.
Image date: Jun 2011.
NG Ref: SU354438.
WGS84: 51° 11′ 35″ N, 1° 29′ 37″ W.
(46.7KB)
Site of Pill Hill Lock
The first lock south of Andover at Upper Clatford lay between the camera and the bungalow north of Water Lane. Tasker’s wharf (and later siding) lay beyond the lock. The sign on the extreme right indicates the path to Andover.
Image date: 9 Nov 2005. © Peter Oates 2005. NG Ref: SU355438. WGS84: 51° 11′ 35″ N, 1° 29′ 34″ W.
Site of Pill Hill Lock
The first lock south of Andover at Upper Clatford lay between the camera and the bungalow north of Water Lane.
Image date: 9 Nov 2005.
NG Ref: SU355438.
WGS84: 51° 11′ 35″ N, 1° 29′ 34″ W.
(81.2KB)
Lifting the railway
The demolition train is seen from the now removed Water Lane Bridge. Upper Clatford Siding had diverged from the left hand track near the brake van in the distance. Even earlier, Pill Hill Lock used to lie in the left foreground. The fences bounding the footpath to Andover can be seen to the right of the crane.
Image date: 4 Sep 1968. Image from J H Bird. NG Ref: SU355439. WGS84: 51° 11′ 36″ N, 1° 29′ 35″ W.
Lifting the railway
The demolition train is seen from the now removed Water Lane Bridge. Before the railway, Pill Hill Lock used to lie in the left foreground.
Image date: 4 Sep 1968.
NG Ref: SU355439.
WGS84: 51° 11′ 36″ N, 1° 29′ 35″ W.
(73.4KB)
Upper Clatford to Goodworth Clatford
From Water Lane, the canal (and the later railway) ran south towards Goodworth Clatford. There is no footpath beside this length to the south of Water Lane. Whilst some parts of the trackbed have been incorporated into the grounds of adjacent properties, much of the line is overgrown. King’s Lock NG Ref: SU356435. WGS84: 51° 11′ 25″ N, 1° 29′ 31″ W. was about 350 yards (320m) south of Pill Hill Lock but, like most of the canal’s locks north of Kimbridge, it was demolished when the railway was built. South of the lock, Church Lane crosses the railway and a side-stream of the River Anton by a many-arched, slightly skewed bridge built by the railway company. This replaced the earlier and much smaller canal bridge which was just to the south, crossing the waterway at right angles.
The combined course of the canal and railway continues in a generally south-easterly direction. About a third of a mile (0.5km) south of Church Lane, this course, much of it overgrown, runs alongside the road to Goodworth Clatford until the north end of that village.
The first pair of semi-detached bungalows on the left as the village is entered occupies the site of Welche’s Lock NG Ref: SU360426. WGS84: 51° 10′ 54″ N, 1° 29′ 09″ W.. They also sit across what was the railway track at the north end of the platforms of Clatford Station. The first station since Andover Town extended from here to the level crossing over the lane leading to the deep ford across the River Anton. The main station buildings lay across the entrance to the current car park. The railway tracks (and the former canal) ran through what is now the small water pumping station. The former level crossing had replaced the original canal bridge.
In 2010, some villagers cleared some of the area between the station and the river and this is now known as Riverside Rest. The remains of the base of the signal box and other remnants of the past can be seen there.
Church Lane, Upper Clatford
Looking westwards along part of the long bridge in Church Lane crossing the former railway and a side-stream of the River Anton. Interestingly the bridge has 13 arches.
Image date: 14 Mar 2013. © Given Up (cc-by-sa/2.0). Image from www.geograph.org.uk. NG Ref: SU356434. WGS84: 51° 11′ 22″ N, 1° 29′ 28″ W.
Church Lane, Upper Clatford
Looking westwards along part of the long bridge in Church Lane crossing the former railway and a side-stream of the River Anton. Interestingly the bridge has 13 arches.
Image date: 14 Mar 2013.
NG Ref: SU356434.
WGS84: 51° 11′ 22″ N, 1° 29′ 28″ W.
(89.0KB)
Site of Clatford Station
Almost all traces of the railway and the station have disappeared. The car on the right is parked where the rails (and the canal) once ran. The site of Welche’s Lock is where the further pair of bungalows now stands.
Image date: 9 Nov 2005. © Peter Oates 2019. NG Ref: SU360425. WGS84: 51° 10′ 53″ N, 1° 29′ 06″ W.
Site of Clatford Station
Almost all traces of the railway and the station have disappeared. The car on the right is parked where the rails (and the canal) once ran.
Image date: 9 Nov 2005.
NG Ref: SU360425.
WGS84: 51° 10′ 53″ N, 1° 29′ 06″ W.
(73.4KB)
Clatford Level Crossing
The appropriately named Deep Ford crossing the River Anton meant little vehicular traffic used the level crossing which became pedestrian only when the signal box was closed in 1962.
Image date: 12 Oct 1957. Image from J J Smith. NG Ref: SU360425. WGS84: 51° 10′ 52″ N, 1° 29′ 06″ W.
Clatford Level Crossing
The appropriately named Deep Ford crossing the River Anton meant few vehicles used the level crossing which became pedestrian only in 1962.
Image date: 12 Oct 1957.
NG Ref: SU360425.
WGS84: 51° 10′ 52″ N, 1° 29′ 06″ W.
(72.7KB)
Clatford Station
No longer with a signal box, looking south at Clatford Station, seven months before the line closed.
Image date: Feb 1964. Image from E Wilmshurst. NG Ref: SU360426. WGS84: 51° 10′ 54″ N, 1° 29′ 06″ W.
Clatford Station
No longer with a signal box, looking south at Clatford Station, seven months before the line closed.
Image date: Feb 1964.
NG Ref: SU360426.
WGS84: 51° 10′ 54″ N, 1° 29′ 06″ W.
(55.6KB)
Deep Ford
Viewed from the footbridge over the River Anton, the canal / railway ran across the picture through the grey van on the other side of the river at Goodworth Clatford.
Image date: 9 Nov 2005. © Peter Oates 2005. NG Ref: SU361426. WGS84: 51° 10′ 54″ N, 1° 29′ 04″ W.
Deep Ford
Viewed from the footbridge over the River Anton, the canal / railway ran across the picture through the grey van on the other side of the river at Goodworth Clatford.
Image date: 9 Nov 2005.
NG Ref: SU361426.
WGS84: 51° 10′ 54″ N, 1° 29′ 04″ W.
(93.4KB)
Goodworth Clatford - Westover
South of the site of Clatford Station, parts of the line of the canal/railway have been incorporated into adjacent gardens. The Riverside Walk site is an area located on the north side of Church Lane, just behind the Royal Oak pub. The lower path in this area follows the route for about 60 yards (55m). The railway bridge in Church Lane has been replaced by an embankment. On the south side of the lane, a further 100 yards (90m) of former canal/railway lying next to the main River Anton and the Sheepwash stream can be explored. South of this, the line crosses the grounds of the Village Club and the Tennis Club courts although no trace of either transport mode can be identified. Further south, the course has been largely incorporated into adjacent properties until the village is left behind.
On leaving the village south along Longstock Road, the line of the former canal/railway returns to run close to the road and then follows near Westover Farm Road. The next lock on the descent to Stockbridge was Westover Lock. The exact position of this lock is uncertain, but from old maps and the latest LIDAR height data from the Environment Agency (which gives heights to a resolution of better than 1 metre), it would seem that the lock Approximate position NG Ref: SU363411. WGS84: 51° 10′ 07″ N, 1° 28′ 53″ W. was about 250 or 300 yards (230-275m) north of Westover Farmhouse. It has to be remembered that construction of the railway would have included “smoothing off” the vertical step in the canal at each lock.
The recently restored Riverside Walk
Riverside Walk was created by local volunteers in 2005 and refurbished in 2013. The canal/railway ran at the lower level. It provides a tranquil place to relax.
Image date: 26 Jun 2013. © 2013 Anguskirk (cc-by-nc-nd/2.0). Image from www.flickr.com. NG Ref: SU362423. WGS84: 51° 10′ 44″ N, 1° 28′ 57″ W.
The recently restored Riverside Walk
Riverside Walk was created by local volunteers in 2005 and refurbished in 2013. It provides a tranquil place to relax.
Image date: 26 Jun 2013.
NG Ref: SU362423.
WGS84: 51° 10′ 44″ N, 1° 28′ 57″ W.
(118.0KB)
The railway south of Church Lane
Viewed from Church Lane, this image shows part of the railway adjacent to the River Anton and the Sheepwash stream. This section of railway occupied the course of the canal.
Image date: 1955. © Andover Advertiser. NG Ref: SU362422. WGS84: 51° 10′ 42″ N, 1° 28′ 56″ W.
The railway south of Church Lane
Viewed from Church Lane, this image shows part of the railway adjacent to the River Anton and the Sheepwash stream. This section of railway occupied the course of the canal.
Image date: 1955.
NG Ref: SU362422.
WGS84: 51° 10′ 42″ N, 1° 28′ 56″ W.
(67.3KB)
River Anton, Goodworth Clatford
The junction of the River Anton and the Sheepwash stream by the line of the canal / railway south of Church Lane.
Image date: 26 Jun 2013. © 2013 Anguskirk (cc-by-nc-nd/2.0). Image from www.flickr.com. NG Ref: SU362422. WGS84: 51° 10′ 41″ N, 1° 28′ 57″ W.
River Anton, Goodworth Clatford
The junction of the River Anton and the Sheepwash stream by the line of the canal / railway south of Church Lane.
Image date: 26 Jun 2013.
NG Ref: SU362422.
WGS84: 51° 10′ 41″ N, 1° 28′ 57″ W.
(47.6KB)
Secure rusting gates
Recently cleared of trees and bushes, this derelict land is beside Longstock Road south of Goodworth Clatford. The canal / railway used to run through this land.
Image date: 14 Mar 2013. © Given Up (cc-by-sa/2.0). Image from www.geograph.org.uk. NG Ref: SU361415. WGS84: 51° 10′ 21″ N, 1° 29′ 05″ W.
Secure rusting gates
Recently cleared of trees and bushes, this derelict land is beside Longstock Road south of Goodworth Clatford. The canal / railway used to run through this land.
Image date: 14 Mar 2013.
NG Ref: SU361415.
WGS84: 51° 10′ 21″ N, 1° 29′ 05″ W.
(79.5KB)
South of Goodworth Clatford
At a fairly sharp bend on the Longstock Road, immediately through a gate on the left, is the course of both the railway and the canal.
Image date: 27 Apr 2021. © 2021 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU361414. WGS84: 51° 10′ 17″ N, 1° 29′ 01″ W.
South of Goodworth Clatford
At a fairly sharp bend on the Longstock Road, immediately through a gate on the left, is the course of both the railway and the canal.
Image date: 27 Apr 2021.
NG Ref: SU361414.
WGS84: 51° 10′ 17″ N, 1° 29′ 01″ W.
(83.2KB)
Westover
The line of the railway and canal seen across the field from the lane near Westover Farmhouse.
Image date: 27 Apr 2021. © 2021 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU364409. WGS84: 51° 10′ 01″ N, 1° 28′ 48″ W.
Westover
The line of the railway and canal seen across the field from the lane near Westover Farmhouse.
Image date: 27 Apr 2021.
NG Ref: SU364409.
WGS84: 51° 10′ 01″ N, 1° 28′ 48″ W.
(109.1KB)
Westover - Fullerton
Westover Farm Road continues south-eastwards past Westover Farmhouse moving away slightly from the line of the railway until the road ends at the last house. At this point the course of the canal / railway is about 60 yards (55m) to the north-east. From here a public path gradually approaching then joining the canal / railway after some 180 yards (170m).
Over the next 250 yards (230m), the level course of the canal and the original railway gradually part company from the line of the later double track which gently climbs on the approach to a cutting. At a gate across the newer railway, the public footpath diverges from the railway, climbing the slope of a hill called Trent Hill on the 1810 Ordnance Survey One Inch map but not named on later maps.
For slightly more than the next mile (1.6km), the course of the canal is on private land. About 250 yards beyond the gate, the course of the canal swings eastwards away from the alignment of the single and double track railways. The canal ran around the foot of Trent Hill paralleling the River Anton and a carrier stream just yards away, but not entering either, and turning south to rejoin the railway after about 750 yards (690m). The “dry” course of the canal is still discernible today.
Hardimans Lock was the next after Westover Lock but again the exact location is uncertain although some say that there are remains Approximate position NG Ref: SU372405. WGS84: 51° 09′ 46″ N, 1° 28′ 08″ W..
When the single track railway was constructed in the early 1860s, a curving route in a cutting through the flank of the hill (and south-west of the waterway) was dug to avoid having as tight a bend as the canal had. At its greatest, the distance between the canal and the railway route is about 120 yards (110m). It seems that the cutting was built wide enough the allow the line to be doubled. However, when the railway line was in fact doubled about 20 years later, a new cutting was built up to 40 yards (35m) further south-west again, apparently to further increase the radius of the curve.
After the point where the line of the canal rejoins the railway, the single track railway of the 1860s was built on the infilled canal as far as Fullerton Station. However, when the railway was doubled, a new course on a up to 35 yards (32m) to the north-east was adopted to ease the bend as the route swings to the south-east. The modern Golden Pond fishing lake NG Ref: SU376396. WGS84: 51° 09′ 18″ N, 1° 27′ 49″ W. was constructed on the strip of land between the two courses of the railway. As the canal / railway approaches Fullerton station, the route crosses the River Anton on a railway bridge which was built on the site of the earlier canal aqueduct.
Less than 50 yards (45m) from the river crossing is a two arched bridge carrying the A3057 road from Andover to Stockbridge. Between these two features, the canal route is joined by a permissive bridleway from the right allowing horse riders and walkers to pass under the dangerous main road. Almost immediately after the bridge the path turns left to join the public path on the station approach road.
Looking back to Clatford
Looking back towards Goodworth Clatford along the line of the railway and canal seen from south-east of Westover Farmhouse.
Image date: 27 Apr 2021. © 2021 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU367407. WGS84: 51° 09′ 54″ N, 1° 28′ 35″ W.
Looking back to Clatford
Looking back towards Goodworth Clatford along the line of the railway and canal seen from south-east of Westover Farmhouse.
Image date: 27 Apr 2021.
NG Ref: SU367407.
WGS84: 51° 09′ 54″ N, 1° 28′ 35″ W.
(102.5KB)
No entry
The public footpath along the railway to Fullerton leaves the line on the right to cross over the hill.
Image date: 27 Apr 2021. © 2021 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU368406. WGS84: 51° 09′ 49″ N, 1° 28′ 26″ W.
No entry
The public footpath along the railway to Fullerton leaves the line on the right to cross over the hill.
Image date: 27 Apr 2021.
NG Ref: SU368406.
WGS84: 51° 09′ 49″ N, 1° 28′ 26″ W.
(80.6KB)
The line of the canal and earlier railway
At this point, the line of the canal and the original single track railway on the north-east side of the newer course of the double track railway.
Image date: 27 Apr 2021. © 2021 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU368406. WGS84: 51° 09′ 50″ N, 1° 28′ 27″ W.
The line of the canal and earlier railway
The line of the canal and the original single track railway on the north-east side of the newer course of the double track railway.
Image date: 27 Apr 2021.
NG Ref: SU368406.
WGS84: 51° 09′ 50″ N, 1° 28′ 27″ W.
(93.6KB)
1908 map of old canal
This extract from an Ordnance Survey map revised in 1908 shows the course of the canal south-east of Westover and the two parallel cuttings for the railway.
Mapping date: 1908. © 2019 Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland. (cc-by-nc-sa/4.0). Image from National Library of Scotland website.
Map centre - NG Ref: SU373403. WGS84: 51° 09′ 39″ N, 1° 28′ 02″ W.
1908 map of old canal
This Ordnance Survey map revised in 1908 shows the course of the canal south-east of Westover and the two parallel cuttings for the railway.
Mapping date: 1908.
Map centre - NG Ref: SU373403.
WGS84: 51° 09′ 39″ N, 1° 28′ 02″ W.
(43.5KB)
Bridge over the River Anton
The former railway bridge crossing the River Anton. Viewed from the road just to the south, this bridge replaced a small aqueduct carrying the canal over the river.
Image date: 9 Nov 2005. © Peter Oates 2005. NG Ref: SU378394. WGS84: 51° 09′ 12″ N, 1° 27′ 36″ W.
Bridge over the River Anton
The former railway bridge crossing the River Anton. Viewed from the road just to the south, this bridge replaced a small aqueduct carrying the canal over the river.
Image date: 9 Nov 2005.
NG Ref: SU378394.
WGS84: 51° 09′ 12″ N, 1° 27′ 36″ W.
(99.1KB)
Rails over the River Anton
Looking towards Clatford from the A3057 road bridge, a diesel multiple unit has just crossed the River Anton.
Image date: c1960. Image from Rod Hoyle. NG Ref: SU379395. WGS84: 51° 09′ 13″ N, 1° 27′ 33″ W.
Rails over the River Anton
Looking towards Clatford from the A3057 road bridge, a diesel multiple unit has just crossed the River Anton.
Image date: c1960.
NG Ref: SU379395.
WGS84: 51° 09′ 13″ N, 1° 27′ 33″ W.
(76.4KB)
The bridge over the Anton
The view today looking north-west at ground level along the railway to the crossing of the River Anton.
Image date: 27 Apr 2021. © 2021 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU379395. WGS84: 51° 09′ 13″ N, 1° 27′ 34″ W.
The bridge over the Anton
The view today looking north-west at ground level along the railway to the crossing of the River Anton.
Image date: 27 Apr 2021.
NG Ref: SU379395.
WGS84: 51° 09′ 13″ N, 1° 27′ 34″ W.
(99.7KB)
A3057 Road Bridge
Looking towards Clatford and 50 yards from the bridge over the Anton, this bridge near the west end of Fullerton Bridge station carries the A3057 over the line of railway. It now has fencing and warning signs: “DANGER FALLING BRICKWORK KEEP OUT” on the southern arch.
Image date: 27 Apr 2021. © 2021 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU379395. WGS84: 51° 09′ 13″ N, 1° 27′ 32″ W.
A3057 Road Bridge
Looking towards Clatford, this double arched bridge near the west end of Fullerton Bridge station carries the main road over the line of railway. It replaced the earlier canal bridge.
Image date: 27 Apr 2021.
NG Ref: SU379395.
WGS84: 51° 09′ 13″ N, 1° 27′ 32″ W.
(92.5KB)