Southampton and Salisbury Canal: A Portrait
Southampton Arm: Houndwell to Millbrook
Distance: 1.5 mile (2.5 km)
The Canal Tunnel
The eastern end of the tunnel was about 40 yards due west of the junction with the Northam Branch. Originally the tunnel was intended to be 880 yards (805m) long but in March 1797 this length was reduced to about 580 yards (530m). It seems that about 50 yards (45m) at the west end was to be constructed as a cutting and the tunnel cut short by some 250 yards (230m) at the east end where the top of the tunnel would have been only a few feet below the surface. It is not known how close construction of the tunnel got to completion, but it is unlikely that it was ever navigated.
It should be remembered that the canal’s water level would have been some 12-15 feet lower than the present road surface. The site of the tunnel entrance is about 30 yards west from the fence between the park and Palmerston Road. Considerable areas of the park were raised in level to dispose of the spoil generated by excavation of the railway tunnel.
The tunnel passes under Above Bar and in front of the present Civic Centre. The railway tunnel crosses over the canal tunnel at a very oblique angle under Civic Centre Road just west of West Marlands Road.
The tunnel emerged at its western end to the north-west of the later railway tunnel portal just north of Kingsbridge Lane in land that is now just outside the rear of the BBC Broadcasting Centre.
Site of the east end of the tunnel
The site of the east end of the tunnel is in Palmerston Park approximately where the person is sat at a picnic table.
Image date: 12 May 2005. © 2009 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU421120. WGS84: 50° 54′ 21″ N, 1° 24′ 05″ W.
Site of the east end of the tunnel
The site of the east end of the tunnel is in Palmerston Park approximately where the person is sat at a picnic table.
Image date: 12 May 2005.
NG Ref: SU421120.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 21″ N, 1° 24′ 05″ W.
(83.3KB)
Crossing Above Bar
The canal tunnel crosses under Above Bar, the shop on the left with scaffolding and the road beyond. The railway tunnel is under the centre of the crossroads.
Image date: May 2018. © 2019 Google. Image from Google Street View. NG Ref: SU419121. WGS84: 50° 54′ 24″ N, 1° 24′ 15″ W.
Crossing Above Bar
The canal tunnel crosses under Above Bar, the shop on the left and the road beyond.
Image date: May 2018.
NG Ref: SU419121.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 24″ N, 1° 24′ 15″ W.
(49.0KB)
Civic Centre Road
The canal and railway tunnels cross each other just to the right of this picture. The bus shelter is over the canal tunnel which then passes just inside the entrance to the Civic Centre forecourt.
Image date: May 2017. © 2019 Google. Image from Google Street View. NG Ref: SU418121. WGS84: 50° 54′ 25″ N, 1° 24′ 22″ W.
Civic Centre Road
The bus shelter is over the canal tunnel which then passes just inside the entrance to the Civic Centre forecourt.
Image date: May 2017.
NG Ref: SU418121.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 25″ N, 1° 24′ 22″ W.
(52.2KB)
Havelock Road
The canal tunnel passes under this area of grass near the south west corner of the Civic Centre.
Image date: May 2018. © 2019 Google. Image from Google Street View. NG Ref: SU417121. WGS84: 50° 54′ 26″ N, 1° 24′ 26″ W.
Havelock Road
The canal tunnel passes under this area of grass near the south west corner of the Civic Centre.
Image date: May 2018.
NG Ref: SU417121.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 26″ N, 1° 24′ 26″ W.
(58.6KB)
BBC Broadcasting Centre
The line of the canal tunnel passes close to the left hand end of the BBC Broadcasting Centre.
Image date: May 2018. © 2019 Google. Image from Google Street View. NG Ref: SU417121. WGS84: 50° 54′ 26″ N, 1° 24′ 27″ W.
BBC Broadcasting Centre
The line of the canal tunnel passes close to the left hand end of the BBC Broadcasting Centre.
Image date: May 2018.
NG Ref: SU417121.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 26″ N, 1° 24′ 27″ W.
(86.2KB)
Site of the west end of the tunnel
Looking north-west across the west end of the canal tunnel emerged from the hill beside Kingsbridge Lane near the silver birch tree behind the second seat but below the current ground level.
Image date: May 2018. © 2019 Google. Image from Google Street View. NG Ref: SU416121. WGS84: 50° 54′ 26″ N, 1° 24′ 31″ W.
Site of the west end of the tunnel
The west end of the canal tunnel emerged from the hill beside Kingsbridge Lane near the silver birch tree behind the second seat but below the current ground level.
Image date: May 2018.
NG Ref: SU416121.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 26″ N, 1° 24′ 31″ W.
(90.3KB)
Site of the west end of the tunnel
Seen from the south-west, the west end of the canal tunnel emerged from the hill beside Kingsbridge Lane near the silver birch tree to the left of the second seat but below the current ground level.
Image date: Feb 2018. © 2020 Google. Image from Google Street View. NG Ref: SU416121. WGS84: 50° 54′ 26″ N, 1° 24′ 32″ W.
Site of the west end of the tunnel
The west end of the canal tunnel emerged from the hill beside Kingsbridge Lane near the silver birch tree to the left of the second seat but below the current ground level.
Image date: Feb 2018.
NG Ref: SU416121.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 26″ N, 1° 24′ 32″ W.
(66.4KB)
Kingsbridge Lane to Central Station Bridge
The canal would have left the tunnel in a cutting some 12-15 feet deep until it was at ground level by the western end of Kingsbridge Lane. When the canal was opened from Redbridge in December 1802, the usable canal would have ended near the bottom of the hill on what is now Blechynden Terrace.
The line of the canal ran just above high water mark. The road called Blechynden Terrace was built on the site of the canal. Before the coming of the railway there were plans to make Blechynden into a pleasant suburb with rows of good houses with ornamental gardens facing the water of the River Test. Blechynden Terrace actually dates from this time but the building of the railway prevented the completion of the project. In the period 1845-7, the railway was constructed on the foreshore around 60 yards south of the road.
Southampton’s railway station has changed since the station originally called Blechynden opened in 1847. This small station was situated just east of the present footbridge over the railway. In 1858, this was renamed Southampton West End. By the late 1880s the station was inadequate for its traffic, so land was bought for a new station nearby and Southampton West station was opened on 1 November 1895, while Southampton West End closed to passengers. Southampton West station was enlarged in 1933-34 when land was being reclaimed for the New Docks and was renamed Southampton Central. In 1967 the station was rebuilt and, following the closure of Southampton Terminus station the year before, was renamed simply Southampton. This reverted to Southampton Central in 1994.
A one arched canal bridge was built (see the pencil sketch below) carrying what was to become Sidford Street over the waterway. This road was effectively an extension of Hill Lane to reach the sea shore. The bridge had disappeared by 1846 and Sidford Street was in turn demolished in 1972 for redevelopment. The site of the bridge is near the western end of Starbucks Coffee in Grenville House. The Central Station Bridge was constructed as part of the building of the vast "New Docks" (now Western Docks) between 1927 and 1934, which led to all of West Bay being reclaimed and the station becoming landlocked.
The station at Blechynden, c1880
Southampton West End station, formerly Blechynden, seen from the top of the railway tunnel, before the station was moved to its present site beyond the level crossing in 1895. Shows the railway hugging the shore in the distance. Kingsbridge Lane can just be seen on the extreme right of the picture.
Image date: c1880. NG Ref: SU417121. WGS84: 50° 54′ 25″ N, 1° 24′ 28″ W.
The station at Blechynden, c1880
Southampton West End station, formerly Blechynden, seen from the top of the railway tunnel, before the station was moved to its present site beyond the level crossing in 1895.
Image date: c1880.
NG Ref: SU417121.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 25″ N, 1° 24′ 28″ W.
(53.5KB)
The station at Blechynden, 2005
The approach to the present Southampton Central station (renamed in 1930s) from the top of the railway tunnel.
Image date: 10 May 2005. © 2009 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU417121. WGS84: 50° 54′ 25″ N, 1° 24′ 28″ W.
The station at Blechynden, 2005
The approach to the present Southampton Central station (renamed in 1930s) from the top of the railway tunnel.
Image date: 10 May 2005.
NG Ref: SU417121.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 25″ N, 1° 24′ 28″ W.
(103.5KB)
End of the working canal
This view looks back to Kingsbridge Lane. This was the terminus of the canal from 1802 whilst work continued to complete the tunnel.
Image date: May 2018. © 2019 Google. Image from Google Street View. NG Ref: SU415122. WGS84: 50° 54′ 28″ N, 1° 24′ 39″ W.
End of the working canal
This was the terminus of the canal from 1802 whilst work continued to complete the tunnel.
Image date: May 2018.
NG Ref: SU415122.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 28″ N, 1° 24′ 39″ W.
(50.9KB)
Blechynden Terrace
Blechynden Terrace looking west with Southampton Central railway station past the offices on the left. So much for the rows of good houses with ornamental gardens facing the water.
Image date: May 2018. © 2019 Google. Image from Google Street View. NG Ref: SU414122. WGS84: 50° 54′ 28″ N, 1° 24′ 43″ W.
Blechynden Terrace
Blechynden Terrace looking west with Southampton Central railway station past the offices on the left.
Image date: May 2018.
NG Ref: SU414122.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 28″ N, 1° 24′ 43″ W.
(56.0KB)
Southampton West
Southampton West railway station with its distinctive clock tower seen from Blechynden Terrace in the early 1900s.
Image date: Early 1900s. Image from Starzina. NG Ref: SU414122. WGS84: 50° 54′ 28″ N, 1° 24′ 43″ W.
Southampton West
Southampton West railway station in the early 1900s with its distinctive clock tower.
Image date: Early 1900s.
NG Ref: SU414122.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 28″ N, 1° 24′ 43″ W.
(50.2KB)
‘Canal Shore’
As part of the Station Quarter North project and running along Blechynden Terrace, ‘Canal Shore’ is a 205m long bespoke basalt kerb detail with text drawing attention to the history of the area.
Image date: 28 Sep 2015. © 2015 Christopher Tipping. Image from: http://christophertipping.co.uk/. NG Ref: SU414122. WGS84: 50° 54′ 28″ N, 1° 24′ 42″ W.
‘Canal Shore’
‘Canal Shore’ is a 205m long bespoke basalt kerb detail with inset granite text drawing attention to the history of the area.
Image date: 28 Sep 2015.
NG Ref: SU414122.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 28″ N, 1° 24′ 42″ W.
(58.0KB)
Canal Bridge
Pencil sketch by Joseph Powell (1780-1834) showing Southampton from near Four Posts. The bridge seems to have been on a southward continuation of Hill Lane known as Sidford Street that once led to the shore. Today the site is near the western end of Starbucks Coffee in Grenville House.
Image date: c1810. © John Silman. NG Ref: SU412122. WGS84: 50° 54′ 29″ N, 1° 24′ 52″ W.
Canal Bridge
Pencil sketch showing Southampton from near Four Posts. The bridge seems to have been on a southward continuation of Hill Lane known as Sidford Street that once led to the shore.
Image date: c1810.
NG Ref: SU412122.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 29″ N, 1° 24′ 52″ W.
(71.4KB)
Southampton West
Looking south-east from Four Posts Hill. The ‘new’ Southampton West station opened in 1895 can be seen beyond Southbrook Road which lies below the camera. The canal ran along this side of the road. The site of the canal bridge is hidden by buildings between the camera and the station clock tower. To the left, Blechynden Terrace runs east towards the site of the tunnel.
Image date: Between 1905 and 1914. Image from postcard. NG Ref: SU411122. WGS84: 50° 54′ 30″ N, 1° 24′ 56″ W.
Southampton West
Looking south-east from Four Posts Hill. The ‘new’ Southampton West station opened in 1895 can be seen beyond Southbrook Road which lies below the camera. The canal ran along this side of the road.
Image date: Between 1905 and 1914.
NG Ref: SU411122.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 30″ N, 1° 24′ 56″ W.
(60.4KB)
Site of Canal Bridge
The canal bridge at the bottom of Sidford Street stood close to the far corner of Starbucks. Central Station Bridge can be seen in the distance.
Image date: May 2018. © 2019 Google. Image from Google Street View. NG Ref: SU413122. WGS84: 50° 54′ 28″ N, 1° 24′ 49″ W.
Site of Canal Bridge
The canal bridge at the bottom of Sidford Street stood close to the far corner of Starbucks.
Image date: May 2018.
NG Ref: SU413122.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 28″ N, 1° 24′ 49″ W.
(57.7KB)
Eastward view from Central Station Bridge
Below is Southbrook Road and beyond is Blechynden Terrace, looking east from the overbridge at the west end of the station. The site of the canal is on the north side of the road.
Image date: 12 May 2005. © 2009 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU412122. WGS84: 50° 54′ 28″ N, 1° 24′ 55″ W.
Eastward view from Central Station Bridge
Below is Southbrook Road and beyond is Blechynden Terrace, looking east from the overbridge at the west end of the station.
Image date: 12 May 2005.
NG Ref: SU412122.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 28″ N, 1° 24′ 55″ W.
(59.5KB)
Central Station Bridge to Millbrook Station
West of Southampton Central station, the canal ran at the foot of a small cliff or steep slope. It was reported in the 1960s that there were traces of the canal within the trees at the bottom of the slope but that it was very overgrown. It is not known whether this stretch remains today.
The canal continued to run along the shore of the tidal River Test for most of the way to Redbridge. When the railway was first built here it joined the line of the derelict canal in the vicinity of the north end of the signal gantry at the eastern end of Saxon Road. The railway as built was two track and also running along the shore. It was widened southwards onto reclaimed land during 1933-5 when the New (Western) Docks were being built. At this time, the original tracks which had followed a slight bend in the line of the canal west of Norman Road were straightened although a siding still occupies part of the old alignment.
It is possible to walk along the southern side of the present railway west of Southampton Central station. However, when renewing the footbridge at Millbrook station, the part of the bridge connecting the station to the south side of the track was not rebuilt thus severing the footpath route from Central station.
West of Southampton Station
Looking west from the overbridge, the canal ran along the north side of Southbrook Road towards the tall trees that hide a small cliff.
Image date: May 2018. © 2019 Google. Image from Google Street View. NG Ref: SU412121. WGS84: 50° 54′ 28″ N, 1° 24′ 55″ W.
West of Southampton Station
Looking west from the overbridge, the canal ran along the north side of Southbrook Road towards the tall trees that hide a small cliff.
Image date: May 2018.
NG Ref: SU412121.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 28″ N, 1° 24′ 55″ W.
(67.9KB)
“Southampton from Millbrook Shore”
This picture was engraved by Philip Brannon. On the left of the picture, the canal ran at the foot of a small cliff covered in trees.
Image date: 1853. NG Ref: SU410121. WGS84: 50° 54′ 26″ N, 1° 25′ 05″ W.
“Southampton from Millbrook Shore”
This picture was engraved by Philip Brannon. On the left of the picture, the canal ran at the foot of a small cliff covered in trees.
Image date: 1853.
NG Ref: SU410121.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 26″ N, 1° 25′ 05″ W.
(51.5KB)
Looking west
The canal ran at the foot of a small cliff now shrouded in trees.
Image date: 10 May 2005. © 2009 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU409121. WGS84: 50° 54′ 26″ N, 1° 25′ 06″ W.
Looking west
The canal ran at the foot of a small cliff now shrouded in trees.
Image date: 10 May 2005.
NG Ref: SU409121.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 26″ N, 1° 25′ 06″ W.
(87.6KB)
Railway joins the canal
The railway joined the canal line in the vicinity of the north end of the signal gantry. The train standing in the siding on the left, adjoining Saxon Road, occupies the course of the canal.
Image date: 10 May 2005. © 2009 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU406121. WGS84: 50° 54′ 27″ N, 1° 25′ 22″ W.
Railway joins the canal
The railway joined the canal line in the vicinity of the north end of the signal gantry. The train standing in the siding on the left, adjoining Saxon Road, occupies the course of the canal.
Image date: 10 May 2005.
NG Ref: SU406121.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 27″ N, 1° 25′ 22″ W.
(84.8KB)
The railway to Millbrook
Looking west from the footbridge at Saxon Road towards Millbrook Station. The canal ran along the right hand side of the tracks.
Image date: 10 May 2005. © 2009 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU406121. WGS84: 50° 54′ 27″ N, 1° 25′ 22″ W.
The railway to Millbrook
Looking west from the footbridge at Saxon Road towards Millbrook Station. The canal ran along the right hand side of the tracks.
Image date: 10 May 2005.
NG Ref: SU406121.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 27″ N, 1° 25′ 22″ W.
(97.3KB)
The railway to Central station
The view back towards Central station from the now demolished section of footbridge over the railway at Millbrook Station. The canal ran along the left hand side of the tracks.
Image date: 10 May 2005. © 2009 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU398125. WGS84: 50° 54′ 41″ N, 1° 26′ 04″ W.
The railway to Central station
The view back towards Central station from the now demolished section of footbridge over the railway at Millbrook Station.
Image date: 10 May 2005.
NG Ref: SU398125.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 41″ N, 1° 26′ 04″ W.
(66.8KB)