Canal Boating Article: New Junction
Visit New Junction from the following marina(s)
Length: 5.5 miles
Total Locks: 1
Tunnels: 0
Aqueducts: 2
Linked to: Stainforth and Keadby Canal, Aire and Calder Navigation
HISTORY
The New Junction Canal runs between the western end of the Stainforth and Keadby Canal and the Aire and Calder Navigation. It was one of the last canals to be built and was opened in 1905. It is a very wide canal and runs in a completely straight line for five and a half miles. There is still some commercial traffic, tankers from Goole carrying steel, on the canal but it is mostly used by leisure boaters. The New Junction Canal may be only just over five and half miles long but it does have an aqueduct at each end making it in a class of it's own.
THINGS OF INTEREST ON ROUTE
Kirk Bramwith is a located between the River Don Navigation and the New Junction Canal. The church tower was constructed in the late 13th and early 14th century and its single bell was made in York in 1350 and is believed to be the oldest bell in the Diocese of Sheffield. St Mary's Church is famed for the Snowdrop Festival which is held each year in the middle of February. The Festival attracts thousands of visitors to witness the spectacle of the churchyard being covered by a blanket of snowdrops.
Sykehouse is said to be the longest village in Yorkshire and the main street stretches for nearly 8 miles. The locks at Sykehouse have an unique control system although automated the control system is disabled until the manually operated swing bridge over the top of it has been opened. So, you have to open the swing bridge first, then the sluices and gates to let the boat in. You cannot close the swing bridge until the boat is out the other side of the lock.
For much of its length, the towpath forms part of the route for the Trans Pennine Trail which joins it at Top Lane lift bridge, crosses to the east bank at Sykehouse lock, and leaves at Sykehouse lift bridge. The Trans Pennine Trail, TPT, is an exciting route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders linking the North and Irish seas.
Don Aqueduct is an unusual feature on the canal system as it has guillotine gates at either end. Theses can be lowered when the Don is in flood to prevent the surrounding countryside from being flooded.
The Went Aqueduct carries the New Junction over the River Went and is unusual due to the very deep water in the steel channel.
