The Grand Union Canal and the Wendover Arm

Tring lies at the summit level of the Grand Union Canal. The canal passes to the north-east of the town on its way from London to Birmingham, and is accessible at several points, including Tring Station, Bulbourne and Marsworth.

Originally called the Grand Junction Canal, it was constructed in the late 18th century to provide a short cut from the Oxford Canal at Braunston to the Thames at Brentford. It required a long deep cutting through the chalk Chiltern ridge between what is now Tring Station and Bulbourne.

The canal was a busy commercial waterway until the coming of the railways. (The West Coast Mainline railway follows nearly the same course and has an even deeper cutting running parallel to the canal.) It became part of the Grand Union system of canals in 1929 and was modernised in the 1930s to take bigger boats, which never materialised.

There is now negligible commercial traffic and the canal is given over to pleasure boats, which can be hired from several local boatyards.

At Bulbourne, British Waterways used to have a maintenance yard (pictured right) where traditional wooden lock gates were made. The building is now used as a forge by a local artist blacksmith.

The Wendover Arm leaves the main line at Bulbourne Junction, and passes to the north of Tring to Wendover. There was once a wharf serving Tring, and a boatbuilding business, at New Mill. The arm's main purpose was (and is) to provide water to the summit level from springs at Wendover. (See also Tring Reservoirs) From its original construction it was very leaky, and the section west of Tringford pumping station was closed in 1904. The Wendover Arm Trust is currently restoring it.

Further north, the Aylesbury Arm leaves the main line at Marsworth. This is a narrow canal - the locks are 7 feet wide, and it is still navigable to Aylesbury Basin. The lock joining it to the main line at Marsworth is a 2 chamber 'staircase' lock.

The pretty village of Marsworth is built around the canals, and is a pleasant place to stroll around and to watch the boats being worked through the many locks. There is a car park next to the canal and reservoir at Marsworth (GR SP 919140)

All these canals have accessible towpaths, including the dry section between Tringford and Wendover.

For more information visit the British Waterways website or contact their Milton Keynes office on 01908 302500.

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