Hampshire Waterways

Portrait Introduction and Index

A portrait in words and pictures of the route of the Portsmouth & Arundel Canal is given on the following six pages. On each page a brief verbal description of a length of the waterway is illustrated with a number of pictures.

Tack Lee Bridge, Yapton, 18 Mar 2006.
© Simon Carey

Apart from the parts of the canal known today as the Chichester Canal (or Chichester Ship Canal), the waterway has been disused for more than 160 years. So in the main, this portrait contains some images scanned from postcards of various dates and images from the 21st century. In all, this portrait is an attempt to let the reader at least identify where the canal once ran and what remains can be found.

Each page of this portrait describes a section of the waterway between the points indicated in the title starting at the east end of the canal and running westwards. Each section is divided into a number of lengths containing a description in words followed by a number of thumbnails of images of that length.

Each thumbnail is a link to a larger version of the picture. In a modern browser with Javascript enabled (as most people do), this will open within this window - otherwise the larger image will replace the contents of this window (use your browser’s back button to return to the parent page). For those using devices (eg phones) with limited data allowances, the size of the larger version is given in brackets after the caption.

Included with each picture is an Ordnance Survey National Grid Reference (OSGB36) of the image viewpoint (normally the position of the camera) given to 100 metres. For those using GPS devices, the latitude and longitude (in WGS84) of this position is also given by default in degrees, minutes and seconds to the nearest second. One second of arc in latitude is approximately 30 metres and for longitude in this part of Hampshire and Sussex just under 20 metres. For those who prefer (and who have JavaScript enabled), these WGS84 values can be displayed instead as decimal degrees or degrees and decimal minutes by choosing the Settings icon at the foot of the route description pages (via the Page Links icon on small screens). It should be borne in mind that when some of these pictures were taken, GPS facilities were not available to the public (or for earlier images not even dreamed of) and some references have had to be estimated.

There are instances where no picture of a feature is given. To allow the location to be identified, a button like this NG Ref: SU357232. WGS84: 51° 00′ 27″ N, 1° 29′ 31″ W. may be included in the text to allow the coordinates of the feature to be read.

Explorers of the remains of the canal would do well to concentrate their investigations, particularly in rural areas, upon the winter months when verdant foliage is less likely to obscure the features they are seeking. However, it should be remembered that some places can become very wet and muddy after periods of rain, especially in winter.

Apart from a number of breaks caused by the wartime airfield at Ford, housing development in the village of Yapton and some breaks in the two miles (3.2km) east of Hunston Junction, it is possible to follow the course of the canal (or very close to it) on foot between the River Arun at Ford and Salterns Lock at Birdham.

Please also note that parts of the site of the waterway are on private property. We wish to ask that those seeking to view the remains do not trespass upon such land without gaining permission.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the route descriptions are accurate. However, changes can occur at any time. The Website Manager would be pleased to hear about changes, omissions or errors found.

Links to the Route Descriptions:

There are also lists of websites, YouTube videos and books that may provide further information on the waterway. See the More Information page.