Hampshire Waterways

Lidsey - Aldingbourne Rife

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 of the main road.

West of the A29, the public footpath following the towing path of the canal initially follows the access road to Bridge Cottage. Continuing westward, the canal can seen next to the path which is fairly clear of vegetation but liable to waterlogging in winter. After about quarter of a mile (400m) from the A29, the towing path has been kept reasonably clear of vegetation with short grass after partial restoration of the canal by the company operating the Lidsey landfill site north of the waterway.

Around three quarters of a mile (1.2km) from Lidsey the canal crosses the stream called Aldingbourne Rife on a low embankment by means of a two-arched culvert type of aqueduct.

Site of Lidsey Bridge

A northward view of the site of the canal bridge at Lidsey.

Image date: 4 Oct 2016.
NG Ref: SU938032.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 15″ N, 0° 40′ 11″ W.
(73.5KB)

West of Lidsey Bridge

The site of the towing path west of the canal bridge at Lidsey is now used by the access to Bridge Cottage and the canal bed lies to the left.

Image date: 22 Jan 2011.
NG Ref: SU937032.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 15″ N, 0° 40′ 11″ W.
(57.3KB)

Towing path west of Lidsey

Looking east along the towing path west of Lidsey. The canal bed lies to the right of the path.

Image date: 27 Feb 2014.
NG Ref: SU935032.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 18″ N, 0° 40′ 23″ W.
(114.2KB)

Remains of the canal and towpath

Looking east along the remains of the canal and towpath west of Lidsey.

Image date: 18 Mar 2006.
NG Ref: SU926031.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 12″ N, 0° 41′ 10″ W.
(118.4KB)

Canal crosses over Aldingbourne Rife

The canal crosses the Aldingbourne Rife by means of this structure, seen from the north side.

Image date: 31 Jan 2012.
NG Ref: SU926031.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 13″ N, 0° 41′ 12″ W.
(98.7KB)

The canal containing water

Looking east from above the culvert over the Rife, in winter this length of canal may well contain water but not to full depth.

Image date: 27 Feb 2014.
NG Ref: SU926031.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 12″ N, 0° 41′ 11″ W.
(79.2KB)

Aldingbourne Rife - Colworth

West of the crossing of the Aldingbourne Rife, the canal continues for about 200 yards (185m) to be suddenly removed without trace. About 1050 yards (960m) of canal and towing path have been completely eliminated.

Over the last 30 years the landscape between here and Runcton has changed considerably as agricultural methods have changed. Agricultural land is mainly Grade I and Grade II, among the best arable land in the country. Horticulture is a growing industry on the coastal plain, due to its long hours of sunshine. Several large glasshouse complexes have been built and more recently the use of ‘polytunnels’ has proliferated. The main crops grown here are soft fruit including strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and blueberries.

The towing path has been replaced by a path that runs in an almost straight line, mainly between two hedges and to the north of a ditch. The course of the canal described a slightly curving course up to 40 yards (36m) north of the modern path. Whilst not the legal Definitive Map of rights of way, the map on the West Sussex County Council website shows this footpath as still following the line of the old towing path and not the newer one.

About half a mile (800m) from Aldingbourne Rife, there used to be a swing bridge which has totally disappeared under the polytunnels. Usually known as Woodend Swing Bridge, it used to lie about 30 yards (27m) north of the position of the modern path.

After a short gap of about 50 yards (45m), the modern path again enters a course between two hedges and slowly converges with the alignment of the infilled canal and towing path is regained where a hedge approaches it from the south NG Ref: SU914030. WGS84: 50° 49′ 10″ N, 0° 42′ 10″ W..

The footpath runs along the north side of the canal. The canal bed exists for about half the distance to the Colworth Lane albeit overgrown but there has been infilling where it has been incorporated into the gardens the two Bridge Cottages.

The canal passed under a skewed brick arched bridge carrying Colworth Lane. It was at this point that the towing path returned to the south side of the waterway for the remaining length to Hunston.

Undressed polytunnels

This is the scene at the end of the old towing path from the Aldingbourne Rife looking south-west. The polytunnels have had their plastic coverings removed.

Image date: 4 Oct 2016.
NG Ref: SU924031.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 13″ N, 0° 41′ 22″ W.
(46.2KB)

Amongst the polytunnels

Looking east along the north side of the new path and at polytunnels growing blueberries.

Image date: 10 May 2019.
NG Ref: SU921031.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 13″ N, 0° 41′ 31″ W.
(73.1KB)

Site of Woodend Swing Bridge

This image combines part of an Ordnance Survey 1:10560 (6 inch) map overlaying an image from Google Earth. The site of the bridge is about 30 yards (27m) north of the modern path.

Image dates: 1875-6 and 29 Apr 2023.
Centre of map - NG Ref: SU916030.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 10″ N, 0° 42′ 00″ W.
(63.4KB)

An empty field

At intervals the polytunnels are removed. The field on the left contains the site of the Woodend swing bridge but no sign of bridge or canal is discernible.

Image date: 4 Oct 2016.
NG Ref: SU917030.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 11″ N, 0° 41′ 56″ W.
(41.5KB)

The modern path

This picture is a more up-to-date image of the entrance to the section of of path seen in the previous picture.

Image date: Feb 2023.
NG Ref: SU917030.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 11″ N, 0° 41′ 55″ W.
(59.5KB)

Colworth Lane

At the former bridge here the towing path changed sides. The sign on the left points the way towards Hunston, on the right to Lidsey.

Image date: 22 Jan 2011.
NG Ref: SU913029.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 08″ N, 0° 42′ 18″ W.
(78.7KB)

Colworth - Merston

From Colworth Lane the canal has been infilled but the public footpath follows the course of the towpath to within 10 yards or so. In the field before the A259, two hedges were planted on either side of the path in 2017. The road known today as the A259 was widened and realigned in the early 1960s. The bridge that carried the old road over the canal was situated at the north end of what is now a lay-by, under which the foundations are said to remain.

On the other side of the road the footpath enters land that is part of Groves Farm. The path runs between two fences/hedges for a quarter of a mile (0.4km) on the site of the old towing path with the site of the infilled canal lying on the northern side. After this distance, a farm road running roughly north to south crosses the path/canal. This is the site of the seventh and last swing bridge that crossed the canal since Ford. The earliest large scale Ordnance Survey map surveyed in 1875 shows no sign of any bridge with the road crossing a ‘dry’ canal.

The modern footpath continues in a south west direction along a roadway which is probably a few feet south-east of the original towing path. The infilled canal lies under polytunnels. At the end of the polytunnel area the canal bed is once again evident. The footpath is supposed to follow the towing path hedge on the southern side of the canal but the path used by all runs along the bed of the canal. This area, though, is known for overgrowing with brambles and being muddy underfoot so suitable clothing is recommended.

Park Lane Bridge has suffered the loss of the southern abutment and most of the arch but the remains of the north abutment have been conserved. The rectangular holes in the brickwork were made during the Second World War to hold large beams to block tanks from passing underneath the bridge (the bridge is less than a mile from the site of the RAF Merston aerodrome) - the southern abutment must have been present in the 1940s.

Canal course east of A259

In this aerial view looking north-east, the canal has disappeared but the public path closely follows its course from Colworth Lane.

Image date: 29 Apr 2023.
NG Ref: SU906026.
WGS84: 50° 48′ 59″ N, 0° 42′ 53″ W.
(65.2KB)

East side of the A259

What is now the A259 has been widened and realigned since the days of the canal. The foundations of the arched bridge over the canal are said to be buried under the north end of this lay-by.

Image date: Mar 2021.
NG Ref: SU907027.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 01″ N, 0° 42′ 48″ W.
(43.8KB)

West side of the A259

The path leaves the main road to run between polytunnels. Initially, the path is bounded by two fences/hedges along the site of the towing path with the infilled channel on the north side.

Image date: Mar 2021.
NG Ref: SU907027.
WGS84: 50° 49′ 01″ N, 0° 42′ 48″ W.
(72.3KB)

Site of Groves Farm swing bridge

This photo was taken on the site of the towing path with the canal to the right. The farm road (which still runs in the same position) was carried over the waterway on a swing bridge.

Image date: Mar 2021.
NG Ref: SU903025.
WGS84: 50° 48′ 57″ N, 0° 43′ 07″ W.
(49.4KB)

Between rows of polytunnels

This photo looks back towards the A259 and Colworth along the course of the towing path from the south-western boundary of Groves Farm and its polytunnels.

Image date: 24 Mar 2012.
NG Ref: SU900024.
WGS84: 50° 48′ 54″ N, 0° 43′ 24″ W.
(90.8KB)

East of Park Lane

This aerial view shows the line of the canal between the ruined Park Lane Bridge and Groves Farm and the sea of polytunnels stretching to the outskirts of Bognor Regis.

Image date: 2023?
Approx NG Ref: SU895025.
Approx WGS84: 50° 48′ 55″ N, 0° 43′ 48″ W.
(40.3KB)

Remains of Park Lane bridge

The southern abutment and most of the arch has been removed. Park Lane, the track that used to cross the bridge, now bypasses it on the west side.

Image date: Jul 2023.
NG Ref: SU896024.
WGS84: 50° 48′ 53″ N, 0° 43′ 44″ W.
(83.6KB)

Merston - Runcton

Westwards from Park Lane the remains/site of the canal are on private land with no public access and the walker must divert by public footpath and then by road. For a brief guide to the walking route from Park Lane Bridge to Runcton: Route

The canal west of Park Lane has been infilled for about 180 yards (165m). After crossing a watercourse which is now part of the Chichester Flood Relief Channel, the remains of the canal are traceable for some 130 yards (120m) leading up to St Giles Bridge. This structure was restored by Sussex Industrial Archaeology Society (SIAS) over a number of years up to 2011. The bridge is on private land, and by arrangement may be accessible through contacting the Friends of the Old Ford to Hunston Canal group on Facebook. There is also a video about the restoration on YouTube.

West of St Giles Bridge the canal has been completely eliminated apart from the towing path hedge. An Ordnance Survey map surveyed in 1875 does not show any canal along this stretch of some 600 yards (550m). Beyond this the map shows the canal in water but even that had gone by 1896. Around 350 yards (320m) brings us to Marsh Lane and the site of an arched bridge under the road. There is no visible sign of either bridge or canal but the latter continued through what are now the back gardens of a number of houses in Lagness Road (B2166).

When the canal was constructed, about 200 yards (180m) of Lagness Road east the Walnut Tree Inn (as it was called then) was diverted south. Traffic then had to cross an arched Mill Lane Bridge over the canal to continue westwards. This arch bridge, now demolished, was at the south side of the modern roundabout where Mill Lane joins Vinnetrow Road and crosses Lagness Road. The area of grass east of the roundabout on the north side of Lagness Road was part of the canal.

St Giles Bridge

One of 18 brick arch bridges that were built on the Ford-Hunston section of the canal, restoration by the Sussex Industrial Archaeology Society was completed in 2011.

Image date: Oct 2023.
NG Ref: SU893024.
WGS84: 50° 48′ 53″ N, 0° 43′ 58″ W..
(79.0KB)

Marsh Lane, Runcton

Looking east from the junction of Marsh Lane and Green Lane, the canal between here and St Giles Bridge was eliminated before the end of the 19th century.

Image date: 15 Aug 2009.
NG Ref: SU884024.
WGS84: 50° 48′ 55″ N, 0° 44′ 43″ W.
(61.4KB)

Site of Marsh Lane bridge

The white car is crossing the site of the bridge in Marsh Lane. The canal continued westwards through the brick building on the left.

Image date: Mar 2021.
NG Ref: SU884024.
WGS84: 50° 48′ 54″ N, 0° 44′ 44″ W.
(73.5KB)

Outside the Walnut Tree

South of the Walnut Tree pub and looking east, the camera and the red car are both on the line of the canal.

Image date: Mar 2021.
NG Ref: SU880024.
WGS84: 50° 48′ 54″ N, 0° 45′ 05″ W.
(64.4KB)

Runcton - Hunston Junction

West of the Walnut Tree roundabout, the canal ran parallel to Lagness Road (B2166) with about 20 yards between the two. There are a number of houses built on the course of the canal in the next 220 yards (200m). After the canal crossed a stream, the Pagham Rife, there follows a short wooded section with the overgrown remains of the waterway.

The canal is then crossed on the level by a modern road called Canal Mead serving some housing. West of this road, about 220 yards (200m) of the canal was cleared and restored by the Manhood Wildlife and Heritage Group some years ago. It is now a haven for aquatic life. In about 2017, the towing path on the south side was re-opened for pedestrian traffic.

At North Mundham at the west end of this section of waterway, it is crossed by the B2166 which continues westwards along the south side of the canal. The canal was originally crossed by an arched bridge at almost right angles to the waterway. This seems to have been replaced by an embankment before 1896 but the near 90 degree angles at each end seem to have been eased since WWII.

The waterway has been infilled for about 100 yards (90m) west of the road crossing but the canal then continues westward next to the B2166. It is usually in water, overgrown and apparently uncared for. There is no towing path; it is possible that barges were towed from the road. Today, pedestrians use the made path on the other side of the road.

At Hunston Dairy Farm, the canal was crossed by means of an overbridge approached on either side by a ramp. From the 1874 map it appears that the ramps and the bridge were quite narrow; probably single track. It is also notable in that there was a sharp turn between bridge and road on the south side. If you think today’s road bend is sharp, 200 years ago it was very much sharper. The bridge was removed before 1896.

Fifty yards (46m) north of the entrance to Hunston Dairy Farm is the entrance to a modern surfaced path that does not significantly shorten the walk via road to Hunston Junction but it does remove the traffic nuisance. This path crosses the line of the canal twice, not that you would notice as the waterway has been totally removed. The first time is just after the first right angle bend in the path about 85 yards (77m) from the road. The second crossing is immediately after the third right angle bend - see picture below. When the path meets the next road (B2145) it turns sharp left and runs next to it with a hedge between path and road.

As Hunston Junction is approached the end of the separating hedge is reached. Care should be taken in this area with several sharp bends in the road. Across the road is a small car park and a few yards further on the path leading to the Chichester Arm towing path. Around the first corner in the road, the line of the “Ship Canal” is reached. There was a skewed arch road bridge over the “Barge Canal” just a few yards from the junction. This structure seems to have been demolished in the first half of the 1890s.

The canal at Canal Mead

West of the cul-de-sac Canal Mead, an in-water length of canal runs parallel to and south of Lagness Road.

Image date: Mar 2021.
NG Ref: SU877024.
WGS84: 50° 48′ 53″ N, 0° 45′ 19″ W.
(97.1KB)

Along the canal to North Mundham

Viewed from the modern road crossing at Canal Mead, this image is looking west along a length of canal cleared and restored by the Manhood Wildlife and Heritage Group some years ago.

Image date: 2023?.
NG Ref: SU877024.
WGS84: 50° 48′ 52″ N, 0° 45′ 19″ W.
(108.0KB)

Crossing the canal

At the junction of Lagness Road and School Lane, the main road crosses the canal to run along the south side of the waterway.

Image date: Mar 2021.
NG Ref: SU877024.
WGS84: 50° 48′ 53″ N, 0° 45′ 30″ W.
(79.0KB)

Beside the canal

The canal runs westward along the north side of the B2166 for about a third of a mile (half a km).

Image date: Mar 2021.
NG Ref: SU873023.
WGS84: 50° 48′ 51″ N, 0° 45′ 44″ W.
(79.0KB)

Hunston Dairy Farm

The canal on the right used to pass under a bridge where the tall hedge behind the car now stands. The waterway continued just north of the farm buildings which are out of view on the left.

Image date: Apr 2022.
NG Ref: SU870023.
WGS84: 50° 48′ 52″ N, 0° 45′ 56″ W.
(82.3KB)

Modern path

Whilst there are no visible remains of the canal, its line crosses the modern path between Hunston Dairy and Hunston Junction at this corner.

Image date: Jul 2021.
NG Ref: SU867023.
WGS84: 50° 48′ 50″ N, 0° 46′ 10″ W.
(82.3KB)

Tug on dry land

These barns at Reedbridge Farm complete with a tug lie on the course of the canal just east of Hunston Junction. The road once went over the bridge in the next picture.

Image date: 21 Sep 2021.
NG Ref: SU864022.
WGS84: 50° 48′ 47″ N, 0° 46′ 25″ W.
(65.0KB)

Hunston Junction

This etching by I J Wilson shows the former bridge that carried the Selsey road and the Ship Canal towing path qover the “barge canal” just east of the junction.

Image date: c1890.
NG Ref: SU864022.
WGS84: 50° 48′ 47″ N, 0° 46′ 28″ W.
(76.1KB)

Hunston Wharf

When the canal to Ford was effectively abandoned, a wharf was established here to service the local village. Today is is used by a canoe club and is also open to the public.

Image date: Mar 2021.
NG Ref: SU864022.
WGS84: 50° 48′ 47″ N, 0° 46′ 25″ W.
(80.0KB)