Grand Junction Canal

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The Grand Junction Canal is a canal in England that runs from Braunston in Northamptonshire to the River Thames at Brentford, with several branches. It was built between 1793 and 1805 to provide a direct, cheaper route from the Midlands to London, shortening the trip by about 60 miles compared with going via the upper Thames near Oxford. Today the canal is mainly used for leisure boating, and it forms the southern half of the Grand Union Main Line from London to Birmingham.

What it covers and how it grew
- Main route: The central canal from Braunston to the Thames at Brentford was planned to connect the Oxford Canal with London, bypassing difficult river sections.
- Construction milestones: The act in 1793 authorized the project and funding. Construction started at both ends, facing early problems at Blisworth Tunnel, which later required a new line. The canal opened in stages from 1796 to 1800, and an improved crossing over the Great Ouse was completed in 1811.
- Notable works: One famous feature along the route is Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s Three Bridges at Three Bridges, London, built around 1856–1859, which lets the Grand Junction Canal, the Great Western Railway, and the Brentford Railway cross at once.

Branches and water supply
- Early branches (authorized 1793): To Daventry and the River Nene near Northampton; to Old Stratford; and to Watford. The Daventry and Watford branches were not built as originally planned.
- Other branches (authorized 1794): A route to Aylesbury, Buckingham, and Wendover. The Wendover Arm (to the summit at Tring) opened in 1799; the Buckingham branch opened in 1801 but later fell out of use.
- Paddington branch (authorized 1795): A 13.5-mile route from Bull’s Bridge near Hayes to Paddington, completed in 1801 and becoming a major trade route.
- Water supply: The Grand Junction Waterworks Company was created in 1811 to supply London with drinking water from local rivers and reservoirs; it eventually sourced water from the River Thames.

Railways and decline
- Railway challenge: From the 1830s, railways began to compete with canals. The London and Birmingham Railway opened in 1838, and tolls on the canal were lowered to compete.
- Shifting use: The canal carried significant freight in the early 1800s, but by the late 19th century competition and costs reduced profits. The canal experimented with steam-powered boats in the 1860s, but carrying goods largely ended by 1876.

Consolidation and the Grand Union
- Mergers: In 1894, the Grand Junction Canal and related waterways were reorganized under the Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Union and Grand Union Canals (Transfer) Act. In 1927 the Regent’s Canal Company bought the Grand Junction Canal.
- Grand Union era: From 1 January 1929, the Grand Junction Canal became part of the Grand Union Canal, joining London to Birmingham traffic with other cannal networks.

Current use
- Today the Grand Junction Canal is mainly used for leisure boating, with some sections remaining important for water supply and historic transport.