Avon Ring
Encyclopedia
The Avon Ring is a canal ring
which is located to the south west of Birmingham
in England
, and connects the major towns of Stratford-upon-Avon
, Evesham
, Tewkesbury
, Worcester
and the southern outskirts of Birmingham. It consists of stretches of four waterways, and is heavily locked, with a total of 129 locks on its route of 109 miles (174 km).
is a recent one, having been coined in the 1960s to describe routes which could be used by people boating for leisure, that did not require holiday makers to return to their start location by the same route as they had used to reach their destination. The constituent waterways of the Avon Ring are:
Starting from Stratford-upon-Avon, and travelling in a clockwise direction, the Avon Ring follows the downstream course of the River Avon
through Evesham to arrive at Tewkesbury, where the river joins the River Severn
. There are 17 locks on this 42.2 mile (67.5 km) section, ten before Evesham and seven afterwards. The River Avon is a navigation, and so each lock is accompanied by a weir, to maintain the flow of the river.
From Tewkesbury, the ring follows the upstream course of the River Severn for 16 miles (25.6 km) to Worcester. This is the longest level section, as the only lock is located at Diglis, just before the junction with the Worcester and Birmingham Canal
.
From the junction with the River Severn, there are two locks to reach Diglis Basin, and then another eight as the canal leaves Worcester. The Offerton flight of six locks follows, just before the canal passes under the M5 motorway, after which the 230 yd (210m) Dunhampstead tunnel is encountered. A junction with the Droitwich Canal
, which was restored to navigation in 2011, is followed by the six locks of the Astwood flight, another six at Stoke, and almost immediately, the thirty locks of the Tardebigge flight, which raise the level of the canal by 217 ft (66m). The top lock of the flight brings to 58 the number of locks worked in just 15.5 miles (24.8 km), as the final section is level. Two short tunnels follow; Tardebigge tunnel is 580 yd (530m) long and Shortwood tunnel is 613 yd (561m) long. The canal meanders across rural Worcestershire, passing under the M42 motorway just to the north of Alvechurch, before entering the Wast Hills tunnel. The tunnel is 2726 yd (2494m) long, and its northern portal is in Warwickshire, in the urban outskirts of Birmingham. Within a mile, Kings Norton junction is reached, where the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal
begins, and the 24.5 mile (39.2 km) journey up the Worcester and Birmingham Canal ends.
The start of the Stratford-upon-Avon canal is marked by a guillotine lock, which used to prevent water passing between the canals, but is now maintained in an open position. The first eleven miles (17.6 km) is level, with a five mile (8 km) urban section containing the 352 yd (322m) Brandwood tunnel, and a six mile (9.6 km) rural section which passes under the M42 motorway. The 26 locks of the Lapwood flight start the descent towards Stratford-upon-Avon, with the final one in the shadow of the M40 motorway bridge. The Lapworth Link turns off near locks 20 and 21, to connect with the Grand Union Canal
. Only one of these two locks needs to be negotiated, as they are on parallel routes. Another 27 locks complete the journey to Stratford-upon-Avon, with eleven of them concentrated in the Wilmcote flight. The length of the canal is 25.5 miles (40.8 km), and officially contains 54 locks, although only 52 of them have to be negotiated.
Canal ring
A canal ring is the name given to a series of canals that make a complete loop.-Origin of the Term:Whilst there have been canals which formed a ring for centuries, the ring terminology was unknown before the 1960s, when it was coined by the Inland Waterways Association as part of its campaign to...
which is located to the south west of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and connects the major towns of Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
, Evesham
Evesham
Evesham is a market town and a civil parish in the Local Authority District of Wychavon in the county of Worcestershire, England with a population of 22,000. It is located roughly equidistant between Worcester, Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon...
, Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury is a town in Gloucestershire, England. It stands at the confluence of the River Severn and the River Avon, and also minor tributaries the Swilgate and Carrant Brook...
, Worcester
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
and the southern outskirts of Birmingham. It consists of stretches of four waterways, and is heavily locked, with a total of 129 locks on its route of 109 miles (174 km).
The route
The concept of a canal ringCanal ring
A canal ring is the name given to a series of canals that make a complete loop.-Origin of the Term:Whilst there have been canals which formed a ring for centuries, the ring terminology was unknown before the 1960s, when it was coined by the Inland Waterways Association as part of its campaign to...
is a recent one, having been coined in the 1960s to describe routes which could be used by people boating for leisure, that did not require holiday makers to return to their start location by the same route as they had used to reach their destination. The constituent waterways of the Avon Ring are:
- River AvonRiver Avon, WarwickshireThe River Avon or Avon is a river in or adjoining the counties of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire in the Midlands of England...
- River SevernRiver SevernThe River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
- Worcester and Birmingham CanalWorcester and Birmingham CanalThe Worcester and Birmingham Canal is a canal linking Birmingham and Worcester in England. It starts in Worcester, as an 'offshoot' of the River Severn and ends in Gas Street Basin in Birmingham. It is long....
- Stratford-on-Avon Canal
Starting from Stratford-upon-Avon, and travelling in a clockwise direction, the Avon Ring follows the downstream course of the River Avon
River Avon, Warwickshire
The River Avon or Avon is a river in or adjoining the counties of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire in the Midlands of England...
through Evesham to arrive at Tewkesbury, where the river joins the River Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
. There are 17 locks on this 42.2 mile (67.5 km) section, ten before Evesham and seven afterwards. The River Avon is a navigation, and so each lock is accompanied by a weir, to maintain the flow of the river.
From Tewkesbury, the ring follows the upstream course of the River Severn for 16 miles (25.6 km) to Worcester. This is the longest level section, as the only lock is located at Diglis, just before the junction with the Worcester and Birmingham Canal
Worcester and Birmingham Canal
The Worcester and Birmingham Canal is a canal linking Birmingham and Worcester in England. It starts in Worcester, as an 'offshoot' of the River Severn and ends in Gas Street Basin in Birmingham. It is long....
.
From the junction with the River Severn, there are two locks to reach Diglis Basin, and then another eight as the canal leaves Worcester. The Offerton flight of six locks follows, just before the canal passes under the M5 motorway, after which the 230 yd (210m) Dunhampstead tunnel is encountered. A junction with the Droitwich Canal
Droitwich Canal
The Droitwich Canal is a synthesis of two canals in Worcestershire, England; the Droitwich Barge Canal and the Droitwich Junction Canal. The Barge Canal is a broad canal which opened in 1771 linking Droitwich Spa to the River Severn at Hawford Mill, Claines...
, which was restored to navigation in 2011, is followed by the six locks of the Astwood flight, another six at Stoke, and almost immediately, the thirty locks of the Tardebigge flight, which raise the level of the canal by 217 ft (66m). The top lock of the flight brings to 58 the number of locks worked in just 15.5 miles (24.8 km), as the final section is level. Two short tunnels follow; Tardebigge tunnel is 580 yd (530m) long and Shortwood tunnel is 613 yd (561m) long. The canal meanders across rural Worcestershire, passing under the M42 motorway just to the north of Alvechurch, before entering the Wast Hills tunnel. The tunnel is 2726 yd (2494m) long, and its northern portal is in Warwickshire, in the urban outskirts of Birmingham. Within a mile, Kings Norton junction is reached, where the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal
Stratford-upon-Avon Canal
The Stratford-upon-Avon Canal is a canal in the south Midlands of England.The canal, which was built between 1793 and 1816, runs for in total, and consists of two sections. The dividing line is at Kingswood Junction, which gives access to the Grand Union Canal...
begins, and the 24.5 mile (39.2 km) journey up the Worcester and Birmingham Canal ends.
The start of the Stratford-upon-Avon canal is marked by a guillotine lock, which used to prevent water passing between the canals, but is now maintained in an open position. The first eleven miles (17.6 km) is level, with a five mile (8 km) urban section containing the 352 yd (322m) Brandwood tunnel, and a six mile (9.6 km) rural section which passes under the M42 motorway. The 26 locks of the Lapwood flight start the descent towards Stratford-upon-Avon, with the final one in the shadow of the M40 motorway bridge. The Lapworth Link turns off near locks 20 and 21, to connect with the Grand Union Canal
Grand Union Canal
The Grand Union Canal in England is part of the British canal system. Its main line connects London and Birmingham, stretching for 137 miles with 166 locks...
. Only one of these two locks needs to be negotiated, as they are on parallel routes. Another 27 locks complete the journey to Stratford-upon-Avon, with eleven of them concentrated in the Wilmcote flight. The length of the canal is 25.5 miles (40.8 km), and officially contains 54 locks, although only 52 of them have to be negotiated.
See also
- Canals of the United KingdomCanals of the United KingdomThe canals of the United Kingdom are a major part of the network of inland waterways in the United Kingdom. They have a colourful history, from use for irrigation and transport, through becoming the focus of the Industrial Revolution, to today's role for recreational boating...
- History of the British canal systemHistory of the British canal systemThe British canal system of water transport played a vital role in the United Kingdom's Industrial Revolution at a time when roads were only just emerging from the medieval mud and long trains of pack horses were the only means of "mass" transit by road of raw materials and finished products The...