Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
16
Basingstoke Canal
Distance
56km from Old Basing to Woodham Junction
Highlights
Odiham Castle
Navigation Authority
Basingstoke Canal Authority
Canal Society
Basingstoke Canal Society
OS 1:50,000 Sheets
(175 Reading & Windsor)
176 West London
(185 Winchester & Basingstoke)
186 Aldershot & Guildford
(187 Dorking & Reigate)
The canal was completed in 1794 to link the market town of Basingstoke with the capital via
the Wey and Thames. With the coming of the railways the canal traffic declined and the canal
company went into liquidation in 1866, although commercial traffic used it until 1949.
In 1966 the then Surrey & Hampshire Canal Society was formed and reopened the canal in
1991, run by the Basingstoke Canal Authority for the county councils. Surrey County Coun-
cil supported the scheme with enthusiasm and even Hampshire County Council maintain the
towpaths well and have a depot and several maintenance craft on the canal. There are claims
that it is the most beautiful canal in the country. Certainly it is one of the most well-wooded.
The 1.1km Greywell Tunnel was passable into the 1950s but part of it has collapsed and
the western end has been fenced off. It contains an estimated 12,500 bats and is the largest
bat roost in Britain, including the world's second-largest population of Natterer's bats. For this
reason permission has not been granted for the tunnel to be restored for use by boats. There
