We came across the short section of tunnel and track below Court Lane while removing over-grown vegetation along the canalside. Only a few metres of track can be seen going into a concrete tunnel that is blocked underneath the road.
Our heritage advisors suspect the railway dates back to the 1930s and is linked to the activities of the former Iver Farm Brickworks which was sited nearby, probably taking bricks between the brickworks and the canal. They are now keen for anyone who knows more to get in touch.
Number of historical finds
Florence Salberter, Canal & River Trust heritage advisor, said: “We've had a number of historical finds along local canals recently, old boundary markers, even an unexploded World War II bomb, for example. The brickmaking industry was very important in this area, making the most of the transport opportunity the canals were offering. Where traces of that former industry remains, it is important to record it.
"Some of our staff who lived in the area even remember seeing the track here when they were younger, but it's only once we removed the vegetation that it became really visible again. Now we're determined to find out more about the track and tunnel, so we can piece together their history with the canal.”
To get in touch with the Florence email [email protected]
