DUNNINGTON

• Culvert 058815
• Thunder Brook or Dunnington Aqueduct 062815
• Dunnington Bottom Lock 064815
• Track crossing on infill (Trickles Bridge) 065815
• Dunnington Top Lock 067815
• Gardens and carpark on track
• Footpath crosses 068815
• Marlborough Road Bridge 070815

DESCRIPTION

The bed is infilled for around 200 yds. from Breach Lane; it was originally in a cutting, rising to become an embankment as the ground falls away to Brinkworth Brook valley. A culvert, in excellent condition, pierces the embankment at one point.   Picture taken 25.11.2004

A little further on the land falls away and the Canal embankment is penetrated by a culvert - one of the best on the Canal, which only flows during very wet weather.
The pictures show the southern (uphill) end and a view of the interior.
Note the construction, a shallow curved base with a semicircular arch sitting on it.

Pictures taken 25.11.2004
 

	Just beyond the culvert, when the land has risen again, there is a farm crossing that may once have been a bridge, but there is very little masonry evident.   Pictures taken 25.11.2004
Dunnington Aqueduct Crossing Brinkworth Brook. The south portal was repaired in two stages, in 1996 and 1997; the arch, which was in remarkably good condition, was repaired internally at the same time. The north portal has not deteriorated to the extent that the southern one had, but is overgrown and in need of repair. Most of the embanked length, including the aqueduct, is covered with tree growth, with very little undergrowth. Picture taken 25.11.2004
	Dunnington Bottom Lock On the far side of Brinkworth Brook valley, the embankment runs into a shallow cutting and then into Dunnington Bottom Lock. The brickwork of the lock has been removed down to a height of 2' to 2'6" above the invert, though what remains is in good condition. Excavation of the chamber was started by a team of Royal Engineers from the Territorial Army, and completed by contractors.
Trickles Bridge Now carries a farm crossing.   Picture taken 25.11.2004

The towpath hedge is complete along this section.

The line continues, filled but uncultivated, to the end of the gardens of Dunnington Road. Here there are some traces; a depression at the end of the gardens, even a pond here and there.

Dunnington Top Lock can be discerned by standing well back from the Canal line; Nadia is standing at the head of the lock. It is completely infilled and covered in scrub.
Dunnington Bridge In late 2001, a small work party cleared the area around the west side of Dunnington Bridge, and unearthed some of the remains. The photo shows the south western spandrel and part of the arch. The spandrel has clearly rotated, as has been observed on other original bridges.

On the east side of the bridge, on the north side of the canal, was Dunnington Wharf. Evidence for this is the width of the Canal along here, and the towpath-like surface I turned up in my garden just below soil level.

In the easternmost garden, 61, Marlborough Road, the Canal appears to be virtually intact and in water, heavily overgrown with reeds, and extends in this condition behind No. 68, Dunnington Road.

Beyond the gardens the Canal crosses a tarmac carpark before encountering Marlborough Road.
A sewer runs across this strip which will have to be re-routed.
A new building, the Post Office Sorting Office, was erected south of the Canal line in 1999. It comes very close to the line of the Canal; our negotiations were successful to the extent that there should be room for a minimum width channel between this and the adjoining carpark, though we will need to use a strip of the carpark at the western side.

Marlborough Road Bridge.
No traces are visible.
The bridge will have to be re-located immediately to the south of the former position. There appears to be sufficient headroom, just; but there are numerous services in the road which will make building difficult.

NOTE ON LEVELS  Survey levels from the Oxford Polytechnic on Trickles Bridge roadway go from 93.438 to 93.668 metres. Estimated water level under the bridge would be 91.61 metres, about 2 metres below. Hence the road would have to have a rise of 100mm + the road thickness. Marlborough Road: Heights in line with N boundary of Council Yard 96.468/96.438. Compared with WL of 94.27 metres, gives a clearance of 2.1 metres + road thickness of .13 metres(5"). Hence only a very small rise would be necessary.

RESTORATION

West of Dunnington Road, this section is scheduled for complete development as a large housing estate of 1,200 to 1,500 houses. Permission for limited restoration has been given prior to the development.

76, Dunnington Road worksite  Exploratory excavation has started. The bottom has not yet been reached.

RIGHT OF WAY

There is no legal right of way over this section of the Canal.

WATER SUPPLIES

There are no water supplies on this section.

HOSTELRIES

Nearest is the Beaufort Arms, just north of Marlborough Road Bridge, over Brunel's railway bridge, which has wide-screen TV etc.
Further up the road is the Town Local, which serves food and beer at excellent prices during Happy Hour and is recommended at other times too.
The more energetic boater who walks further up the road will be rewarded by a wide choice of hostelries.