Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
14
Grand Union Canal: Aylesbury Arm
Distance
10km from Marsworth Junction to Aylesbury
Highlights
The highest point in the Chilterns
Watching your own arrival
Navigation Authority
Canal & River Trust
Canal Society
Aylesbury Canal Society
OS 1:50,000 Sheet
165 Aylesbury & Leighton Buzzard
The Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union Canal is somewhat less significant than it was when
originally planned. It was to have been the Western Junction Canal, running to Abingdon
where it would have been continued by the Wilts & Berks Canal to Melksham and then the
Kennet & Avon Canal to Bristol. Abingdon already had the River Thames from London and,
not far north, the Oxford Canal towards Birmingham. As it happened, the Western Junction
never got beyond Aylesbury and Abingdon missed out on becoming a major transport inter-
change, as it was to do again later when it rejected the Great Western Railway.
A contributory problem was the starting point at Marsworth, just seven locks down from the
summit level of the Grand Union Canal. Because of the inevitable water supply problem and
the fear that it would drain the main line, all locks on the Aylesbury Arm were built as narrow
beam and this would have meant that only narrow beam craft would have been able to work
through to Bristol. As it was, Wilstone Reservoir, which supplies the Aylesbury Arm as well as
being pumped to the main line summit level by pumps at Tringford, had to be enlarged twice.
Like the Tring Reservoirs, it sits between the Aylesbury and Wendover Arms, all doubling as
nature reserves with breeding and migratory birds and a small heronry.
