Itchen Navigation: A Portrait
College Mead - Brambridge
Distance: 0.7 mile (1.1 km)
College Mead Lock
The public footpath (diverted in 1914 from the original towing path south of Malms Bridge) crosses the Navigation back to the site of the towing path on west bank at the bridge across the tail end of College Mead Lock. The current bridge seems to date from the 1930s.
The overgrown and badly eroded lock can be seen from the bridge but there is no further direct public access. However, on the west side of the lock, there are several seats to rest weary bones. Behind these is the restful Hawksley Corner, a garden planted with trees which are memorials to Southern Water employees. This is sometimes known as Otterbourne Memorial Garden.
As part of the Heritage Trail Project, a gap in the masonry remains of the cill and weir at the head of the lock was “widened” to increase water flow. It would seem though that similar measures were not taken to deal with increased flows in the Navigation between here and Brambridge Lock. This has resulted in a situation between here and Brambridge where the path can become very muddy and water levels appear to rise higher than before. There is also a small weir across a very shallow Navigation just before entering the main River Itchen below College Mead Lock.
College Mead Lock
Head of College Mead Lock from upstream with a narrow gap in the weir.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003. © 2003 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU469233. WGS84: 51° 00′ 29″ N, 1° 19′ 54″ W.
College Mead Lock
Head of College Mead Lock from upstream with a narrow gap in the weir.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003.
NG Ref: SU469233.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 29″ N, 1° 19′ 54″ W.
(108.9KB)
College Mead Lock
Chamber of College Mead Lock from the bridge across the tail.
Image date: 28 May 1976. Image scanned from slide. © 2003 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU470233. WGS84: 51° 00′ 27″ N, 1° 19′ 52″ W.
College Mead Lock
Chamber of College Mead Lock from the bridge across the tail.
Image date: 28 May 1976.
NG Ref: SU470233.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 27″ N, 1° 19′ 52″ W.
(108.1KB)
College Mead Lock
Chamber of College Mead Lock from the bridge across the tail with a widened gap in the weir at the head to improve flow at times of high water levels.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019. © 2019 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU470233. WGS84: 51° 00′ 27″ N, 1° 19′ 52″ W.
College Mead Lock
Chamber of College Mead Lock from the bridge across the tail with a widened gap in the weir at the head.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019.
NG Ref: SU470233.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 27″ N, 1° 19′ 52″ W.
(94.9KB)
College Mead Bridge
1930s bridge across the tail of College Mead Lock where the bottom gates were hung.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003. © 2003 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU470233. WGS84: 51° 00′ 27″ N, 1° 19′ 52″ W.
College Mead Bridge
1930s bridge across the tail of College Mead Lock.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003.
NG Ref: SU470233.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 27″ N, 1° 19′ 52″ W.
(96.1KB)
College Mead Bridge
The older bridge has been updated with a new deck and work on the cracking abutments.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019. © 2019 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU470233. WGS84: 51° 00′ 27″ N, 1° 19′ 52″ W.
College Mead Bridge
The older bridge has been updated with a new deck and work on the cracking abutments.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019.
NG Ref: SU470233.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 27″ N, 1° 19′ 52″ W.
(82.6KB)
Muddy path
The path immediately south of College Mead Lock has been known to get very wet and muddy.
Image date: 3 May 2014. © 2014 Marie Keates. Image from www.iwalkalone.co.uk. NG Ref: SU470233. WGS84: 51° 00′ 27″ N, 1° 19′ 53″ W.
Muddy path
The path immediately south of College Mead Lock has been known to get very wet and muddy.
Image date: 3 May 2014.
NG Ref: SU470233.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 27″ N, 1° 19′ 53″ W.
(75.4KB)
Less muddy path
Corrective action has been taken to make the path less muddy.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019. © 2019 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU470233. WGS84: 51° 00′ 27″ N, 1° 19′ 53″ W.
Less muddy path
Corrective action has been taken to make the path less muddy.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019.
NG Ref: SU470233.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 27″ N, 1° 19′ 53″ W.
(81.2KB)
Shallow weir
This shallow weir lies across the Navigation about 50 yards from College Mead Lock and just before it joins the main river.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019. © 2019 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU470233. WGS84: 51° 00′ 26″ N, 1° 19′ 52″ W.
Shallow weir
This shallow weir lies across the Navigation just before it joins the main river.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019.
NG Ref: SU470233.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 26″ N, 1° 19′ 52″ W.
(70.3KB)
Otterbourne Waterworks
The river swings in from the east and on the west bank there is an intake feeding Otterbourne Waterworks, most of which lie to the west of the railway. Originally established by Southampton Corporation towards the end of the nineteenth century as a replacement for the waterworks at Mansbridge, a major expansion took place in the 1930s to provide much of the town‘s water supply. Some water is extracted from the river but most comes from half a dozen boreholes situated in the water meadows to the east. Downstream of the intake, the river flows under a pipe bridge from the boreholes. On the east side the confluence of the river and Navigation runs another channel fed by a number of hatchways from the main river.
Otterbourne Waterworks
The river intake at Otterbourne Waterworks passes under the towing path.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003. © 2003 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU470232. WGS84: 51° 00′ 24″ N, 1° 19′ 51″ W.
Otterbourne Waterworks
The river intake at Otterbourne Waterworks passes under the towing path.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003.
NG Ref: SU470232.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 24″ N, 1° 19′ 51″ W.
(83.9KB)
Merging of the Navigation and main river
Seen from just north of the pipe bridge, this is the confluence of the Navigation and the river. A further channel can just be seen running parallel a few yards to the right of the main river.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003. © 2003 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU470232. WGS84: 51° 00′ 23″ N, 1° 19′ 50″ W.
Merging of the Navigation and main river
This is the confluence of the Navigation and the river. A further channel can just be seen running parallel a few yards to the right of the main river.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003.
NG Ref: SU470232.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 23″ N, 1° 19′ 50″ W.
(73.8KB)
Otterbourne Waterworks
Looking south at the bridge carrying the water pipes from the boreholes east of the Navigation.
Image date: 28 May 1976. Image scanned from slide. © 2010 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU470232. WGS84: 51° 00′ 24″ N, 1° 19′ 51″ W.
Otterbourne Waterworks
Looking south at the bridge carrying the water pipes from the boreholes east of the Navigation.
Image date: 28 May 1976.
NG Ref: SU470232.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 24″ N, 1° 19′ 51″ W.
(94.3KB)
Pipe bridge
Southern Water has felt it necessary to protect the bridge and water pipes with these cages.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019. © 2019 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU470232. WGS84: 51° 00′ 23″ N, 1° 19′ 50″ W.
Pipe bridge
Southern Water has felt it necessary to protect the bridge and water pipes with these cages.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019.
NG Ref: SU470232.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 23″ N, 1° 19′ 50″ W.
(71.5KB)
Otterbourne Waterworks to Downs Bridge
Almost by stealth, the main river leaves the waterway through a series of hatches and weirs on the east bank so that, south of the sharp bend, the Navigation channel is more like a canal than a river. This is a very pleasant stretch of waterway although, despite some work in 2010, the path beside it can be quite muddy. This seems to have increased since the Heritage Trail Project made changes to water flows at Malm and College Mead Locks upstream. Similar changes were not made at Brambridge or Allbrook Locks downstream and the pounds above these two locks seem to suffer from more overflowing problems than in the past.
An area of uncared for woodland occupies the area to the north-west of the towing path and the trees here are prone to falling and blocking the path.
Over the years there have been a number of footbridges across the Navigation at different places between the waterworks and Brambridge Lock, but currently there are none linking the towing path with the meadows on the east side. One was still in position in 1977 - see picture below.
Documented as Downs Bridge in the mid-19th century, though not the name used today, the next structure of note is a fairly modern steel and concrete replacement of the original wooden overbridge structure.
Below Otterbourne Waterworks
The Navigation (on the right) and the main River Itchen below Otterbourne Waterworks looking downstream.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003. © 2003 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU471231. WGS84: 51° 00′ 20″ N, 1° 19′ 48″ W.
Below Otterbourne Waterworks
The Navigation (on the right) and the main River Itchen below Otterbourne Waterworks looking downstream.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003.
NG Ref: SU471231.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 20″ N, 1° 19′ 48″ W.
(87.1KB)
Water overflowing the path
Raised water levels and poor maintenance of the bank / path has led in the last decade to more frequent occurrences such as this along this section of the Navigation.
Image date: 13 Sep 2021. © Bill Boaden (cc-by-sa/2.0). Image from www.geograph.org.uk. NG Ref: SU471230. WGS84: 51° 00′ 19″ N, 1° 19′ 48″ W.
Water overflowing the path
Raised water levels and poor maintenance of the bank / path has led in the last decade to more frequent occurrences such as this.
Image date: 13 Sep 2021.
NG Ref: SU471229.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 19″ N, 1° 19′ 48″ W.
(98.3KB)
Fishing hut and sluiceway
A small fishing hut and sluiceway on the offside just below the sharp bend in the Navigation. The sluiceway feeds the Rosemary Leet, a side-stream that eventually rejoins the Navigation below Brambridge Lock.
Image date: 18 Mar 2013. © Shazz (cc-by-sa/2.0). Image from www.geograph.org.uk. NG Ref: SU471229. WGS84: 51° 00′ 15″ N, 1° 19′ 45″ W.
Fishing hut and sluiceway
A small fishing hut and sluiceway on the offside just below the sharp bend in the Navigation.
Image date: 18 Mar 2013.
NG Ref: SU471229.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 15″ N, 1° 19′ 45″ W.
(103.9KB)
Itchen Navigation
Navigation between Otterbourne Waterworks and Brambridge looking downstream.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003. © 2003 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU471229. WGS84: 51° 00′ 15″ N, 1° 19′ 45″ W.
Itchen Navigation
Navigation between Otterbourne Waterworks and Brambridge looking downstream.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003.
NG Ref: SU471229.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 15″ N, 1° 19′ 45″ W.
(68.6KB)
Muddy towing path
Sections of the path along this stretch are prone to being very muddy much of the year.
Image date: 13 Sep 2021. © Bill Boaden (cc-by-sa/2.0). Image from www.geograph.org.uk. NG Ref: SU471229. WGS84: 51° 00′ 15″ N, 1° 19′ 48″ W.
Muddy towing path
Sections of the path along this stretch are prone to being very muddy much of the year.
Image date: 13 Sep 2021.
NG Ref: SU471229.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 15 N, 1° 19′ 46″ W.
(93.7KB)
Uncleared debris
A fallen tree has been cleared from the path but the upper branches have not been removed from the waterway.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019. © 2019 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU471229. WGS84: 51° 00′ 14″ N, 1° 19′ 47″ W.
Uncleared debris
A fallen tree has been cleared from the path but the upper branches have not been removed from the waterway.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019.
NG Ref: SU471229.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 14″ N, 1° 19′ 47″ W.
(56.1KB)
Itchen Navigation
The Navigation between Otterbourne Waterworks and Brambridge looking upstream.
Image date: 25 Sep 2009. © 2010 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU470228. WGS84: 51° 00′ 12″ N, 1° 19′ 49″ W.
Itchen Navigation
The Navigation between Otterbourne Waterworks and Brambridge looking upstream.
Image date: 25 Sep 2009.
NG Ref: SU470228.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 12″ N, 1° 19′ 49″ W.
(80.8KB)
Footbridge across the Navigation
This footbridge, which no longer exists, consisted of a 2 feet (0.6m) square beam spanning the full width of the waterway which was about 40 feet (12m) and just inches above the water.
Image date: May 1977. Image: Department of Transport. NG Ref: SU470228. WGS84: 51° 00′ 11″ N, 1° 19′ 49″ W.
Footbridge across the Navigation
This footbridge, which no longer exists, consisted of a 2 feet (0.6m) square beam spanning the full width of the waterway.
Image date: May 1977.
NG Ref: SU470228.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 11″ N, 1° 19′ 49″ W.
(53.4KB)
A wet path
The path sometimes has overflowing water, especially when water levels are high. Sometimes, as here, there can be makeshift aids to walkers.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019. © 2019 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU470228. WGS84: 51° 00′ 11″ N, 1° 19′ 50″ W.
A wet path
The path sometimes has overflowing water, especially when water levels are high. On occasion, as here, there can be makeshift aids to walkers.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019.
NG Ref: SU470228.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 11″ N, 1° 19′ 50″ W.
(76.7KB)
Above Downs Bridge
Looking downstream at Downs Bridge, partially hidden by tree growth.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019. © 2019 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU469227. WGS84: 51° 00′ 09″ N, 1° 19′ 56″ W.
Above Downs Bridge
Looking downstream at Downs Bridge, partially hidden by tree growth.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019.
NG Ref: SU469227.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 09″ N, 1° 19′ 56″ W.
(71.8KB)
Downs Bridge
Downs Bridge from downstream.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003. © 2003 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU468227. WGS84: 51° 00′ 07″ N, 1° 19′ 59″ W.
Downs Bridge
Downs Bridge from downstream.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003.
NG Ref: SU468227.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 07″ N, 1° 19′ 59″ W.
(100.7KB)
Downs Bridge to Brambridge Lock
South of this bridge, the Navigation is sheltered on both sides by mature trees. The artificial origin of this section of waterway is betrayed by the straightness of the channel with a sudden bend. Near that bend the remains of three hatches controlling culverts under the towing path were cleared during 2008 by volunteers helping with the Itchen Navigation Heritage Trail Project. Named as “Wormstall Hatches and Weir” in an 1863 survey of the Navigation, two iron ratchet and pawl mechanisms for operating the hatches remained in position in 2008 although one went missing during conservation work. Water was leaking into the structure, threatening it, and the Navigation’s bank in which it sat, with collapse. Stone gabions were installed in 2010, to support the structure and prevent further deterioration. A replacement oak beam was also installed to allow the remaining cast iron hatch mechanism to be displayed. Further details of the repairs together with photographs see this report (2.27MB) made as part of the project.
These hatches may have been used to drown the water meadows in the area or they may have been involved in the water supply to the moat of Otterbourne Manor which lies just west of the railway. This supply would have been intercepted by the Navigation when it was built. Or they might have been used simply to allow water to bypass Brambridge Lock as there is a water channel running parallel to the canal that enters the Navigation just below the lock. Although these hatches are more substantial and of a slightly different design, an idea of how these hatches looked may be gained from this picture of a similar, former structure north of Shawford at Tumbling Bay.
Some 50 yards further south, the walker comes to Brambridge Lock.
Above Brambridge
Looking towards Brambridge from Downs Bridge.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003. © 2003 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU469227. WGS84: 51° 00′ 08″ N, 1° 19′ 59″ W.
Above Brambridge
Looking towards Brambridge from Downs Bridge.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003.
NG Ref: SU469227.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 08″ N, 1° 19′ 59″ W.
(79.2KB)
Hatch gear
Remains of the two hatch operating mechanisms upstream of Brambridge Lock in their original position half-hidden in the undergrowth.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003. © 2003 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU468226. WGS84: 51° 00′ 05″ N, 1° 20′ 03″ W.
Hatch gear
Remains of the two hatch operating mechanisms upstream of Brambridge Lock in their original position half-hidden in the undergrowth.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003.
NG Ref: SU468226.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 05″ N, 1° 20′ 03″ W.
(140.6KB)
Hatch gear
Close-up of the remains of one of the hatch operating mechanisms near Brambridge Lock.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003. © 2003 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU468226. WGS84: 51° 00′ 05″ N, 1° 20′ 03″ W.
Hatch gear
Close-up of the remains of one of the hatch operating mechanisms near Brambridge Lock.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003.
NG Ref: SU468226.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 05″ N, 1° 20′ 03″ W.
(107.3KB)
Wormstall Hatches
Remains of the hatches near Brambridge Lock cleared of undergrowth.
Image date: 25 Sep 2009. © 2010 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU468226. WGS84: 51° 00′ 06″ N, 1° 20′ 03″ W.
Wormstall Hatches
Remains of the hatches near Brambridge Lock cleared of undergrowth.
Image date: 25 Sep 2009.
NG Ref: SU468226.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 06″ N, 1° 20′ 03″ W.
(100.3KB)
Spillway
The spillway below the hatches cleared of undergrowth.
Image date: 25 Sep 2009. © 2010 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU468226. WGS84: 51° 00′ 06″ N, 1° 20′ 03″ W.
Spillway
The spillway below the hatches cleared of undergrowth.
Image date: 25 Sep 2009.
NG Ref: SU468226.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 06″ N, 1° 20′ 03″ W.
(120.0KB)
Reinforced hatches
The hatches near Brambridge Lock strengthened with gabions to prevent collapse.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019. © Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU468226. WGS84: 51° 00′ 06″ N, 1° 20′ 03″ W.
Reinforced hatches
The hatches near Brambridge Lock strengthened with gabions to prevent collapse.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019.
NG Ref: SU468226.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 06″ N, 1° 20′ 03″ W.
(102.5KB)
Reinforced hatches
The spillway of the strengthened hatches.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019. © Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU468226. WGS84: 51° 00′ 06″ N, 1° 20′ 03″ W.
Reinforced hatches
The spillway of the strengthened hatches.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019.
NG Ref: SU468226.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 06″ N, 1° 20′ 03″ W.
(112.0KB)
Brambridge Lock
An old eel trap straddles the waterway about 10-15 yards to the north of the former position of the top gates of Brambridge Lock. This trap wasn’t part of the lock, being built after barges stopped plying the Itchen.
A substantial amount of brickwork remains at both the head and the tail of this lock. However, most of the earthen banks once forming this turf-sided lock have been reduced to the lower water level so that brickwork stands up above the ground. Unusually, the courses of brickwork forming the offside tail wall of the lock were laid at a considerable angle from the horizontal. It is not possible to see whether the nearside wall is the same.
There is the remains of a waterwheel near the east side of the head of the lock. Known as Brambridge House Mill, this seems to have been a water powered pumping mill/wheel to supply water to Brambridge House. It was not the centuries old Brambridge Mill that was nearby but demolished before 1870.
The Rosemary Leet that left the Navigation upstream rejoins the waterway below the lock spanned by a footbridge.
Fish weir
Fish weir / eel trap above Brambridge Lock seen from upstream.
Image date: 28 May 1976. Image scanned from slide. © 2003 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU468226. WGS84: 51° 00′ 04″ N, 1° 20′ 03″ W.
Fish weir
Fish weir / eel trap above Brambridge Lock seen from upstream.
Image date: 28 May 1976.
NG Ref: SU468226.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 04″ N, 1° 20′ 03″ W.
(103.1KB)
Fish weir
Fish weir / eel trap above Brambridge Lock seen from upstream.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003. © 2003 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU468226. WGS84: 51° 00′ 04″ N, 1° 20′ 03″ W.
Fish weir
Fish weir / eel trap above Brambridge Lock seen from upstream.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003.
NG Ref: SU468226.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 04″ N, 1° 20′ 03″ W.
(120.3KB)
Eel trap
Eel trap above Brambridge Lock. This structure was not part of the lock.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003. © 2003 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU468226. WGS84: 51° 00′ 04″ N, 1° 20′ 03″ W.
Eel trap
Eel trap above Brambridge Lock. This structure was not part of the lock.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003.
NG Ref: SU468226.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 04″ N, 1° 20′ 03″ W.
(121.2KB)
Eel trap
The eel trap above Brambridge Lock has become dilapidated over the last 20 years.
Image date: 13 Sep 2021. © Bill Boaden (cc-by-sa/2.0). Image from www.geograph.org.uk. NG Ref: SU468226. WGS84: 51° 00′ 04″ N, 1° 20′ 03″ W.
Eel trap
The eel trap above Brambridge Lock has become dilapidated over the last 20 years.
Image date: 13 Sep 2021.
NG Ref: SU468226.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 04″ N, 1° 20′ 03″ W.
(102.4KB)
The head of Brambridge Lock
The head of Brambridge Lock seen from above but below the eel trap.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003. © 2003 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU468226. WGS84: 51° 00′ 04″ N, 1° 20′ 03″ W.
The head of Brambridge Lock
The head of Brambridge Lock seen from above but below the eel trap.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003.
NG Ref: SU468226.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 04″ N, 1° 20′ 03″ W.
(126.6KB)
The head of Brambridge Lock
The head of Brambridge Lock seen from below.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003. © 2003 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU468225. WGS84: 51° 00′ 03″ N, 1° 20′ 04″ W.
The head of Brambridge Lock
The head of Brambridge Lock seen from below.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003.
NG Ref: SU468225.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 03″ N, 1° 20′ 04″ W.
(122.4KB)
The Old Canal
Pencil drawing entitled “The old canal - near Brambridge.” Drawn by Haywood Sumner. The picture shows the bottom gates of the lock.
Image date: 1880. NG Ref: SU468225. WGS84: 51° 00′ 03″ N, 1° 20′ 04″ W.
The Old Canal
Pencil drawing entitled “The old canal - near Brambridge.” Drawn by Haywood Sumner.
Image date: 1880.
NG Ref: SU468225.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 03″ N, 1° 20′ 04″ W.
(82.2KB)
Keep Out!
Recently erected fence between the footpath and the lock.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019. © 2019 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU468226. WGS84: 51° 00′ 03″ N, 1° 20′ 04″ W.
Keep Out!
Recently erected fence between the footpath and the lock.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019.
NG Ref: SU468226.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 03″ N, 1° 20′ 04″ W.
(97.3KB)
Brambridge Lock
Masonry on the off side at the tail of Brambridge Lock.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003. © 2003 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU468225. WGS84: 51° 00′ 03″ N, 1° 20′ 04″ W.
Brambridge Lock
Masonry on the off side at the tail of Brambridge Lock.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003.
NG Ref: SU468225.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 03″ N, 1° 20′ 04″ W.
(93.9KB)
Brambridge Lock to Kiln Lane, Brambridge
Below the lock the Navigation, the east bank and the grounds of Kingfisher Lodge are screened from view from the path by high fencing and dense vegetation. Until 2017, a not very long stretch of this path is almost always damp - sometimes flooded. Some trees were cut down widening the normally muddy stretch of path and a new raised boardwalk was built.
The tail of Brambridge Lock
The tail of Brambridge Lock from downstream with the Rosemary Leet returning to the Navigation after passing under the footbridge on the right.
Image date: 1890. Image from magic lantern slide. NG Ref: SU467225. WGS84: 51° 00′ 01″ N, 1° 20′ 05″ W.
The tail of Brambridge Lock
The tail of Brambridge Lock with the Rosemary Leet returning to the Navigation after passing under the footbridge on the right.
Image date: 1890.
NG Ref: SU467225.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 01″ N, 1° 20′ 05″ W.
(90.3KB)
The new boardwalk
This boardwalk crosses several drains which enter the Navigation below the lock. The footbridge in the foreground of the 1890 picture performed the same function.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019. © 2019 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU467225. WGS84: 51° 00′ 02″ N, 1° 20′ 05″ W.
The new boardwalk
This boardwalk crosses several drains which enter the Navigation below the lock.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019.
NG Ref: SU467225.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 02″ N, 1° 20′ 05″ W.
(83.7KB)
The high fence
This fence extends for around 100 yards from the tail of the lock blocking the view of the Navigation and the properties beyond.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019. © 2019 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU467225. WGS84: 51° 00′ 01″ N, 1° 20′ 05″ W.
The high fence
This fence extends for around 100 yards from the tail of the lock blocking the view of the Navigation and the properties beyond.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019.
NG Ref: SU467225.
WGS84: 51° 00′ 01″ N, 1° 20′ 05″ W.
(85.2KB)
Kiln Lane Bridge, Brambridge
The bridge carrying Kiln Lane over the Navigation.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003. © 2003 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU467224. WGS84: 50° 59′ 58″ N, 1° 20′ 05″ W.
Kiln Lane Bridge, Brambridge
The bridge carrying Kiln Lane over the Navigation.
Image date: 13 Apr 2003.
NG Ref: SU467224.
WGS84: 50° 59′ 58″ N, 1° 20′ 05″ W.
(82.8KB)
View from Kiln Lane Bridge
Upstream of Kiln Lane Bridge, the bridge at the junction of the Navigation and Rosemary Leet can be seen. To the left, the tail of the lock is almost obscured. A low weir crosses the Navigation some 80 yards away.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019. © 2019 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU467224. WGS84: 50° 59′ 58″ N, 1° 20′ 06″ W.
View from Kiln Lane Bridge
Upstream of Kiln Lane Bridge, the bridge at the junction of the Navigation and Rosemary Leet can be seen. To the left, the tail of the lock is almost obscured. A low weir crosses the Navigation some 80 yards away.
Image date: 16 Feb 2019.
NG Ref: SU467224.
WGS84: 50° 59′ 58″ N, 1° 20′ 06″ W.
(82.6KB)
One of the pictures on this page is shown by kind permission of Marie Keates. A keen walker, she has written about and illustrated several attempts to walk the full length of the Navigation during 2013 in her blog at https://www.iwalkalone.co.uk. She has walked along all or parts of the Navigation often since then: all illustrated with some excellent photographs.