History of the Oakham Canal

The Oakham Canal opened in 1802, and enjoyed a reasonably prosperous life for 45 years. Its main failing was a lack of water - there were no reservoirs, nor an adequate summit level. As a result, the canal was often unnavigable in the summer.

When the railways came to town, the Oakham Canal shareholders realised their enterprise was doomed. They resolved to sell out to the railway company, and the canal closed shortly afterwards. Part of it was reused for the route of the Leicester to Peterborough railway, which is busy even today. So you can still travel the Oakham Canal - but only by train!