History of the Coventry Canal

The Coventry Canal was constructed to connect the rapidly expanding city of Coventry with the Trent & Mersey Canal. This way, its promoters hoped to exploit the potential of the Warwickshire coalfields, shipping fuel both to north (via the Trent & Mersey) and south (via the Oxford Canal).

Its construction period dragged on for over 20 years before the whole line eventually opened in 1790. Nonetheless, it was a profitable venture that still paid a dividend right up to 1947, the year before the canals were taken under the Government's wing.

The section of the Coventry Canal between Fazeley Junction and Fradley Junction proved particularly problematical. The Birmingham & Fazeley Canal had reached Fazeley in 1789, where it joined the Coventry. But although the line between Fazeley and Whittington is nowadays referred to as the Coventry Canal, it was actually constructed by (amongst others) the Birmingham & Fazeley Company, who were frustrated at the lack of progress being made by the Coventry Canal Company. The two canals eventually met at Whittington in 1790, leaving an apparently isolated stretch of Coventry Canal between Whittington Brook and Fradley.

The last commercial traffic along the canal ceased soon after World War II, but has now been replaced by increasing volumes of pleasure boats. The line terminates a short walk from the cathedral at a basin that has itself undergone much improvement in recent years.

For about a mile south of Hawkesbury Junction, the old route of the Oxford Canal can be seen running parallel. This was the ludicrous result of a disagreement between the rival companies, which was only resolved when the connection was cut at Hawkesbury. The resulting sharp turn from one canal into the other can present something of a challenge to navigators of larger craft.

The present junction is also known as Sutton Stop, after the family of the same name who once lived in the attendant cottage. Anyone with even the slightest interest in canal history should seek out A Canal People by Sonia Rolt (Sutton Publishing), an astonishing collection of evocative black-and-white photographs from the dying days of canal carrying. Photographer Robert Longden spent many years capturing the action around Sutton Stop, and this book is the unforgettable result.

At Huddlesford Junction, near Lichfield, the Coventry Canal is joined by the Lichfield Canal. This derelict waterway, constructed as part of the Wyrley & Essington Canal, once provided a direct route to northern Birmingham and its dense network of navigations. Restoration is well underway, including a spectacular aqueduct over the M6 Toll motorway.