Southampton and Salisbury Canal: A Portrait
Southampton Arm: Northam Branch
Distance: 1.0 mile (1.6 km)
Houndwell to the site of Northam Station
The Northam Branch was intended to give access to the Itchen Navigation and to the important Northam Quay. Much of the coal brought by ship from the Tyne and Wear coalfields was landed at the Quay and was referred to as “the great Depot for Coals” by the canal company. At the time the canal was built, it passed through open fields until it reached the River Itchen at Northam.
Although it appears that construction of the branch was completed, it is doubtful that it was ever used as it seems unlikely that the tunnel was ever finished. Today there is no evidence visible on the ground that this branch canal even existed. The photographs below illustrate the line of the waterway as determined as far as possible from old maps.
The branch started in a north easterly direction from its junction with the main canal and ran on the north side of what is now the first part of Craven Walk (formerly part of North Front) in a straight line through Kingsland House as far as the present railway line.
The Southampton and Dorchester Railway Company had originally intended using the canal tunnel until it was realised that the tunnel was unsuitable. The eastern entrance to the newer railway tunnel lies about 65 yards (60m) north of the site of the canal tunnel portal.
The railway was built on the line of the canal eastwards from a point about 100 yards from this portal. The canal was also in a shallow cutting running just south of the new road to Northam Bridge which itself was under construction from 1796 to 1799. Where the railway swings north towards London, the canal continued straight on and crossed the railway line to the Terminus station at the site of Northam Station.
The start of the Northam branch
This image was taken from the site of the junction looking along the line of the Northam branch passing through Kingsland House.
Image date: May 2018. © 2019 Google. Image from Google Street View. NG Ref: SU422120. WGS84: 50° 54′ 22″ N, 1° 24′ 04″ W.
The start of the Northam branch
This image was taken from the site of the junction looking along the line of the Northam branch.
Image date: May 2018.
NG Ref: SU422120.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 22″ N, 1° 24′ 04″ W.
(56.0KB)
North Front, Southampton
The line of the canal passes through Kingsland House towards the far end of the building then across the road to the end of the footbridge over the railway on the right.
Image date: May 2016. © 2019 Google. Image from Google Street View. NG Ref: SU422120. WGS84: 50° 54′ 24″ N, 1° 23′ 59″ W.
North Front, Southampton
The line of the canal passes through Kingsland House towards the far end of the building then across the road to the end of the footbridge over the railway on the right.
Image date: May 2016.
NG Ref: SU422120.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 24″ N, 1° 23′ 59″ W.
(82.4KB)
Southampton railway tunnel
The eastern portal of Southampton railway tunnel seen from a footbridge over the track.
Image date: 10 May 2005. © 2009 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU422120. WGS84: 50° 54′ 24″ N, 1° 23′ 59″ W.
Southampton railway tunnel
The eastern portal of Southampton railway tunnel seen from a footbridge over the track.
Image date: 10 May 2005.
NG Ref: SU422120.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 24″ N, 1° 23′ 59″ W.
(103.8KB)
Looking east from the footbridge
View from the footbridge towards Kingsway Bridge looking east. The railway joins the line of the canal in the foreground.
Image date: 10 May 2005. © 2009 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU422120. WGS84: 50° 54′ 24″ N, 1° 23′ 59″ W.
Looking east from the footbridge
View towards Kingsway Bridge looking east. The railway joins the line of the canal in the foreground.
Image date: 10 May 2005.
NG Ref: SU422120.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 24″ N, 1° 23′ 59″ W.
(82.1KB)
Looking east from Kingsway Bridge
Looking east from Kingsway Bridge to St Mary Street Bridge.
Image date: 18 Feb 2010. © Stanley Howe (cc-by-sa/2.0). Image from www.geograph.org.uk. NG Ref: SU424121. WGS84: 50° 54′ 25″ N, 1° 23′ 51″ W.
Looking east from Kingsway Bridge
Looking east from Kingsway Bridge to St Mary Street Bridge.
Image date: 18 Feb 2010.
NG Ref: SU424121.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 25″ N, 1° 23′ 51″ W.
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East of St Mary Street
The railway (and line of the canal) east of St Mary Street Bridge. The line of the canal was not quite as straight as the railway.
Image date: 10 May 2005. © 2009 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU425121. WGS84: 50° 54′ 25″ N, 1° 23′ 48″ W.
East of St Mary Street
The railway (and line of the canal) east of St Mary Street Bridge.
Image date: 10 May 2005.
NG Ref: SU425121.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 25″ N, 1° 23′ 48″ W.
(72.3KB)
Railway near Northam Junction
Whilst the railway turns north to Northam Junction (to the right), the canal continued straight on (to the left).
Image date: 10 May 2005. © 2009 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU428122. WGS84: 50° 54′ 29″ N, 1° 23′ 31″ W.
Railway near Northam Junction
Whilst the railway turns north to Northam Junction (to our right), the canal continued straight on (to our left).
Image date: 10 May 2005.
NG Ref: SU428122.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 29″ N, 1° 23′ 31″ W.
(53.9KB)
Northam Station
The line of the canal crossed the later railway line to Southampton Terminus station from left to right through the centre of Northam station seen here from the south two years before it closed.
Image date: Jun 1964. © 2009 Bert Moody. Image from: Disused Stations. NG Ref: SU428119. WGS84: 50° 54′ 20″ N, 1° 23′ 33″ W.
Northam Station
The line of the canal crossed the later railway line to Southampton Terminus station from left to right through the centre of Northam station.
Image date: Jun 1964.
NG Ref: SU428119.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 20″ N, 1° 23′ 33″ W.
(70.1KB)
Site of Northam Station to Millbank Street
Although the London & Southampton Railway was opened throughout from Waterloo to Southampton in 1840, the station serving Northam wasn’t opened until 1872. The line of the canal crossed the railway line a little south of the station buildings. Northam Station was closed in 1966 when passenger trains stopped serving Southampton Terminus Station.
From the site of Northam Station, the next length of canal gently curved in a more northerly direction crossing what was then open countryside until approaching Millbank Street. After passing through the site of the gas works, across Britannia Road and Victoria Street, the line of the canal passes through an area which today consists of light industry and warehousing. It runs very close to west side of the present junction of Rochester Street and Peel Street. Further north-east, it crosses Belvidere Terrace and then seems to have run parallel to and about 40 yards (35m) north-west of Millbank Street. A road in roughly the same position is shown on the 1806 OS One Inch map.
Northam Gas Works
From a few yards to the right of this picture at the site of Northam station, the canal’s course turns north east to pass through the centre of the gas holder.
Image date: 10 May 2005. © 2009 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU428121. WGS84: 50° 54′ 27″ N, 1° 23′ 32″ W.
Northam Gas Works
From near the bottom right of this picture at the site of Northam station, the canal’s course turns north east through the centre of the gas holder.
Image date: 10 May 2005.
NG Ref: SU428121.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 27″ N, 1° 23′ 32″ W.
(76.0KB)
Victoria Street, Southampton
After the gas holder, the canal’s line crosses Britannia Road, passes the tree and disappears through the building on the right of Victoria Street.
Image date: Jun 2019. © 2019 Google. Image from Google Street View. NG Ref: SU430121. WGS84: 50° 54′ 27″ N, 1° 23′ 22″ W.
Victoria Street, Southampton
After the gas holder, the canal’s line crosses Britannia Road, passes the tree and disappears through the building on the right of Victoria Street.
Image date: Jun 2019.
NG Ref: SU430121.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 27″ N, 1° 23′ 22″ W.
(44.7KB)
Junction of Rochester and Peel Streets
Having crossed Rochester Street, the line of the canal passes through the nearest grey and brick corners of the warehouse on the left before crossing Peel Street towards the black car.
Image date: Oct 2016. © 2016 Google. Image from Google Street View. NG Ref: SU430122. WGS84: 50° 54′ 28″ N, 1° 23′ 19″ W.
Junction of Rochester and Peel Streets
The line of the canal passes through the nearest grey and brick corners of the warehouse on the left before crossing Peel Street towards the black car.
Image date: Oct 2016.
NG Ref: SU430122.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 28″ N, 1° 23′ 19″ W.
(31.1KB)
Belvidere Terrace
The line of the canal crosses this road on this side of the palette-laden fork lift truck.
Image date: Jun 2019. © 2019 Google. Image from Google Street View. NG Ref: SU431123. WGS84: 50° 54′ 31″ N, 1° 23′ 15″ W.
Belvidere Terrace
The line of the canal crosses this road on this side of the palette-laden fork lift truck.
Image date: Jun 2019.
NG Ref: SU431123.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 31″ N, 1° 23′ 15″ W.
(46.5KB)
Howell Close
It seems that the canal ran parallel to Millbank Street about 35-40 yards to the north-west where Howell Close has since been built.
Image date: Apr 2015. © 2019 Google. Image from Google Street View. NG Ref: SU432124. WGS84: 50° 54′ 34″ N, 1° 23′ 11″ W.
Howell Close
It seems that the canal ran parallel to Millbank Street about 35-40 yards to the north-west where Howell Close has since been built.
Image date: Apr 2015.
NG Ref: SU432124.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 34″ N, 1° 23′ 11″ W.
(49.5KB)
Millbank Street to the River Itchen
Towards the northern end of Millbank Street, the exact course of the canal is uncertain. The absence of detailed maps in this area dating from the beginning of the 19th century make it difficult to be sure of the position of the next length of canal or the lock which gave access to the River Itchen. In previous versions of this web-page, it was thought that the site of the lock was at the east end of Driver’s Wharf close to the large building now used for storing boats by Southampton Dry Stack. Further examination of Ordnance Survey maps dating from 1846 and 1870 has led to an amended conclusion.
The 1846 map does not show the old canal north of Belvidere Terrace. It does show that this area was starting to be built upon. Houses had been built along the whole north-west side of Millbank Street from Belvidere Terrace to Prince’s Street. However, north of the latter road, in amongst some housing development, two short lengths of water or ponds are shown either side of a terrace of six houses called Trafalgar Place on the east side of the northern part of Millbank Street. The houses look as though they and their gardens were laid out over a length of water that totalled about 85 yards (77m). A large number of further changes have taken place in this area since 1846.
The map also suggests that the lock into the tidal river may have been built where Old Mill Quay Hard exists today which is a public launching site. The quay immediately east of the hard was named after the Northam Steam Mill, a corn mill that once stood there. The high water mark at this point on the map is shown some 80 feet (24.5m) south of today’s frontage as a result of reclamation. South of this point, two parallel lines about 70 feet (21.5m) long and about 10 feet (3.0m) apart are shown on the map. The size of this is fairly close that specified by the Act of Parliament of 1795 in which the canal was supposed to accommodate boats 60ft by 8ft (18.3m by 2.4m).
The lock was about 200 yards (185m) downstream from Northam Quay. The cream roofed boat in the last picture below is moored very near the site of the end of Northam Quay. Further pictures of Northam Quay may be found on this page about the Itchen Navigation.
Junction of Millbank & Prince’s Streets
The junction of these two roads was altered in the 1970’s when the housing between them was redeveloped. The line of the canal is probably on the right hand side of Millbank Street at this point.
Image date: May 2018. © 2019 Google. Image from Google Street View. NG Ref: SU434126. WGS84: 50° 54′ 41″ N, 1° 23′ 02″ W.
Junction of Millbank & Prince’s Streets
The line of the canal is probably on the right hand side of Millbank Street at this point.
Image date: May 2018.
NG Ref: SU434126.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 41″ N, 1° 23′ 02″ W.
(61.4KB)
Northern portion of Millbank Street
The southern pond on the 1846 map ran along the side of the street; mainly under the long modern building. The houses of Trafalgar Place occupied the central part of the modern building.
Image date: May 2018. © 2019 Google. Image from Google Street View. NG Ref: SU434126. WGS84: 50° 54′ 42″ N, 1° 23′ 01″ W.
Northern portion of Millbank Street
The southern pond on the 1846 map ran along the side of the street; mainly under the long modern building.
Image date: May 2018.
NG Ref: SU434126.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 42″ N, 1° 23′ 01″ W.
(41.7KB)
Northern end of Millbank Street
This is the access to Old Mill Quay Hard. The blue fence is on part of the site of the northern pond on the 1846 map. Note also the remains of part of the later Northam Quay Tramway.
Image date: May 2016. © 2019 Google. Image from Google Street View. NG Ref: SU434127. WGS84: 50° 54′ 45″ N, 1° 23′ 00″ W.
Northern end of Millbank Street
This is the access to Old Mill Quay Hard. The blue fence is on part of the site of the northern pond on the 1846 map.
Image date: May 2016.
NG Ref: SU434127.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 45″ N, 1° 23′ 00″ W.
(55.9KB)
Approach to Old Mill Quay Hard
It is possible that the site of the lock into the tidal River Itchen lies under this hard. The southern end of the “lock” would be about under the overhanging tree.
Image date: 18 Oct 2018. © 2019 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU434127. WGS84: 50° 54′ 46″ N, 1° 22′ 59″ W.
Approach to Old Mill Quay Hard
It is possible that the site of the lock into the tidal River Itchen lies under this hard. The southern end of the “lock” would be about under the overhanging tree.
Image date: 18 Oct 2018.
NG Ref: SU434127.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 46″ N, 1° 22′ 59″ W.
(84.2KB)
Old Mill Quay Hard
The northern end of the “lock” feature on the 1846 map corresponds to the change in brickwork on the right.
Image date: 18 Oct 2018. © 2019 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU434128. WGS84: 50° 54′ 47″ N, 1° 22′ 59″ W.
Old Mill Quay Hard
The northern end of the “lock” feature on the 1846 map corresponds to the change in brickwork on the right.
Image date: 18 Oct 2018.
NG Ref: SU434128.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 47″ N, 1° 22′ 59″ W.
(72.1KB)
Old Mill Quay Hard
Old Mill Quay Hard is a few yards astern of the Eva Maria Müller as seen across the River Itchen from Northam Bridge.
Image date: 12 May 2005. © 2019 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU433130. WGS84: 50° 54′ 55″ N, 1° 23′ 05″ W.
Old Mill Quay Hard
Old Mill Quay Hard is a few yards astern of the Eva Maria Müller as seen across the river from Northam Bridge.
Image date: 12 May 2005.
NG Ref: SU433130.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 55″ N, 1° 23′ 05″ W.
(55.7KB)
Remains of Northam Quay
Northam Quay seen from Northam Bridge during extension of the wharf area. Renamed Riverside Wharf, the warehouse was built just before WW2, lasting until c1967. The left hand crane is stood on the remains of the wooden quay.
Image date: c1955. © Not known. NG Ref: SU432128. WGS84: 50° 54′ 49″ N, 1° 23′ 11″ W.
Remains of Northam Quay
Northam Quay seen from Northam Bridge during extension of the wharf area. The left hand crane is stood on the remains of the wooden quay.
Image date: c1955.
NG Ref: SU432128.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 49″ N, 1° 23′ 11″ W.
(56.4KB)
Site of Northam Quay
Site of Northam Quay seen from Northam Bridge with the entrance to the canal just this side of the ship being loaded with scrap metal. The cream roofed boat is moored very near the site of the end of Northam Quay.
Image date: 12 May 2005. © 2009 Peter Oates. NG Ref: SU432129. WGS84: 50° 54′ 51″ N, 1° 23′ 11″ W.
Site of Northam Quay
Site of Northam Quay with the entrance to the canal just this side of the ship being loaded with scrap metal.
Image date: 12 May 2005.
NG Ref: SU432129.
WGS84: 50° 54′ 51″ N, 1° 23′ 11″ W.
(43.6KB)