Glastonbury Canal

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Glastonbury Canal
legend River Parrett Highbridge Sea Lock A38 Road bridge Exeter - Bristol Railway M5 Motorway B3141 Bason Bridge River Brue Cripps River Huntspill River South Drain Edington Road bridge The Nydon bridge Shapwick Lock Shapwick Road bridge Ashcott Road bridge Glastonbury wharf

The Glastonbury Canal ran just over 14 miles (22km) through two locks from Glastonbury to Highbridge where it entered the River Parrett and from there the Bristol Channel. The canal gained its Act of Parliament in 1827 and opened in 1834.^[1]

One of the key promoters was Richard Prat the town clerk of Glastonbury. The canal was built with wide locks in order to take the coasters that worked the Bristol Channel. By 1840 it was clear that the canal was a financial disaster.

With an exception of a short stretch at Highbridge the canal was abandoned in 1854. The Somerset Central Railway built its line along part of the route of the canal, on the towpath.^[2] This merged with the Dorset Central Railway to become the Somerset and Dorset Railway. The rest of the route was given to the Commissioners for Sewers,^[3] for use as a drainage ditch.

In 1936 this remaining section was abandoned as a canal. However, it was retained to provide a wharf for the railway company.^[2] The western section from Basson Bridge to Highbridge is now part of the River Brue, and the eastern section has been incorporated into the South Drain.^[3] The two ends are connected by the Cripps River and the Huntspill River, and small boats can still reach Glastonbury.^[3]

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