Saturday, January 29, 2011

Oxford to Market Harborough by canal in 1950



The person who posted this priceless video on Youtube speculates that this journey was made to reach the National Festival and Rally of Boats held at Market Harborough held at 1950. That must surely be right: I can't imagine why else the canal basin here would be so full of boats in this era.

Enjoy colour footage of the old railway swing bridge over the canal at Oxford and then the canal through city, with the campanile of St Barnabas easily recognisable. Then it is on to some some broad locks that must be on the Grand Union somewhere around Braunston, though I don't recognise the precise locations. This part of the film is then repeated.

After that it is on to Watford locks, Foxton locks and the canal basin here in Market Harborough.

Wonderful.

6 comments:

dreamingspire said...

Amazing! Although I know the Thames well, I never knew about the canal. Thanks for that, and a very belated thanks for the Jericho post.

iain said...

Thanks for the video. The 'Disgruntled Radical' and I plan to do the Foxton locks in April

Jonathan Calder said...

Indeed. There are plans for me to meet you at Market Harborough basin.

iain said...

That would be great-but you might consider coming and help us through the Foxton locks..................

Jonathan Calder said...

There's nothing to them. I worked all the locks for a boat when I was 14.

Still, if you need help...

dreamingspire said...

I remember not having to work the locks on a holiday round the Warwickshire ring (~100 miles, ~100 locks - and we took a detour through Brum as well - did the trip in a week). Not having to do the lock gates because I was one of only 2 who were able and willing to handle a 70 ft hotel-style boat.