The canal at Braunston is where the Grand Union Canal and Oxford Canal canals meet. This busy, but splendid rural setting has lots of amenities available at Braunston Marina and at the pretty village of Braunston, two minutes away on the hill above the junction.
The Stop House is home to our welcome station at Braunston - a place to stop for a chat with our friendly volunteers and pick up some information about the local area.
Where does the water come from?
The section of the Grand Union Canal at the top of Braunston Locks is called the 'Braunston Summit' and feeds the lock flights at both ends, Braunston and Long Buckby. In this busy waterway the water comes mainly from Drayton and Daventry Reservoirs, supplemented by pumping from adjacent sections. A small amount also comes from feeders O ( diverted streams) and surface water discharge.
A small amount of water may come via lockage at Watford Locks, from the reservoirs on the Leicester Summit. Water is moved into this section of the canal by 'back pumps' which pump water up from the bottom to the top of the lock flights. This water may come from the River Tove Pumps near Cosgrove, or Napton Reservoir, or the River Swift via the North Oxford Canal near Rugby.
Pumping water is expensive so using water from Reservoirs and feeders is prioritised.
Long Buckby Locks
The section of the Grand Union Canal at the top of Long Buckby Locks is called the 'Braunston Summit' and feeds the lock flights at both ends, Long Buckby and Braunston. In this busy waterway the water comes mainly from Drayton and Daventry Reservoirs, supplemented by pumping from adjacent sections. A small amount also comes from feeders (diverted streams) and surface water discharge.
