Bruce Tunnel
Encyclopedia
The Bruce Tunnel is on the summit pound of the Kennet and Avon Canal
between Wootton Top Lock
and Crofton Locks
in Wiltshire
, England.
This is the only tunnel
on the canal and it is 502 yards (459 m) long. It is named after Thomas Brudenell-Bruce, 1st Earl of Ailesbury
(1729–1814), the local landowner, who, when the canal was being built, would not allow a deep cutting through his land, and insisted on a tunnel instead.
At the eastern end of the tunnel is a plaque commemorating its construction:
The tunnel has red brick portals, capped with Bath Stone
, each with a decorative stone plaque of Bristol Pennant Limestone. The tunnel was begun 1806, finished 1809. It is lined with English bond brickwork
and has a wide bore to cope with the 'Newbury Barges' used on this canal.
There is no towpath through the tunnel, and walkers and cyclists must walk across the top of the hill. When canal boats were still pulled by horses, the boatmen had to haul boats through the tunnel by hand, pulling on chains that ran along the inside walls.
Above the tunnel is the Savernake Forest
which is open to the public with footpaths, drives and picnic sites, therefore it is also sometimes known as the Savernake Tunnel.
Kennet and Avon Canal
The Kennet and Avon Canal is a waterway in southern England with an overall length of , made up of two lengths of navigable river linked by a canal. The name is commonly used to refer to the entire length of the navigation rather than solely to the central canal section...
between Wootton Top Lock
Wootton Top Lock
Wootton Top Lock is a lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal, at Wootton Rivers, Wiltshire, England.Wootton Top Lock was built between 1718 and 1723 under the supervision of the engineer John Hore of Newbury. The canal is administered by British Waterways...
and Crofton Locks
Crofton Locks
Crofton Locks are a flight of locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal, near the village of Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire, England.The nine locks achieve a total rise/fall of 61 ft 0 in and were built under the supervision of engineer John Rennie...
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, England.
This is the only tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
on the canal and it is 502 yards (459 m) long. It is named after Thomas Brudenell-Bruce, 1st Earl of Ailesbury
Thomas Brudenell-Bruce, 1st Earl of Ailesbury
Thomas Brudenell-Bruce, 1st Earl of Ailesbury KT . The son of George Brudenell, 3rd Earl of Cardigan and Hon. Elizabeth Bruce, he succeeded his uncle as 2nd Baron Bruce of Tottenham on the latter's death on 10 February 1747. He changed his name Brudenell by Royal license to Brudenell-Bruce...
(1729–1814), the local landowner, who, when the canal was being built, would not allow a deep cutting through his land, and insisted on a tunnel instead.
At the eastern end of the tunnel is a plaque commemorating its construction:
| 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 |
The tunnel has red brick portals, capped with Bath Stone
Bath Stone
Bath Stone is an Oolitic Limestone comprising granular fragments of calcium carbonate. Originally obtained from the Combe Down and Bathampton Down Mines under Combe Down, Somerset, England, its warm, honey colouring gives the World Heritage City of Bath, England its distinctive appearance...
, each with a decorative stone plaque of Bristol Pennant Limestone. The tunnel was begun 1806, finished 1809. It is lined with English bond brickwork
Brickwork
Brickwork is masonry produced by a bricklayer, using bricks and mortar to build up brick structures such as walls. Brickwork is also used to finish corners, door, and window openings, etc...
and has a wide bore to cope with the 'Newbury Barges' used on this canal.
There is no towpath through the tunnel, and walkers and cyclists must walk across the top of the hill. When canal boats were still pulled by horses, the boatmen had to haul boats through the tunnel by hand, pulling on chains that ran along the inside walls.
Above the tunnel is the Savernake Forest
Savernake Forest
Savernake Forest is on a Cretaceous chalk plateau between Marlborough and Great Bedwyn in Wiltshire, England. Its area is approximately .It is privately owned by the Trustees of Savernake Estate, the Earl of Cardigan, and his family solicitor. Since 1939 the running of the forest has been...
which is open to the public with footpaths, drives and picnic sites, therefore it is also sometimes known as the Savernake Tunnel.