Hampshire Waterways

West Dean to Windrush Farm

Upstream of the road bridge, at the north-west end of the village green, there is now just one channel: this is the original line of the river and the canal was excavated to its south-west (on the left looking upstream) between the river and Bridge Cottage on land that is now part of the latter’s garden. 70 yards beyond the road bridge, the railway crosses the river on its own bridge next to the level crossing at the station. There has never been any accommodation for the canal which fell into disuse nearly 40 years before the railway was built.

Upstream of the railway, the line of the canal is on the southern bank between the river and the railway. Old Ordnance Survey maps surveyed in 1871 showed that about 2 acres in this area had become allotment gardens which seem to have been abandoned after the Second World War and have since become overgrown as woodland. As a result, all traces of the canal for over 200 yards have disappeared. A public footpath to East Grimstead crosses the River Dun by means of a footbridge "NG Ref: SU255271. WGS84: 51° 02′ 36″ N, 1° 38′ 11″ W. approached along the drive to Church Farm past King George’s Hall.

Between road and railway

Looking up the River Dun from the road bridge in West Dean. The original course of the canal lay on the left side of the river. The bridge carrying the railway can be seen in the distance.

Image date: 12 Jan 2005.
NG Ref: SU256270.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 32″ N, 1° 38′ 08″ W.
(107.8KB)

A train approaching Dean station

A train coming from Salisbury is about to cross the course of the canal which is about 15 yards west of the bridge over the River Dun.

Image date: 13 Oct 2020.
NG Ref: SU257270.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 32″ N, 1° 38′ 03″ W.
(76.9KB)

The river upstream of West Dean

North of the railway, this view from near the King George’s Hall shows the river and the footbridge crossing it.

Image date: 12 Jan 2005.
NG Ref: SU256271.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 34″ N, 1° 38′ 07″ W.
(91.8KB)

Most guides to the remains of the canal omit to mention, or gloss over, a major feature of the canal in this area. This is the sizable cutting that lies between a large pond to its north and the railway line to the south. The cutting passes through a spur of higher ground and it is a matter of speculation as to why this route was taken.

The origin of the pond is not certain: on the one hand the land owner is said to have maintained that it was a fish pond belonging to the church but others have claimed it was built around 1760 as a reservoir for an irrigation scheme for water meadows downstream near East Dean. Either way, there are a number of possible reasons why the canal was not routed north around the spur.

• It might have proved difficult (if not impossible) to pass north of the pond without crossing the River Dun on the level or very nearly so. Elsewhere, it seems that interference with the river’s water, which was used for milling and for irrigation, was avoided by staying south of the river.
• The water supply for the pond seems to have come southwards from the river near the west end of the pond. The canal might have interfered with this. However, interestingly the 1843 tithe map does not show any river north or west of the pond. It is probable that the river was not considered important enough to show on a map concerned with property boundaries and areas rather than indicating it didn’t exist.
• The landowner of the time might not have wanted to lose some his rich meadow land to the canal or for it to pass too close to Church Farm. The landowner may have refused to entertain the canal taking such a route or to sell that land at a reasonable price.

Whatever the reason, it seems that the impecunious canal company was forced to take a costly route south of the pond through a deep cutting.

During the construction of the railway and its deeper cutting through the same spur of land in the 1840s, the navvies dumped much of their spoil between the railway and the canal cutting with some partially blocking the latter in several places. Together with several chalk pits within area of the wood, this makes the ground quite confused.

One further feature of this area needs mention. There were two locks at West Dean (Locks 7 and 8) as part of the canal’s climb from Kimbridge to Alderbury. Over 20 years ago, members of the Southampton University Industrial Archaeology Group established by levelling that the difference in level between the village green and the cutting is in the region of 5 metres (about 16 or 17 feet) which is the equivalent of 2 locks. Their position is uncertain but it seems most likely that Lock 7 was just south of the later railway Approximate position NG Ref: SU256270. WGS84: 51° 02′ 32″ N, 1° 38′ 08″ W. and that Lock 8 was at or near the eastern end of the cutting to reduce the volume of earthworks required Approximate position NG Ref: SU254271. WGS84: 51° 02′ 35″ N, 1° 38′ 16″ W..

Irrigation reservoir in water

Part of the large pond believed to have been built in about 1760 as part of an irrigation scheme.

Image date: 12 Jan 2005.
NG Ref: SU254271.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 35″ N, 1° 38′ 18″ W.
(77.9KB)

‘Dry’ irrigation reservoir

These days, the large pond is often empty after a period of dry weather as there no longer seems to be a feed from the river.

Image date: 22 May 2005.
NG Ref: SU254271.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 35″ N, 1° 38′ 18″ W.
(90.4KB)

Deep cutting near West Dean

Part of the deep cutting through the hill south of the large pond viewed in January.

Image date: 12 Jan 2005.
NG Ref: SU253271.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 35″ N, 1° 38′ 21″ W.
(132.1KB)

Deep cutting near West Dean

Part of the deep cutting through the hill south of the large pond viewed four months later in May.

Image date: 22 May 2005.
NG Ref: SU253271.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 36″ N, 1° 38′ 23″ W.
(109.9KB)

Near western end of deep cutting

Part of the deep cutting towards its western end.

Image date: 12 Jan 2005.
NG Ref: SU252272.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 37″ N, 1° 38′ 28″ W.
(118.8KB)

The hill the canal passes through

Seen from the west, the River Dun has left the canal and passes round the north side of the wooded hill whereas the canal cut through it.

Image date: 12 Jan 2005.
NG Ref: SU249272.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 39″ N, 1° 38′ 43″ W.
(78.5KB)

About 150 yards beyond the western end of the cutting, the railway crosses the course of the canal NG Ref: SU250271. WGS84: 51° 02′ 35″ N, 1° 38′ 38″ W.. Some 150 yards beyond the railway, the River Dun leaves the course of the canal to pass under the railway on its passage around the north side of the hill to the village of West Dean. The River Dun used to occupy a separate course north of the canal for nearly a mile west of this point but since at least 1871 and probably since the construction of the railway in the 1840s, the water has been diverted into the old canal and the old course of the river is only discernible after very wet weather. The canal is slightly higher than the bottom of the valley.

Some 500 yards west of the railway crossing and just north of Windrush Farm is a modern culvert carrying a farm access over the canal. This consists of four corrugated iron tubes with some brickwork on the south side. Whilst this is the site of an original bridge over the canal, the bricks appear to be more modern. The original bridge here was probably a drawbridge (one of 16 between Kimbridge and Salisbury that Joseph Hill included in his estimate of 1794). A short distance west of the culvert is the probable site of Lock 9 Approximate position NG Ref: SU245271. WGS84: 51° 02′ 35″ N, 1° 39′ 06″ W., but other than a slight change in ground level, there is no visible evidence of its existence.

Canal near Windrush Farm

Culvert crossing of the canal just north of Windrush Farm.

Image date: 12 Jan 2005.
NG Ref: SU245271.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 35″ N, 1° 39′ 03″ W.
(110.1KB)

Downstream of culvert

Looking east (downstream) from the culvert near Windrush Farm.

Image date: 12 Jan 2005.
NG Ref: SU245271.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 35″ N, 1° 39′ 03″ W.
(107.7KB)

Probable site of Lock 9

Believed site of Lock 9 viewed from the north side of the canal upstream of the culvert.

Image date: 12 Jan 2005.
NG Ref: SU245271.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 35″ N, 1° 39′ 03″ W.
(98.6KB)

Windrush Farm to Dean Road crossing

About 350 yards west of the Windrush Farm culvert, the canal was diverted from its original line to pass under the railway in a brick culvert.

Continuing westward for about another 200 yards, the canal is crossed by a small brick accommodation bridge allowing access to a field between the railway and canal. Probably replacing an original wooden drawbridge, the current structure was probably built at the same time as the railway. It seems to have had little maintenance over the years. Its arch is far too small to allow the passage of boats.

Having followed a generally westerly direction since West Dean, the canal bends to follow a south-westerly course but in little more than 100 yards the canal is crossed yet again by the railway. The River Dun enters the course of the canal at this point having run along the northern boundary of railway for some distance. The site of Lock 10 is also in this area, probably lying under the railway embankment or immediately south of it Approximate position NG Ref: SU237272. WGS84: 51° 02′ 37″ N, 1° 39′ 43″ W.. The canal continues in a south-westerly direction until it meets Dean Road that runs between West Dean and East Grimstead.

Culvert under the railway

Northern side of the culvert carrying the River Dun and a slightly diverted canal under the railway.

Image date: 12 Jan 2005.
NG Ref: SU242272.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 38″ N, 1° 39′ 19″ W.
(92.1KB)

Small brick accommodation bridge

The west side of the small brick accommodation bridge.

Image date: 12 Jan 2005.
NG Ref: SU240272.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 39″ N, 1° 39′ 29″ W.
(92.6KB)

Line of canal below Lock 10

Looking east along the course of the canal/river from some 120 yards below the site of Lock 10.

Image date: 12 Jan 2005.
NG Ref: SU238272.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 39″ N, 1° 39′ 38″ W.
(100.7KB)

Canal below Lock 10 from the railway

The canal lies in front of the belt of trees and bushes as seen from a railway train.

Image date: 8 Apr 2017.
NG Ref: SU238272.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 38″ N, 1° 39′ 38″ W.
(50.4KB)

Culvert below the site of Lock 10

North side of the culvert under the railway below the site of Lock 10. Water from the River Dun enters the canal from the right.

Image date: 12 Jan 2005.
NG Ref: SU238272.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 38″ N, 1° 39′ 42″ W.
(121.9KB)

Line of canal above Lock 10

The course of the canal above the site of Lock 10 and south of the railway is marked by the line of large trees.

Image date: Dec 2008.
NG Ref: SU237271.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 35″ N, 1° 39′ 48″ W.
(59.8KB)

Dean Road crossing to East Grimstead

The course of the canal crosses Dean Road at an oblique angle to the south side entering a shallow cutting and then swings through 90 degrees to the north-west to run alongside the road.

The Ordnance Survey Old Series One-Inch map surveyed in 1807 does not show this road as far west as this point on the canal but ending near Lock 10. Although today there is a bridge for the road under the later railway, it seems that there might not have been a bridge over the canal here. However, the fact that on the south side of the road the canal entered the cutting as it swung to the north-west would point to some feature being present otherwise why not build the canal along the contour?

The line of the canal comes beside the road as it passes under the railway embankment just a few yards west of the railway bridge. From here it continues for about ⅔ mile running beside or close to the south side of the West Dean to East Grimstead road. The first 150 yards or so of the canal bed after the railway has been infilled but beyond this much of the canal bed remains reasonably intact albeit overgrown. Somewhere along this section is the site of Lock 11 probably about 500 yards (450m) west of the railway bridge Approximate position NG Ref: SU230273. WGS84: 51° 02′ 41″ N, 1° 40′ 21″ W. but its exact location is yet to be verified. For about the last 250 yards (225m) from Dillons Farm to Holy Trinity Church, the ‘dry’ canal enters a cutting about 10 feet (3m) deep.

Road crossing

Looking east at the point where the line of the canal crosses Dean Road at an oblique angle.

Image date: Jun 2011.
NG Ref: SU235271.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 35″ N, 1° 39′ 53″ W.
(72.3KB)

Cutting south of Dean Road

Looking east along part of the cutting south of the West Dean to East Grimstead road.

Image date: 20 Mar 2005.
NG Ref: SU235271.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 34″ N, 1° 39′ 55″ W.
(128.8KB)

Railway bridge crossing Dean Road

Seen from the east, the railway bridge crossing Dean Road. The line of the canal passed a few yards to the left of the bridge.

Image date: 27 Feb 2007.
NG Ref: SU235271.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 36″ N, 1° 39′ 57″ W.
(117.5KB)

The Encampment seen from the railway

The eastern part of a group of smallholdings known as The Encampment as seen from a railway train. The course of the canal lies in front of the line of trees and bushes separating it from Dean Road.

Image date: 8 Apr 2017.
NG Ref: SU232271.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 36″ N, 1° 40′ 11″ W.
(61.0KB)

Holy Trinity church

The Victorian Holy Trinity church, East Grimstead, was built in 1857 on the foundations of the former medieval chapel of ease.

Image date: 23 Jun 2006.
NG Ref: SU225272.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 39″ N, 1° 40′ 48″ W.
(89.4KB)

East Grimstead

The village of East Grimstead is situated to the north of the canal and the infant River Dun. Its church is Grade II listed and lies on the south side of the village between the river and the remains of the canal in its shallow cutting. The present church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was built in 1857 on the site of a medieval chapel-of-ease to the church at West Dean.

Spanning the canal here is the only remaining original Southampton & Salisbury Canal bridge which is itself listed as Grade II. Built in about 1796-7, the listing says it was constructed with English bond brick and now has a concrete coping to the parapet. It has a plain segmental arch with parapets and slightly swept revetment walls. These days the cutting in the vicinity of the bridge is rather overgrown.

In May 2012, Network Rail replaced the railway bridge NG Ref: SU225271. WGS84: 51° 02′ 35″ N, 1° 40′ 49″ W. a little south of the canal bridge. In order to give access for heavy machinery including a very large crane and materials, a temporary causeway was constructed across the canal cutting just east of the bridge.

Bridge at East Grimstead from the north

The sole remaining, original canal bridge seen from north of the bridge over the infant River Dun. The canal bridge is just behind the red car parked outside the church.

Image date: 19 Mar 2005.
NG Ref: SU224272.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 40″ N, 1° 40′ 51″ W.
(57.5KB)

Bridge at East Grimstead from the south

The sole remaining, original canal bridge seen from the south.

Image date: 19 Mar 2005.
NG Ref: SU225272.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 38″ N, 1° 40′ 49″ W.
(94.6KB)

Bridge at East Grimstead from the west

The canal bridge at East Grimstead seen from the bed of the canal over 40 years ago.

Image date: 16 Apr 1976.
NG Ref: SU224272.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 38″ N, 1° 40′ 51″ W.
(67.6KB)

Causeway beside bridge at East Grimstead

The temporary causeway built beside the canal bridge to give heavy plant access to the nearby railway bridge.

Image date: 5 Apr 2012.
NG Ref: SU224272.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 38″ N, 1° 40′ 50″ W.
(72.2KB)

Heavy vehicle using causeway

The departure of one of the three large vehicles carrying parts of the crane used to install the new railway bridge.

Image date: 7 Apr 2012.
NG Ref: SU224272.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 38″ N, 1° 40′ 50″ W.
(68.9KB)

Causeway removed

The east side of the bridge after (most of) the temporary causeway was removed.

Image date: 1 Jun 2012.
NG Ref: SU225272.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 39″ N, 1° 40′ 49″ W.
(78.8KB)

East Grimstead to West Grimstead

West of the bridge at East Grimstead the bed of the canal is quite well preserved for nearly a quarter of a mile until the canal becomes involved again with a modern-looking ditch carrying some of the flow of the River Dun. After about 100 yards NG Ref: SU220273. WGS84: 51° 02′ 42″ N, 1° 41′ 14″ W., we find that the river and canal share a common course and will do so for about the next 1000 yards (900m). As was the case for part of the line between East Grimstead and West Dean, the river once had a separate course to the north of the canal.

About 200 yards (180m) upstream Approximate position NG Ref: SU218273. WGS84: 51° 02′ 41″ N, 1° 41′ 23″ W. is the site of lock 12 where the stream has a slight wiggle to the south. About 65 yards (60m) west of the site of the lock, a farm access track crosses the river / canal NG Ref: SU217273. WGS84: 51° 02′ 41″ N, 1° 41′ 26″ W.. After another 365 yards (330m) NG Ref: SU214272. WGS84: 51° 02′ 39″ N, 1° 41′ 43″ W. a public footpath passes north - south over the former canal.

Yet another 375 yards (340m) further west, lies the junction of the canal and the diverted infant River Dun NG Ref: SU211271. WGS84: 51° 02′ 35″ N, 1° 41′ 58″ W.. Lock 13 was south west of this junction. The existence of any remains of this structure is unknown but should be at about Approximate position NG Ref: SU210270. WGS84: 51° 02′ 33″ N, 1° 42′ 02″ W.. South-west of the lock, between NG Ref: SU210270. WGS84: 51° 02′ 32″ N, 1° 42′ 05″ W. and NG Ref: SU208270. WGS84: 51° 02′ 31″ N, 1° 42′ 14″ W. the railway was built on top of the remains of the canal.

Dry canal bed, East Grimstead

Looking west at the dry bed of the canal west of the bridge.

Image date: 19 Mar 2005.
NG Ref: SU224272.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 38″ N, 1° 40′ 52″ W.
(128.3KB)

More dry canal

The dry bed of the canal continues for nearly ¼ mile (360m) from the bridge.

Image date: 12 Jan 2005.
NG Ref: SU222272.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 39″ N, 1° 41′ 04″ W.
(136.9KB)

Modern ditch on site of canal

A relatively modern ditch indicates the course of the canal which runs parallel to the infant River Dun.

Image date: 19 Mar 2005.
NG Ref: SU221272.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 40″ N, 1° 41′ 08″ W.
(144.7KB)

The line of the canal

Seen from Long Drove, the road to its north, the canal is now the only channel for the infant River Dun and is marked by the line of tall trees in the middle distance.

Image date: 19 Mar 2005.
NG Ref: SU217273.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 43″ N, 1° 41′ 26″ W.
(78.1KB)

The canal above Lock 12

Another view from Long Drove, the site of Lock 12 is on the previous photo some 60-70 yards (60m) east of the point where this farm track crosses the canal.

Image date: 19 Mar 2005.
NG Ref: SU217273.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 43″ N, 1° 41′ 26″ W.
(75.4KB)

West Grimstead

Both the line of the canal and the railway pass on the north side of the village of West Grimstead. The canal crosses Green Drove, the road from West Grimstead towards Farley, about 30 yards north of the railway bridge. There was a wharf at West Grimstead and it seems that this would have been on the south side of the canal and west of the road. Apart from the period when the temporary wooden horse railway was in use to reach the Southampton Road (1803-4), this wharf would have been the effective terminus of the canal from late 1802 until the cessation of traffic in about 1808.

Railway bridge

The railway bridge on the north side of the village of West Grimstead with the site of the canal bridge beyond.

Image date: 19 Mar 2005.
NG Ref: SU207269.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 30″ N, 1° 42′ 17″ W.
(89.3KB)

Site of canal bridge

The site of the canal bridge looking north from under the railway bridge.

Image date: 19 Mar 2005.
NG Ref: SU208270.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 31″ N, 1° 42′ 17″ W.
(82.2KB)

Canal east of the road

The line of the canal on the east side of the road bridge. Just 30 yards from the camera, the stream is diverted at the foot of the railway embankment.

Image date: Dec 2008.
NG Ref: SU208270.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 32″ N, 1° 42′ 16″ W.
(104.9KB)

The modern bridge over the canal

A close-up of the modern bridge / culvert over the canal on the north side of the railway.

Image date: 19 Mar 2005.
NG Ref: SU207270.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 32″ N, 1° 42′ 17″ W.
(105.7KB)

Canal west of the road

The line of the canal on the west side of the road bridge. The private road to the right follows the line of the towing path.

Image date: Jun 2015.
NG Ref: SU208270.
WGS84: 51° 02′ 32″ N, 1° 42′ 16″ W.
(105.8KB)