Information for record number MWA4401:
The Arbury Private Canals, Arbury Park

Summary The Arbury private canals at Arbury Park, which were constructed during the Post Medieval period.
What Is It?  
Type: Canal
Period: Unknown
Where Is It?  
Parish: Nuneaton and Bedworth
District: Nuneaton and Bedworth, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 32 90
(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 Sir Roger Newdigate built the Arbury Canals, about 5.5 miles in all, between 1764 and 1795, although he incorporated a number of boatways which had existed before 1711. The system consisted of (1) the Coventry Communication Canal, which ran from the Coventry Canal to the worsted factory for 1078 yards, and was completed in 1773; (2) Arbury Lower Level, finished in 1794 - with 6 locks to the E, 1 lock to the W, which ran for 1540 yards; (3) Coventry Wood Canal, used in 1771, locks at either end and completed in 1772, which ran for 528 yards; (4) Arbury High Level, a garden lock built in 1773 though the Canal is much earlier. 3 locks to Hall Pool. Probably completed in 1775 it ran for 2505 yards; (5) Coton Lawn Canal, opened in 1795 which ran for 2112 yards; (6) Seeswood Canal, originally a feeder from Seeswood Lake, made navigable in 1777, lock built in 1784, ran for 1980 yards. The function of the Canals was mainly to carry coal, but they were also used as a means of communication, for goods and pleasure craft around the estate. The system had 13 locks which lifted it 93'6" from the Coventry Canal to Seeswood Pool; each was 40' X 6'. The single lock at the top of the Arbury High level was known as the triple because it was Y-shaped, having 2 sets of top gates (SP 332 896). Most of the engineering was undertaken by William Bean, and John Morris, the estate mason and bricklayer.
2 Plan.
 
Sources
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: The Canals of the East Midlands
Author/originator: Hadfield C
Date:
Page Number: 26-29
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Plan
Title: SMR Card
Author/originator: Kilburn C
Date: 1984
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: PRN 4401
   
Images:  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
source SMR Card Sites and Monuments Record Card. The Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record began to be developed during the 1970s. The details of individual archaeological sites and findspots were written on record cards. These record cards were used until the 1990s, when their details were entered on to a computerised system. The record cards are still kept at the office of the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
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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monument YARD * A paved area, generally found at the back of a house. back
monument POOL * A small body of water, either natural or artificial. 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 LAKE * A large body of water surrounded by land. back
monument CANAL * An artificial navigable waterway used for the transportation of goods. Nowadays also used for recreational purposes. back
monument PARK * An enclosed piece of land, generally large in area, used for hunting, the cultivation of trees, for grazing sheep and cattle or visual enjoyment. Use more specific type where known. back
monument WOOD * A tract of land with trees, sometimes acting as a boundary or barrier, usually smaller and less wild than a forest. back
monument GARDEN * An enclosed piece of ground devoted to the cultivation of flowers, fruit or vegetables and/or recreational purposes. Use more specific type where known. back
monument FACTORY * A building or complex, housing powered machinery and employing a large workforce for manufacturing purposes. Use specific monument type where known. 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 LAWN * A flat, and usually level area of mown and cultivated grass, attached to a house. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record