SECTION 35

UFFINGTON

UFFINGTON BRIDGE TO UFFINGTON ARCH BRIDGE

(WHARF FARM TO BAULKING ROAD)

STATUS
We have not yet attempted to obtain permission to work on this section.

Length: 1.81km/1.125M
O.S. Reference: 300897 to 312896
Water Level height A.O.D.:84.038m (by calculation) Seven Mile Pound Level
Features:
  • Woolstone Brook Aqueduct 302898
  • Munday's Lift Bridge
  • Thatcher's Lift Bridge
  • Uffington Arch Bridge
Map

DESCRIPTION

What Jack Dalby said in 1985
"Over the road the dry bed is on an embankment; the aqueduct over Woolstone Brook at 302898 is punctured.
Further on, passing the site of two lift bridges, Munday's and Thatcher's, the Canal enters a deep cutting with large spoil heaps nearby. The canal approach to Uffington Arch Bridge site (313897) has been filled."

I have not personally explored this section yet.

Uffington Bridge Panorama
 

This is a view of the site of Uffington Bridge.

The Canal was on an embankment, as can be seen at the left hand side of the picture, so the bridge must have had a huge rise, or else it was a lift bridge.
It is a fairly busy road, so I can't imagine that the authorities would sanction a lift bridge these days, even if we wanted to build one.
To the left of the road, Wharf Farm Bungalow and its adjacent garage (the creamy coloured building in the picture) have been built on the Canal itself, so my guess is that we would consider diverting the Canal to the north (this side of the buildings).

RESTORATION

On the face of it, this looks a good candidate for early restoration.
The bed appears (from the map, anyway) to be complete, and being out in the country, it is unlikely that there are any significant services crossing it.
There has been some tipping on the approach to Uffington Arch Bridge.

RIGHT OF WAY

The O.S. map shows a public footpath which doglegs across the Canal, going along the towpath for 75 metres, between about 307902 and 308902. From 308902 to 312900, the edge of Sheet 1135 (Pathfinder Series) a footpath is indicated along the towpath; but on the next sheet (Pathfinder 1154) the symbol changes to a row of little 'u's, which I cannot interpret. Must visit the site soon.

WATER SUPPLIES

None apparent on the map.

HOSTELRIES

It's not a long way to walk from Uffington Bridge into Uffington.

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Updated: 1.2.05