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HER Number: | MSH3885 |
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Type of Record: | Monument |
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Name: | Itchen Navigation (part within Southampton city boundary) |
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Grid Reference: | SU 4465 1544 |
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Map: | Show location on Streetmap |
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Summary
The Itchen Navigation is a navigation canal in the Itchen valley between Woodmill, Southampton and Blackbridge Wharf, Winchester. It was initiated by Act of Parliament in 1665 and was virtually complete by 1710, although some features along its length may have been built later. Most of the Navigation went out of use in 1869, however the part between Woodmill and Mansbridge remained in use for some time after, for barges going to West End Mill (now Gater’s Mill). Within the Southampton city boundary, the part of the Navigation between Woodmill and Mansbridge was formed by the River Itchen, the river being "improved" here to an unknown extent. Just north of Mansbridge, the Navigation was a new, artificial cut which lead off the river; this is now drained.
Parts of the canal lining were recorded during a watching brief between Mansbridge Lock and the M27 motorway in 1993/1994 (SOU 529).
Protected Status
- Conservation Area: Itchen Valley
Other References/Statuses
- HER backup file (new series): MSH3885 Digital files in general Sources folder
Monument Type(s):
- CANAL (Built, Post Medieval - 1665 AD to 1710 AD)
- RIVER NAVIGATION (Built, Post Medieval - 1665 AD to 1710 AD)
- CANAL (In use, Post Medieval - 1710 AD to 1869 AD)
- RIVER NAVIGATION (In use, Post Medieval - 1710 AD to 1869 AD)
Full description
[1] (also [18]): The Itchen Navigation
In 1617 a survey was undertaken preliminary to making the river navigable between Southampton and Winchester, although it seems that no works were carried out. In 1660 a petition was raised in Winchester. This lead to an Act of Parliament in 1665 which specified that the river should be “Made Navigable and Passable for Boats, Barges and other vessels” (other details in source). The Itchen Navigation was created as a result of this Act.
The Itchen Navigation extended from Woodmill, north of 17th century Southampton, to Blackbridge Wharf, Winchester. The powers of the Navigation extended downstream to Northam, in the tidal stretch of the river. A navigation is an improved river rather than a canal, and the Itchen Navigation is one of several such waterways.
The works to create the Navigation partly involved improving the existing river, and partly by improving irrigation channels, and partly by new cuts. The work was supposed to be complete by 1671 but work continued into the following century, being virtually complete by 1710. It incorporated several locks to maintain depth. At some stage a tow path was provided so that the barges could be towed by horse.
The main traffic was coal, but culm, corn, iron, stone and timber was also transported. Masted ships could not go far upstream due to bridges so cargo was transhipped onto barges at Northam and taken to Winchester. The amount of traffic was never great. It was greatest during the Napoleonic Wars when it formed part of the inland route from Southampton to London, but only 6 barges appear to have been in use then. Southampton took little interest in the running of the Navigation as traffic was generally upstream to Winchester. Another important function of the navigation was to irrigate and drain the adjoining water meadows by the use of hatches or sluices, and as such it was important in land improvement measures. The Navigation also had to allow for use of the Itchen by several watermills.
The proprietors of the Navigation were the landowners. Follow complaints of abuse of monopoly by the proprietors, a second Act was passed in 1767 to appoint a new Commission.
A third Act in 1795 gave powers to extend the Navigation to Northam; this would have facilitated through traffic to the proposed Salisbury and Southampton Canal (MSH2954). These powers were never used so no works remain.
Further Acts in 1802, 1811, 1820. A survey of the Navigation was carried out in 1808/9. A report was compiled on the Navigation in 1863 (by Clarke).
The London and Southampton Railway in 1839 provided competition to the Itchen Navigation, and eventually led to its demise. Most of the Navigation went out of use in 1869, however the part between Woodmill and Mansbridge remained in use for some time after, for barges going to the mill on the Itchen at West End (now Gater’s Mill).
After 1869, the Navigation continued to deteriorate and systematic maintenance wasn’t revived until Hampshire Catchment Board started work in 1942, restricted to drainage works. (In 1983 this was the Southern Water Authority.) Interest in restoration of the Navigation began in 1966, when the Ramblers Association instigated interest in the towpath. The Itchen Navigation Society was formed in 1976, for the restoration and conservation off the Navigation. The various Acts have not been repealed.
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For further historical details, see the web sites of the Southampton Canal Society (www.sotoncs.org.uk/itchen/itchen_ind.htm, [11]) and Itchen Navigation Project (www.itchennavigation.org.uk, [10]), particularly articles [13][14][15] on [10]. Much of this is derived from [1], although there is some new information, especially in the articles.
[12]: (Historical details section mainly derived from [1].) The works of the Itchen Navigation formed over a long period of time, and it is not possible to accurately date all the elements. The locks, including Mansbridge Lock, are all turf sided (unlike later canals) with either brick or stone work at either end housing gates. They had a timber or masonry “toe” to prevent undermining of sides.
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HISTORIC MAPS: Shown in part and in varying detail on maps [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][17], and on other maps. Other 18th century maps on the Old Hampshire Mapped web site (http://www.geog.port.ac.uk/webmap/hantsmap/hantsmap/) appear to show the navigation as the River Itchen.
[2]: 1759 map. Shows navigation (unnamed). It doesn't show a lock in the vicinity of Mansbridge Lock, although does show a path crossing the canal in approximately that location. The map does show a "Lock" some way to the north of this (perhaps Sandy Lock). (Could this mean that Mansbridge Lock did not exist at this date? HER)
[3]: 1791 map. Shows: navigation (unnamed); "Sea Lock" and bridge at Wood Mill; a "Lock" and bridge at the location of Mansbridge Lock; further Locks to the north; a track/road (the towpath) on the west bank (sic) of the navigation, from Woodmill to well beyond Mansbridge Lock.
[17]: 1810 map. Shows: navigation (unnamed); towpath - location as given in [1], although it is shown as a path north of Mansbridge, but as a small road/track between Woodmill and Mansbridge; a bridge at approximately the location of Mansbridge Lock, although the lock is not shown.
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The following parts of the Itchen Navigation lie within the Southampton city boundary, listed here from south to north:
- Northam Wharf (MSH4299), now buried under more recent reclamation.
- River Itchen between Northam and Woodmill (no child record). This stretch of the Itchen come under the Navigation powers, however no works were carried out here, as the river is tidal and naturally navigable [1].
- Woodmill sea lock (MSH374)
- Woodmill bridge (MSH4303).
- River Itchen between Woodmill to Mansbridge (MSH4302). The channel of the River Itchen was improved here [1]. There was a towpath (MSH4304) on the east side [1]. (However see child record.)
- Mansbridge (MSH399). This County bridge carried the main road over the Navigation although was not part of the Navigation [1].
- New cut between Mansbridge and Mansbridge Lock, and beyond (MSH4301). Just north of Mansbridge, a new cut was made for the Navigation, leading off from the River Itchen [1]. The cut survives although is now drained, overgrown and interrupted by the M27 motorway. Between Mansbridge and Mansbridge Lock the towpath (MSH4304) was on the west side.
- Mansbridge Lock (MSH1858). This survives.
- Former occupation bridge (MSH4300) at Mansbridge Lock. This carried the tow path across the Navigation [1].
- New cut north of Mansbridge Lock – a continuation of the new cut (MSH4301). The towpath (MSH4304) here was on east side [1].
See child records for further details of these features. The next lock - Sandy Lock and its occupation bridge – lie outside the city boundary. The Southampton HER does not contain records for the parts of the Navigation north of the city boundary.
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SOU 529 (survey and watching brief at Mansbridge Lock and Itchen Navigation in 1993 and 1994):
[19]: The work included a watching brief on clearance of the canal between Mansbridge Lock and the M27 motorway (so north of the lock).
- Near the M27, a layer of redeposited chalk in a loam matrix was found. This was almost certainly the “rammed crushed chalk lining” on the bottom of canal, and traced up the east bank and onto the towpath. The chalk must have been brought from the Winchester area. Above it were later deposits.
- About 30m south of the motorway, the chalk lining was found to be very soft. A small sondage was dug, and it was found to be 0.20m thick. Below the chalk was a very dark grey organic loam, probably natural alluvium.
(See Mansbridge Lock record for rest of work.)
ESH2016 (conservation assessment of the Itchen Navigation in 2005):
[12]: (Includes results of a field survey and proposals for preservation and maintenance of system.)
ESH2014 (Itchen Navigation Heritage Trail Project (started 2007, ongoing 2010):
[10]: 5 year conservation project on the Itchen Navigation. Photo gallery. (See www.itchennavigation.org.uk for full details.)
HER 1/9/2010: Photos of a walk along the canal on 27/6/10 are in HER photo archive (S:\HER_photos\Walkabout_Mansbridge_27.6.10\Itchen Navigation etc).
Sources / Further Reading
--- | SSH6090 - Unpublished document: RG Thomson. 1989. Itchen / Mansbridge Conservation Area: The Itchen Navigation / Mansbridge Water Works.. |
[1] | SSH1752 - Bibliographic reference: E Course. 1983. The Itchen Navigation.. |
[2] | SSH1795 - Map: Taylor. 1759. Southampton and District in 1759. Paper. ?. |
[3] | SSH1794 - Map: T Milne (surveyed). 1791. Southampton and District in 1791. Paper. ?. |
[4] | SSH811 - Map: J Doswell and Son (surveyed). 1800/1964. A Plan of the County of the Town of Southampton (1800) - 1964 Reprint. Paper. |
[5] | SSH1793 - Map: John Doswell and Son (surveyors); T Baker (publisher). 1802. A Plan of the New Roads from Southampton over Northam and Bursledon Bridges, including the Gentlemen's Seats, Roads, Highways &c of the Country Adjacent.. Paper. |
[6] | SSH1792 - Map: Ordnance Survey. 1806. Original Ordnance Survey Two Inch Survey of Southampton and District (1806).. Paper. 2" to 1 mile. |
[7] | SSH3733 - Map: C & J Greenwood and NL Kentish. 1825/1826. Map of the County of Southampton from an Actual Survey. |
[8] | SSH2741 - Map: Philip Brannon. c1862. A New Complete and Correct Map of Southampton and its Suburban Districts (etc).. |
[9] | SSH863 - Map: Ordnance Survey. 1866/1871. Southampton in 1866 / Map of Southampton published in 1871 (OS Sheet LXV). Paper. 1:10560. |
[10] | SSH3734 - Web site: Hants and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Checked 2010. Hants and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust - The Itchen Navigation Heritage Trail Project. |
[11] | SSH2619 - Web site: Southampton Canal Society. 2010. Southampton Canal Society web site - Itchen Navigation pages. |
[12] | SSH3738 - Unpublished document: Wessex Archaeology. 2005. Itchen Navigation Heritage Trail, Hampshire – Heritage Report for a Conservation Management Plan.. all |
[13] | SSH3739 - Unpublished document: T Gould. 2009. The secret story of Woodmill. |
[14] | SSH3740 - Unpublished document: T Gould. 2009/2010. The Itchen Navigation at work.. |
[15] | SSH3741 - Unpublished document: T Gould. 2009/2010. Mansbridge Lock.. |
[16] | SSH3742 - Unpublished document: T Gould. 2010. St Catherine’s Lock to the Winchester wharves.. |
[17] | SSH1797 - Map: Ordnance Survey. 1810. Original Ordnance Survey One Inch Map of southern Hampshire (published 1810).. Paper. 1" to 1 mile. |
[18] | SSH3744 - Article in serial: E Course. 1967. The Itchen Navigation.. PHFC&AS Vol XXIV (for 1967), 1969, 113-126. |
[19] | SSH3902 - Archaeological Report: JG Vincent. ?1993. Draft Interim Report on Watching Brief and Survey of Mansbridge Lock, Itchen Navigation.. SOU 529. |
[100] | SSH4486 - Article in serial: A Samuels. 2012. The Itchen Navigation: The Legal History.. Journal of the Southampton Local History Forum, No 20, Autumn 2012, pp19-21. |
[100] | SSH4848 - Article in serial: JC. 1957. Willowherb grows where once barges floated through Hampshire meadows. Southampton- Winchester Canal one of Britain's oldest.. Southern Daily Echo, 13 September 1957. |
Associated Finds: None recorded
Associated Events
- ESH2014 - Itchen Navigation Heritage Trail Project (started 2007, ongoing 2010) (Ref: /)
- ESH2016 - Conservation assessment (desk-based assessment) of the Itchen Navigation in 2005 (Ref: /)
- ESH529 - Survey and watching brief at the Itchen Navigation and Mansbridge Lock in 1993 and 1994 (Ref: SOU 529)
Related records
MSH4303 | Parent of: Former bridge at Woodmill |
MSH4300 | Parent of: Former canal occupation bridge at Mansbridge Lock |
MSH4304 | Parent of: Former Itchen Navigation towpath |
MSH1858 | Parent of: Former Mansbridge Lock |
MSH4299 | Parent of: Former Northam Wharf |
MSH374 | Parent of: Former sea lock at Woodmill (Wood Mill) |
MSH4301 | Parent of: New cut of the former Itchen Navigation |
MSH4302 | Parent of: River Itchen between Woodmill to a point just north of Mansbridge (part of Itchen Navigation) |
MSH4308 | Peer (Chronological): Early navigation of the River Itchen between Woodmill and Winchester |
MSH4312 | Peer (Functional Association): Watermeadows of River Itchen |
Associated Links
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