Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
46
Fossdyke Navigation
Distance
18km from the River Witham to the River Trent
Highlights
The Glory Hole, taking the River Witham
Natural lake of Brayford Pool, overlooked by Lincoln Cathedral
Torksey Castle
Navigation Authority
Canal & River Trust
OS 1:50,000 Sheet
121 Lincoln & Newark-on-Trent
When Britain's canals vie with each other with claims of longevity, they use as their reference
point the Bridgewater Canal, opened in 1761. There is, however, one canal with which none
of the others can begin to compare. The Fossdyke Navigation was dug by the Romans in about
120 and is by far the oldest canal that is still navigable by larger craft.
The Fossdyke (a tautological name as fosse and dyke both mean ditch) linked the Trisantona
Fluvis, the tidal River Trent, with the River Witham, providing an inland route between the
Humber and the Wash. While part of its function was for drainage, the fact that, with the Car
Dyke and Cnut's Dyke, it linked right through to Waterbeach in a continuous channel, could
only imply its use for transport.
The navigation leaves the River Witham at Brayford Pool, overlooked by Lincoln on its
limestone ridge, a striking island in the flat Lincolnshire countryside. The city was the Celtic
Lindon, the hill fort by the pool. Later it became Lindum Colonia, a Roman walled garrison
housing the 9th and then the 2nd Legion in the 1st century AD, before becoming a settlement
for retired Roman soldiers.
The Danes used the navigation when invading England. When Lincoln became a Norman
stronghold, the navigation was used for importing the stone for building the cathedral of St
Mary, begun in 1072. The cathedral is Lincoln's crown, topping the ridge and being visible
from Brayford Pool and from a considerable area of the surrounding countryside. It was sub-
