Information for record number MWA4340:
The Upper Avon Navigation

Summary The Upper Avon Navigation, being the intermittent adaptation from the Post Medieval to the Modern periods, of the River Avon, to make it navigable between Stratford on Avon, Evesham and Tewksbury.
What Is It?  
Type: River Navigation
Period: Post-medieval - Modern (1540 AD - 2050 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Salford Priors
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 14 52
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

1 In 1636 Wm. Sandys got from Stratford Corporation to make the River Avon navigable. His work resulted in 43.5 miles of water from Stratford to Tewkesbury being passable. It is not really certain what he did - possibly the gates and locks which existed until 1820-30 in the upper Avon were his work. Harington says he made sluices in Bidford and Welford, so presumably he improved on the mill water courded there, however these would probably predate the large locks to be found later in these positions. By 1664 the Avon had come via a series of transactions eventually to a syndicate wishing to further improve the navigation. Hadfied guesses their work was to build 30 ton locks at Grange, Welford, Luddington, Stratford, and Luddington Weir. The engineer was probably Yarraton. After 1664 40 ton barges could apparently navigate the Avon. there was no horse-towpath, so power was wind or human derived. In 1813 Wm James bought the Upper Avon probably considering his interests in the Stratford Canal, and postulating a junction between the two. The junction was authorised in 1815 and opened in 1816 (See WA 4339). After the junction was opened trace was hampered by the nature of the Avon, in 1822 the stretch was closed for six months and £60 000 was spent on repairs to the locks. Increased tolls past Stratford, and competion from The Worcester and Birmingham Canal meant trade was poor. A syndicate bought James' share in 1825. Further improvements had been carried out between 1823-5 when the chanel was deepened and Lucy's lock (WA 4341) doubled. In1827 new secondary locks were built at Welford amd Luddington. In 1843 the Stratford Canal Company took the lease but losses were such that it relinquished it in 1847. By 1857 the owners had virtually abandoned the river and could get no one to buy it. In 1859 the OWWR bought the Avon, having previously bought the Canal. By 1875 it announced that the river was to be abandoned and thereafter it fell into ruin. The renovation of the Stratford Canal prompted the renovation of the navigation along the Avon and in 1974 it became navigable to Evesham as part of the Avon ring. Six locks were rebuilt or built in totally different positions to the old ones, and often the old overflow Weirs were removed. The locks were built by a team of volunteers, prisoners and servicemen.
 
Sources
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Waterways to Stratford
Author/originator: Hadfield C & Norris J
Date: 1984
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
source WM Warwickshire Museum Aerial Photograph Collection. A collection of oblique and vertical aerial photographs and taken by various organisations and individuals, including the Royal Airforce, The Potato Board, Warwickshire Museum. The collection is held at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
period Modern The Modern Period, about 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
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period Medieval 1066 AD to 1539 AD (the 11th century AD to the 16th century AD)

The medieval period comes after the Saxon period and before the post medieval period.

The Medieval period begins in 1066 AD.
This was the year that the Normans, led by William the Conqueror (1066 – 1087), invaded England and defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in East Sussex.
The Medieval period includes the first half of the Tudor period (1485 – 1603 AD), when the Tudor family reigned in England and eventually in Scotland too.

The end of the Medieval period is marked by Henry VIII’s (1509 – 1547) order for the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the years running up to 1539 AD. The whole of this period is sometimes called the Middle Ages.
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period Post Medieval About 1540 AD to 1750 AD (the 16th century AD to the 18th century AD)

The Post Medieval period comes after the medieval period and before the Imperial period.

This period covers the second half of the reign of the Tudors (1485 – 1603), the reign of the Stuarts (1603 – 1702) and the beginning of the reign of the Hannoverians (1714 – 1836).
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period modern About 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
more -> 		back
monument GRANGE * An outlying farm or estate, usually belonging to a religious order or feudal lord. Specifically related to core buildings and structures associated with monastic land holding. Use specific term where known. back
monument WEIR * A dam constructed on the reaches of a canal or river designed to retain the water and to regulate its flow. back
monument LOCK * A section of the water channel on a canal or river shut off above and below by lock gates provided with sluices to let the water out and in, and thus raise or lower boats from one level to another. Use more specific type where known. back
monument CANAL * An artificial navigable waterway used for the transportation of goods. Nowadays also used for recreational purposes. back
monument MILL * A factory used for processing raw materials. Use more specific mill type where known. See also TEXTILE MILL, for more narrow terms. back
monument SLUICE * A dam which can be raised or lowered to regulate the flow of water. back
monument GATE * A movable stucture which enables or prevents entrance to be gained. Usually situated in a wall or similar barrier and supported by gate posts. back
monument RIVER NAVIGATION * A river canalized for shipping. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record