Glastonbury Canal

Glastonbury Canal
A bridge over the Cripps River, formerly part of the Glastonbury Canal
Specifications
Maximum boat length	64 ft 0 in (19.51 m)
Maximum boat beam	18 ft 0 in (5.49 m)
Locks	2
Status	Part used for drainage
History
Original owner	Glastonbury Canal Company
Principal engineer	John Rennie
Date of act	1827
Date completed	1833
Date closed	1850
Geography
Start point	Glastonbury
End point	Highbridge

v t e Glastonbury Canal
Legend
River Parrett estuary Lower flood gates Highbridge Wharf Highbridge Lock A38 Road bridge Upper flood gates Exeter - Bristol Railway M5 motorway B3141 Bason Bridge River Huntspill Old course of R Brue Cripps River bridge Cripps River River Brue South Drain Edington Road bridge The Nydon bridge South Drain Shapwick Lock Shapwick Road bridge Ashcott Road bridge South Drain aqueduct River Brue aqueduct and syphon Glastonbury wharf

The Glastonbury Canal ran for approximately 14 miles (23 km) through two locks from Glastonbury to Highbridge in Somerset, England, where it entered the River Parrett and from there the Bristol Channel. The canal was authorised by Parliament in 1827 and opened in 1834.^[1] It was operated by The Glastonbury Navigation & Canal Company.^[2] Most of it was abandoned as a navigation in 1854, when a railway was built along the towpath.

An earlier canal had been built in the Middle Ages to supply Glastonbury Abbey and the town with stone and produce. In the early 19th century a new canal was proposed to improve commerce in Glastonbury and help with drainage of the surrounding area of the Somerset Levels. Several alternative routes were considered and costed before obtaining an Act of Parliament and issuing a prospectus to raise funds for the building of the canal. Construction commenced in the 1820s; however it was more expensive than envisaged and further funds had to be raised. It finally opened in 1833 but was only prosperous for a short period. The shortfall in income and engineering problems with water supply and waterlogged peat causing the clay puddling to fracture meant that it was sold to the Bristol and Exeter Railway. They used the canal to transport materials for the construction of the new Somerset Central Railway which opened in 1854.