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Braunston Tunnel facts for kids

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Braunston Tunnel
Eastern portal of the tunnel
Overview
Location Daventry, Northamptonshire, England
Coordinates 52°16′58″N 1°10′21″W / 52.282915°N 1.172447°W / 52.282915; -1.172447
Status Open
Waterway Grand Union Canal
Start 52°17′04″N 1°11′05″W / 52.284569°N 1.184721°W / 52.284569; -1.184721
End 52°16′53″N 1°09′28″W / 52.281272°N 1.157869°W / 52.281272; -1.157869
Operation
Owner Canal & River Trust
Technical
Design engineer William Jessop
Length 2,042 yards (1,867.2 m)
Tunnel clearance 3.76 metres (12.3 ft)
Width 4.8 metres (15.7 ft)
Towpath No
Boat-passable Yes

Braunston Tunnel is on the Grand Union Canal about 830 yds (760 m) east of Braunston, Northamptonshire, England top lock. It is in the northern outskirts of Daventry, about 2 km east of the village of Braunston.

Braunston Tunnel is 2,042 yards (1,867 m) in length. Built by Jessop and Barnes, the tunnel has no towpath and is 4.8m wide by 3.76m high.

It was opened in 1796. Its construction was delayed by soil movement and it was probably the resulting movement that led to the tunnel having a slight 'S' bend. There is room for two 7 ft (2.13 m) beam boats to pass. There are three air shafts along its length.

The tunnel passes underground alongside another Grand Union Canal feature, Drayton Reservoir, from which the feeder enters the canal at the east end of the tunnel.

Features

Braunston Tunnel Air Shaft
View of the 2nd air shaft from inside Braunston Tunnel
Point Coordinates
(Links to map resources)
OS Grid Ref Notes
Western portal 52°17′04″N 1°11′05″W / 52.284569°N 1.184721°W / 52.284569; -1.184721 (Western portal) SP557654
Mid point 52°16′58″N 1°10′21″W / 52.282915°N 1.172447°W / 52.282915; -1.172447 (Mid point)
Eastern portal 52°16′53″N 1°09′28″W / 52.281272°N 1.157869°W / 52.281272; -1.157869 (Eastern portal) SP576652
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