SECTION 23

STUDLEY GRANGE LENGTH
CHADDINGTON LANE BRIDGE TO HAY LANE CROSSING

STATUS
Most of this site is available for restoration.
An engineering study to determine how restoration can be achieved without affecting the adjacent landfill site has now been completed, but further work will be necessary before restoration can start.(May 2007) This will not include the extreme eastern end of the site.


Length: 1.75 km/1.09M
O.S. Reference: 095815 to 109821.
Water Level height A.O.D.:99.1m. (Surveyed level)
 

Features:

DESCRIPTION

The section forms part of the original Summit Level of the Canal.

The canal emerges from the infilled Chaddington Lane Bridge.
If you look closely, you can just make out the original stonework of the training wall to the left of the concrete wall in the picture.
It is planned (probably)to replace the road crossing with a flat-topped bridge which will be built in the space in the foreground of this picture.
 
Picture taken November 2001
Chaddington Lane Bridge 28.8kB

 
A little way in, the towpath has been cut through to a great depth, to drain the section via a culvert under the road south of the bridge.
Canal 22.8kB
 The majority of this length forms part of the Biffa landfill site. The landfill is adjacent to the Canal is now complete and capped, and restoration of the Canal here is now possible.
This is a newly completed length, near the western end.
 
Photo taken October 2003
One of the streams that flows in from the south side, which was originally one of the principal water supplies for the Canal.
(on the right of the picture)  
Photo taken October 2003
Stream enters 22.8kB

 
Bridge site 22.8kB

 
 At the eastern end of the Biffa site, there is a bund across tha Canal to allow access for machinery to maintain the grass on the completed site.
A farm access type bridge will have to be provided here; the tractor is just moving on to the bridge site in this picture.
The next short length forms part of the Jardinerie garden centre complex. Negotiations are in hand for its restoration.
The eastern end, about 100 yards in the grounds of Hay Lane Wharf House, has been infilled. The Canal was in a fairly deep cutting at this point.

Hay Lane Bridge

Hay Lane Bridge has been lowered and infilled. However the level of the road is such that it should be possible to install a bridge with minimal change to the road level.
It is not known what services are present in the road.

RIGHT OF WAY

There is no right of way along the towpath.
The O.S. map shows two public footpaths which touch the Canal at M.R. 104817; however as far as we know these have been closed or re-routed for the duration of the landfill process.

WATER SUPPLIES

Two streams enter from the south, and there is a drainage ditch at each field boundary on the north side which flow during wet weather.

HOSTELRIES

None within easy reach.

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Updated: 23.11.2007