Hampshire Waterways

River Arun & Ford Locks

The entrance to the canal at Ford was a few yards south of the present inlet where the Binsted Brook enters the River Arun and which is now a small dock for a few houseboats. The entrance bridge, which carried the towing path of the river over the canal entrance, was demolished in 1930. There also used to be a bridge over the entrance to the Binstead Brook inlet. All the way from here to Lidsey the towing path ran along the south side of canal.

Two locks were built here to lift boats twelve feet (3.66m) above high water springs from the tidal river. All that can be seen today of the bottom lock is some masonry at ground level - the rest is buried under the river’s modern flood bank. Today there is no trace above ground of the second lock which was 200 yards (182m) from the bottom lock.

Just above the top lock on the north bank was a three storey steam engine house which pumped 5,000 gallons (22.73 cubic metres) of water per minute from the River Arun to fill the canal. From different editions of Ordnance Survey mapping, the pump house seems to have been demolished between 1876 and 1896. Adjacent to the engine house was built a pair of cottages, now a single dwelling, for the lock keeper and engineman. The locks were capable of passing boats 75 feet (22.8m) long with a width of 12 feet 6 inches (3.8m).

On the other side of the former canal is Ford Church, dedicated to St Andrew, and listed Grade 1 with Saxon and Norman origins. Further information can be found on this page of the Sussex Parish Churches website.

For a brief guide to the walking route on public footpaths from Ford Church to the River Arun: Route

Map of the canal at Ford

This map shows the entrance to the Portsmouth & Arundel Canal at Ford from the River Arun, the locks, cottages and pumphouse.

Mapping date: 1875-6.
Map centre - NG Ref: TQ002037.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 27″ N, 0° 34′ 42″ W.
(54.5KB)

Entrance to the canal

The entrance to the Portsmouth & Arundel Canal at Ford from the River Arun.

Image date: c1830.
NG Ref: TQ003038.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 31″ N, 0° 34′ 33″ W.
(44.5KB)

River Arun at Ford

This view looking north was taken on or very near the position of the bridge over the entrance to the canal.

Image date: 24 May 2010.
NG Ref: TQ003038.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 31″ N, 0° 34′ 34″ W.
(39.8KB)

Course of the canal at Ford

A little masonry is all that can be seen above ground of the bottom lock of the two at Ford.

Image date: 24 May 2010.
NG Ref: TQ003038.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 30″ N, 0° 34′ 35″ W.
(65.2KB)

Painting of engine house

This black and white version of a water colour painting shows the engine house at Ford. It is not known exactly when the picture was painted.

Image date: c1860.
NG Ref: TQ002037.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 28″ N, 0° 34′ 44″ W.
(57.9KB)

Lock Cottage at Ford

Seen across the course of the canal, the two cottages (now a single dwelling painted cream) were built south west of the top lock on the northern bank.

Image date: 24 Jun 2017.
NG Ref: TQ001037.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 28″ N, 0° 34′ 45″ W.
(45.1KB)

Above Ford Locks

This north-east view along the canal from just south of the junction of Ford Road and Ford Lane showing the lock cottages and St Andrews Church.

Image date: Apr 2021.
NG Ref: TQ000036.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 26″ N, 0° 34′ 49″ W.
(79.8KB)

Ford Locks - Yapton

The canal crossed the road west of the locks just south of the junction with Ford Lane NG Ref: TQ000036. WGS84: 50° 49′ 26″ N, 0° 34′ 50″ W.. The bridge was demolished in 1936 when the road junction was altered. Traces of the canal exist in the woodland west of the road. An access road to the north of the houses in Rodney Crescent approaches the line of the canal. From there, for nearly a mile (1500m) there is no trace of the canal or two brick arched bridges (at NG Ref: SU998035. WGS84: 50° 49′ 23″ N, 0° 35′ 01″ W. and NG Ref: SU993033. WGS84: 50° 49′ 16″ N, 0° 35′ 28″ W. ) which were obliterated over the years by the construction and later extensions of the Ford airfield which first opened in 1918 and finally closed in 1980.

For a brief guide to a walking route on public footpaths bypassing the infilled canal between Ford and Yapton: Route

A short section of canal bed near Yapton stretches along the north side of a road called "The Towpath", which is part of the recent Navigation Drive housing development, from NG Ref: SU986031. WGS84: 50° 49′ 11″ N, 0° 36′ 04″ W. ending at NG Ref: SU984031. WGS84: 50° 49′ 10″ N, 0° 36′ 14″ W..

Further west a brick arch bridge called Burndell Bridge is in poor condition. Despite local efforts over a number of years to get the bridge restored, it still seems to be in danger of demolition.

The line of the canal then follows a course just to the north of the road Downview Way. At the west end of this road, outside Warmere House, Ordnance Survey mapping of 1875/6 shows an unnamed bridge carrying a footpath over the canal. The canal then continued across the northern part of today’s children’s playground which occupies part of the site of a winding hole (a widening of the canal to allow boats to turn round). Almost immediately to the west is the site of Bognor Bridge. This greatly skewed bridge used to carry the Main Road (B2233) over the canal in the region of today’s pedestrian crossing near the Co-operative store. After the bridge was demolished, the road was realigned to remove the bends either side of the former structure.

Arundel-Climping road bridge

A view of the road bridge west of the Ford locks. This bridge was demolished in 1936 when the adjacent road junction was realigned.

Image date: 1933.
NG Ref: TQ000036.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 26″ N, 0° 34′ 52″ W.
(68.2KB)

Former access to Ford Airfield

The course of the canal is just to the right of the camera and ran in a straight line to the left of the trees in the middle distance where there used to be a bridge.

Image date: Jun 2022.
NG Ref: SU999036.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 24″ N, 0° 34′ 56″ W.
(73.9KB)

On the way to Yapton

This road now forms part of the footpath route from Ford to Yapton. The line of the in-filled canal crosses this road a few yards east of the hedge with tall trees on the right.

Image date: 21 Mar 2008.
NG Ref: SU998034.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 20″ N, 0° 35′ 12″ W.
(74.6KB)

Ford Airfield Industrial Estate

The site of the canal runs to the left of the hedge in part of the former airfield.

Image date: Jun 2022.
NG Ref: SU989032.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 13″ N, 0° 35′ 47″ W.
(68.8KB)

The Towpath

The remains of the canal can be seen on the northern side of this road called The Towpath.

Image date: Apr 2016.
NG Ref: SU985031.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 10″ N, 0° 36′ 11″ W.
(65.6KB)

Burndell Bridge, Yapton

This is the first extant bridge since the River Arun. This skewed accommodation bridge used to give access over the canal at Burndell Farm which has disappeared under new houses.

Image date: Mar 2023.
NG Ref: SU983031.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 10″ N, 0° 36′ 20″ W.
(51.4KB)

Site of bridge

An Ordnance Survey map of 1875/6 shows an unnamed bridge carrying a footpath over the canal which stood immediately in front of these cars outside Warmere Court.

Image date: Jun 2022.
NG Ref: SU981031.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 10″ N, 0° 36′ 31″ W.
(74.7KB)

Site of Bognor Bridge

Bognor Bridge used to carry this road over the canal which ran from the near right to the two trees just beyond the traffic light.

Image date: Jun 2022.
NG Ref: SU978031.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 11″ N, 0° 36′ 37″ W.
(73.9KB)

Yapton - Denges Barn

West of the site of Bognor Bridge, the course of the canal has been built over. It is next encountered where Canal Road crosses it. The north to south road was constructed about 100 years after the east to west canal’s demise. Just south of The Pines (a cul-de-sac turning off Canal Road) a public footpath is signed along the former towing path although at this point it appears to be little used - most pedestrians seem to prefer walking along The Pines. There is a continuous public right of way along the old towing path or very close to it almost as far as Runcton, a distance of about 5.3 miles (8.6km). In places, the channel has been infilled or otherwise removed but for a large part of the way the ‘dry’ channel remains.

About 280 yards (260m) west of Canal Road along the towing path (or The Pines) lies Tack Lee Bridge. The developers of The Pines agreed to restore the bridge and provide funds for its upkeep thus preserving part of Yapton’s heritage.

Beyond the houses in the Pines, the canal has been infilled but the public path continues along its south side but separated from it by a hedge. Drove Lane is the next road crossing and there are some remains of the bridge that once carried the lane. A picture from 1964 shows it still standing but it collapsed under the weight of farm equipment and it was subsequently demolished after the lane was diverted.

Continuing west the remains of the canal enter onto an embankment for about a third of a mile (500m) which, at its highest, is about 10 feet (3m) high. This is one of the most substantial earthworks along this canal. The embankment passes on the north side of the ruins of Denges Barn NG Ref: SU969035. WGS84: 50° 49′ 24″ N, 0° 37′ 29″ W..

Canal Road, Yapton

The towing path is signed as a ‘Public Footpath’. The white boarded house has been built on the site of the canal.

Image date: Jun 2022.
NG Ref: SU978031.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 11″ N, 0° 36′ 43″ W.
(48.2KB)

Tack Lee Bridge, Yapton

This original bridge now crosses a residential cul-de-sac called The Pines.

Image date: 18 Mar 2006.
NG Ref: SU976032.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 13″ N, 0° 36′ 55″ W.
(83.2KB)

Drove Lane Bridge, Yapton

This postcard shows the bridge that used to stand in Drove Lane.

Image date: c1905.
NG Ref: SU973033.
WGS84: 0° 49′ 18″ N, 0° 37′ 08″ W.
(51.4KB)

Embankment near Denges Barn

Looking east from the air along the length of the embankment that passes to the north of the ruined Denges Barn.

Image date: 2021.
Approx NG Ref: SU967036.
Approx WGS84: 50° 49′ 27″ N, 0° 37′ 43″ W.
(43.5KB)

Denges Barn - Barnham

From about 200 yards (190m) west of Denges Barn, the canal has been infilled. The site of the swing bridge near Tile Barn Farm is marked by the crossing of a north-south public footpath NG Ref: SU965036. WGS84: 50° 49′ 28″ N, 0° 37′ 51″ W.. All that is visible of the bridge is the circular pivot that the bridge swung upon.

West of Tile Barn Farm the much of the bed of the canal is reasonably good condition despite the fact that the last boat passed along it over 150 years ago. About a quarter of a mile (400m) from Tile Barn is the site of another swing bridge: Leys Lane Swing Bridge of which, again, only the pivot remains on the northern side of the waterway. The bridge carried Leys Lane over the canal but today it is just public footpath. The path that used to run south-east from this bridge no longer exists and is not a public right of way.

About 300 yards (275m) along the canal to the south-west, the next swing bridge is encountered which is called Hollinsworth after the resident engineer responsible for building the canal. This bridge was excavated and conserved by the Sussex Industrial Archaeology Society in 2003. A surprise find was a number of the girders that formed part of the deck of the bridge. These have been conserved and are displayed at the next swing bridge known as Stewart Swing Bridge.

If joining or leaving the canal at Barnham, the most convenient access is at Hollinsworth Swing Bridge: the centre of the village and railway station lie just over half a mile (1km) to the north.

Swing bridge near Tile Barn Farm

The only surviving remnant of the bridge is the circular pivot upon which it swung.

Image date: 18 Mar 2006.
NG Ref: SU965036.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 29″ N, 0° 37′ 51″ W.
(86.4KB)

Leys Lane Swing bridge

As at the previous swing bridge, the only remaining part of the bridge is the circular pivot upon which it swung.

Image date: Feb 2023.
NG Ref: SU960035.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 25″ N, 0° 38′ 15″ W.
(83.9KB)

Looking back to Yarnton

The well preserved course of the canal and the towing path just east of the remains of Hollinsworth Swing Bridge.

Image date: 19 May 2012.
NG Ref: SU958034.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 21″ N, 0° 38′ 28″ W.
(83.6KB)

Hollinsworth Swing Bridge

A southward view of the remains of Hollinsworth Swing Bridge with the pivot block prominent.

Image date: Feb 2023.
NG Ref: SU957034.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 21″ N, 0° 38′ 30″ W.
(64.1KB)

Hollinsworth Swing Bridge

Looking east at the remains of Hollinsworth Swing Bridge.

Image date: 18 Mar 2006.
NG Ref: SU960035.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 25″ N, 0° 38′ 17″ W.
(89.4KB)

Barnham

If joining or leaving the canal at Barnham, the most convenient access is at Hollinsworth Swing Bridge: the centre of the village and railway station lie just over half a mile (1km) to the north.

West of Hollinsworth Swing Bridge, the canal has been infilled and is now occupied by a roadway. After about 220 yards (200m) the site of Stewart Swing Bridge is reached. This had been buried until excavations in 2001 by Sussex Industrial Archaeology Society. The brickwork and masonry have been conserved by the Society. On display at Stewart Swing Bridge are the conserved cast iron girders discovered during excavations at Hollinsworth Bridge - these remains all date from 1820 and are painted red. Only a very few pieces of ironwork were found here at Stewart Bridge and they are painted black.

West of Hollinsworth Swing Bridge

The line of the canal runs west from the remains of Hollinsworth Swing Bridge. The canal has been infilled and the road occupies the towing path and some of the channel.

Image date: 17 May 2014.
NG Ref: SU957034.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 21″ N, 0° 38′ 30″ W.
(70.5KB)

Stewart Swing Bridge, Barnham

At the site of Stewart Swing Bridge are some of the recovered remains of the deck of Hollinsworth Swing Bridge painted red.

Image date: 31 Jan 2012.
NG Ref: SU955034.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 20″ N, 0° 38′ 40″ W.
(86.3KB)

Remains of Stewart Swing Bridge

The exposed remains of Stewart Swing Bridge are seen here from the west.

Image date: 31 Jan 2012.
NG Ref: SU955034.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 20″ N, 0° 38′ 41″ W.
(72.2KB)

Barnham - Bognor Railway

The canal continues from the bridge site in a slightly north of a westerly direction. After a while the waterway gradually enters onto an embankment but, further on, the offside bank has been removed. As it approaches a small stream that flows from the north east, the whole embankment has been dug away. Certainly, this stream (Barnham Rife) originally passed under the embankment but towards the end of the 19th century it was opened out. Possibly the culvert under the canal either collapsed or otherwise blocked and digging it out was the easiest remedy.

It is only 80 yards (70m) to the railway branch from Barnham to Bognor. Originally the railway was opened as a single track line in 1864 and doubled in 1911. Legally the canal had not been abandoned when the railway was constructed. The bed of the canal was close to the rail level. The railway company had to agree to build a swing bridge over a reinstated canal should it be required and this would have necessitated lengthy ramps on either side of the waterway to raise the rails above the water level. However, this was never needed.

Canal west of Barnham

West of Stewart Bridge at Barnham, the landowner dredged about 200 yards (190m) of the canal in 2001 and sometimes it contains water.

Image date: 22 Jan 2011.
NG Ref: SU955034.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 20″ N, 0° 38′ 41″ W.
(95.8KB)

Approaching the railway

Just before reaching the branch railway to Bognor, a section of the embankment was removed sometime before 1896 to expose Barnham Rife passing under the canal.

Image date: 22 Jan 2011.
NG Ref: SU955034.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 23″ N, 0° 39′ 03″ W.
(107.4KB)

Opened out culvert

This is the culvert that once passed under the canal embankment but was opened out before 1896.

Image date: Jun 2022.
NG Ref: SU951034.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 23″ N, 0° 39′ 04″ W.
(79.8KB)

Path crosses the railway

The railway is the branch to Bognor Regis. The canal was on a slight embankment over this low-lying stretch, as may be seen across the tracks.

Image date: 31 Jan 2012.
NG Ref: SU955034.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 20″ N, 0° 38′ 40″ W.
(95.1KB)

Bognor Railway - Lidsey Oil Field

Once across the railway, the path climbs to its former level but only for 100 yards (90m). West of this point the embankment, that extended about 200 yards (180m) further west, has been removed. The canal has been filled in and the farm track occupies the site of the towing path. Indeed the towing path is now a track or road almost all the way to Lidsey.

After about a quarter of a mile from the railway, a sewage water treatment works lies south of the track. It is believed that a further swing bridge had spanned the canal in this area but its position is uncertain Approximate position NG Ref: SU945033. WGS84: 50° 49′ 21″ N, 0° 39′ 35″ W.. Lidsey Oil Field lies on the north side of the track a little further on. Currently there are two ‘nodding donkeys’ bringing oil up from a depth underground of around 440 metres.

Looking back to the railway

The canal was on a low embankment where it crossed the later railway. But after 100 yards (90m) the embankment has been cut back, the path now descending to ground level.

Image date: 31 Jan 2012.
NG Ref: SU949035.
WGS84: 0° 49′ 24″ N, 0° 39′ 15″ W.
(85.2KB)

Farm track beside course of canal

This track seems to be a widening of the canal towing path with much of the channel to the north infilled.

Image date: 31 Jan 2012.
NG Ref: SU948035.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 24″ N, 0° 39′ 15″ W.
(79.9KB)

Beside the canal

Looking east along the course of the canal, on the left is the gate to the Lidsey Oil Field and on the right is the entrance to the Woodgate Water Treatment Works.

Image date: Jun 2022.
NG Ref: SU943033.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 18″ N, 0° 39′ 42″ W.
(48.0KB)

East of Lidsey Rife

This aerial view shows the line of the former towing path between the Lidsey Oil Field on the left and the water treatment works on the right and beyond towards Barnham.

Image date: 2020?
Approx NG Ref: SU942032.
Approx WGS84: 50° 49′ 17″ N, 0° 39′ 47″ W.
(69.2KB)

Lidsey Oil Field - Lidsey

The entrances to both the oil field and the water treatment works mark the start of the tarred road along the course of the towing path. Westwards, the infilled canal can be seen on the north side of the road for about 100 yards (90m). At this point the canal and road pass over a stream known as either the Eastergate (or the Lidsey) Rife by means of a single brick culvert about 45 yards (41m) long. This is not visible from the road but a public footpath runs south from the road just east of the culvert and the southern end of it can be seen from this path.

For much of the way from the culvert to the A29 road, the overgrown channel of the canal still exists although hidden by the trees and their leaves along the route. More can be seen in winter after the leaves have fallen and after rain the channel may well fill with water.

The road at Lidsey, now widened and numbered the A29, crossed over the canal on a fixed, brick bridge that has long been demolished. The towing path was built on the south side of the canal from Ford to this point but the path crossed the canal to proceed along the north bank west of the A29. The road on the south side of the canal runs beside it but is a no through road with no access to the towing path.

Care should be taken when crossing the A29 road as vehicles approaching from the north come round a blind bend. Also there are no pavements on either side.

The canal west of the oil field

This shows the infilled canal bed immediately west of the oil field entrance.

Image date: 17 May 2014.
NG Ref: SU943033.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 18″ N, 0° 39′ 42″ W.
(71.5KB)

Eastergate or Lidsey Rife culvert

The canal and towing path were on a low embankment crossing the Rife over this brick culvert which now carries the road to the sewage works.

Image date: Mar 2021.
NG Ref: SU943033.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 17″ N, 0° 39′ 46″ W.
(73.3KB)

The canal east of the A29

In winter with no leaves on the trees, the canal bed can be seen next to the road and may contain water.

Image date: Feb 2023.
NG Ref: SU939032.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 15″ N, 0° 40′ 04″ W.
(76.8KB)

A29 at Lidsey

The canal crossed this road to the tall trees on the other side. The towing path also switched to the north bank.

Image date: Jun 2022.
NG Ref: SU938032.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 15″ N, 0° 40′ 10″ W.
(69.5KB)