| | |
Bruce Tunnel |
 |
Burbage, Wiltshire KAC36.32 & KAC36.55 |
|
|
KandAC mile 36
|
|
|
|
599 yards long, the other is visible if you lean out from the towpath,
from the west portal.
|
|
|
The tunnel has massive red brick portals, capped with Bath stone, each
with a decorative stone plaque of Bristol pennant limestone. The
tunnel was begun 1806, finished 1809. Inside the tunnel is lined with
english bond brickwork; the bore is generous to cope with the 'Newbury
barges' used on this canal. The summit pound is 450ft above sea level.
|
|
|
The 2 million bricks came, along the canal, from Devizes Brick and
Tile Works, beside Caen Hill Locks.
|
|
|
John Rennie first proposed to have a longer tunnel at a lower level.
It was cheaper to build more locks and a pumping station, and excavate
a shorter tunnel.
|
|
|
|
Plaque on the east portal of Bruce Tunnel; hardly readable anymore.
|
|
|
The Kennet and Avon Canal Company / Inscribe this TUNNEL with the Name
of / BRUCE / In Testimony of the Gratitude / for the uniform and
effectual Support of / The Right honourable THOMAS BRUCE EARL of
AILESBURY / and CHARLES LORD BRUCE his Son / through the whole
Progress of this great National Work / by which a direct communication
by Water was opened / between the Cities of LONDON and BRISTOL / ANNO
DOMINI 1810
|
|
|
|
East portal.
|
|
|
|
West portal.
|
|
|
|
West portal, the towpath ends.
|
|
|
The towpath is carried over the hill. The Great Western Railway which
has been on the northerly side of the canal to the eastwards, crosses
over the hill in a cutting and crosses the canal diagonally as well,
coming down on the southerly side westwards. Savernake Low Level
Station was up above, and a junction where a branch to Marlborough
from the Berks and Hants Extension Railway (GWR) left the main route.
A minor road from the Savernake area to the north towards Burbage on
the south, crosses the canal over the tunnel.
|
|
|
|
The railway crossing diagonally above the canal, view looking towards
the west portal from above; notice the pillbox.
|
|
|
length |
1499ft |
|
|
headroom |
13ft11ins |
|
|
depth of water |
5ft4ins |
|
|
width |
17ft0ins |
|
|
There are regulations for boats using the tunnel: take care, obey.
There was/is a chain on the southern wall by which to pull a boat
along.
|
|
|
The tunnel was begun 1806, finished 1809.
|
|
|
Kennet and Avon Scrapbook 2000
|
|