Whilton Locks - Location

Location

The locks are numbered from 7 at the top of the flight to 13 at the bottom. To the south of the flight is a long level pound, which stretches 14.6 miles (23.5 km) to the Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum and the top of the Stoke Bruerne flight of seven locks. Towards the southern end of this section is Blisworth Tunnel and Gayton Junction, where the Northampton Branch turns off to join the River Nene at Northampton. Just below the junction, the railway line from London to Rugby crosses the canal and then runs parallel to it. About 1 mile (1.6 km) below Whilton Locks, the M1 motorway approaches, and runs along the east bank, so that the bottom four locks are sandwiched between the railway and the motorway. The railway then crosses to the east bank, and the canal diverges to the west. Just before the final lock, the canal passes under Watling Street, once a Roman road and now part of the A5 road. The Leicester section of the Grand Union Canal then turns off at Norton Junction, and the canal continues on the level, passing through Braunston Tunnel to reach the top lock of the six that descend to Braunston, 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from the top of the Whilton flight.

The canal is 377 feet (115 m) above sea level at the top of the flight, and the locks drop the level by 63 feet (19 m) to 314 feet (96 m). Whilton Marina is located close to the bottom lock. It was set up in 1971 in a field beside the canal, and now has 200 private moorings, while another 50 are occupied by boats which are for sale. The marina offers a full range of services. Between locks 7 and 8 there is an early nineteenth century bridge, resting on stone supports. The piers and parapets are made of brick, and the structure is grade II listed. Beside lock 9 is a cast iron milepost, dating from the same period, indicating that it is 5 miles (8 km) to Braunston, which is also listed.