Bruce Tunnel

The Bruce Tunnel is on the summit pound of the Kennet and Avon Canal between Wootton Top Lock and Crofton Locks in Wiltshire, England.

Bruce Tunnel
Bruce Tunnel - Eastern Portal (as seen in 1992)
Overview
LocationWiltshire, England
Coordinates51.3677°N 1.6627°W / 51.3677; -1.6627
OS grid referenceSU23586323
StatusOpen
WaterwayKennet and Avon Canal
Operation
Constructed1806-1809
OwnerCanal & River Trust
Technical
Length502 yards (459 m)
TowpathNo

The tunnel is 502 yards (459 m) long.[1] It is named after Thomas Brudenell-Bruce, 1st Earl of Ailesbury (1729–1814), the local landowner, who, when the canal was being built, would not allow a deep cutting through his land, and insisted on a tunnel instead.[2]

At the eastern end of the tunnel is a plaque commemorating its construction:

The Kennet and Avon Canal Company
Inscribe this TUNNEL with the Name of
BRUCE
In Testimony of the Gratitude
for the uniform and effectual Support of
The Right honourable THOMAS BRUCE EARL of AILESBURY
and CHARLES LORD BRUCE his Son
through the whole Progress of this great National Work
by which a direct communication by Water was opened
between the Cities of LONDON and BRISTOL
ANNO DOMINI 1810

The tunnel has red brick portals, capped with Bath stone, each with a decorative plaque of Pennant stone. Construction was begun in 1806 and finished in 1809. It is lined with English bond brickwork and has a wide bore to cope with the 'Newbury Barges' used on this canal.[3]

There is no towpath through the tunnel, so walkers and cyclists must walk across the top of the hill. When canal boats were still pulled by horses, the boatmen had to haul boats through the tunnel by hand, pulling on chains that ran along the inside walls.

The tunnel is about 1.3 miles (2 km) north of Burbage village. To the north lies the Savernake Forest which is open to the public with footpaths, drives and picnic sites, hence the tunnel is also sometimes known as the Savernake Tunnel.

The main Paddington to Penzance 'Berks and Hants' railway line crosses the tunnel diagonally; both portals can be seen (from different points along the railway) from the windows of passing trains with the canal running close to the railway at each end.

See also
  • Locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal

References
  1. Allsop, Niall (1987). The Kennet & Avon Canal. Bath: Millstream Book. ISBN 0-948975-15-6.
  2. "History & Museum". Kennet and Avon Canal Trust. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
  3. "Bruce Tunnel". Kennet and Avon Canal. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2006.
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