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{{Short description|Canal tunnel in Northamptonshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox tunnel
|name = Blisworth Tunnel
|image = Blisworth Tunnel southern portal.jpg
|caption = Southern Portal of Blisworth Tunnel
|waterway = [[Grand Union Canal]]
|location = [[Blisworth]], [[Northamptonshire|Northants]],
|coordinates = {{coord|52.1560|-0.9285|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline}}
|os_grid_ref = SP734514
|start = {{coord|52.1696|-0.9354|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Northern portal}}
|end = {{coord|52.1458|-0.9217|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Southern portal}}
|owner = [[
|engineer =
|length = {{convert|3076|yd|m|0}}
|width = {{convert|15|ft|m|1}}
|height = {{convert|4|ft|6|in|m|1}}
|depth = {{convert|5|ft|m|1}}
|passable = Yes
|towpath = No
|construction = 1793-1805
|
|rebuilt = 1984
|closed =
|status = Open, boat trips available.
}}
'''Blisworth Tunnel''' is a canal tunnel on the [[Grand Union Canal]] in [[Northamptonshire]],
==Measurements==
The northern end is about {{convert|18|mi|km|1}} from the northern end of the [[Grand Junction Canal]] at [[Braunston, Northamptonshire]] and the southern end about {{convert|20|mi|km|1}}.
At 3,076 yards (2,813m) long it is the third-longest navigable canal tunnel on the [[Canals of the United Kingdom|UK canal network]] after [[Standedge Tunnels|Standedge Tunnel]] and [[Dudley Tunnel]] (and the ninth-longest canal tunnel in the world). At its deepest point it is ''[[wikt:circa|ca.]]''143 feet (''
▲At 3,076 yards (2,813m) long it is the third-longest navigable canal tunnel on the [[Canals of the United Kingdom|UK canal network]] after [[Standedge Tunnels|Standedge Tunnel]] and [[Dudley Tunnel]] (and the ninth-longest canal tunnel in the world). At its deepest point it is ''[[ca.]]''143 feet (''[[ca.]]''43m) below ground level.
The tunnel has no tow path inside, but is wide enough for two [[narrowboat]]s to pass in opposite directions.
Work began in 1793, but errors by contractor left a wiggle in the tunnel, and after three years work it collapsed due to [[quicksand]], claiming the lives of 14 men. It was then decided to begin again with a new tunnel.<ref name = Construction>{{cite web|url=http://www.blisworth.org.uk/images/Tunnel%20Story/Tunnel-Story.htm|title=Third Time Lucky}}</ref>▼
==History==
▲Work began in 1793, but errors by the contractor left a wiggle in the tunnel, and after three
By the time the rest of the Grand Junction Canal had opened between [[London]] and [[Braunston, Northamptonshire]] in 1800, apart from the crossing of the [[River Great Ouse]], the section of canal from Blisworth to the lower end of [[Stoke Bruerne]] locks was the only section unfinished. This was despite the tunnel having been under construction for seven years: the gap was filled by a temporary horse-drawn tramway over the top of the hill, with goods being transported from boat to wagon and back again. The tramway, built in 1801, was [[Northamptonshire]]'s first [[rail transport|railway]]. In March 1805, the tunnel was finally opened and the rails were used to connect the main line of the canal to the [[River Nene]] until the branch canal to [[Northampton]] was constructed.
Until the 1870s travel through the tunnel was only achieved by men lying on their backs pushing the boats with their feet ([[legging (canals)|legging]]). From 1871<ref name=TunnelTugs>{{Cite web|url=http://www.steamershistorical.co.uk/steamers_tunneltugsfrommillner.htm|title=Tunnel Tugs from Millner|website=www.steamershistorical.co.uk}}</ref> steam tugs were used to pull boats through, and extra ventilation shafts were installed. Boaters wishing to avoid the extra cost involved in using the tugs could still leg their boats through, but by the 1930s motor boats (towing a [[butty boat]]) were common so the practice would have been unusual especially by the time the film ''[[Painted Boats]]'' was filmed there in 1944.
There was some major rebuilding of the tunnel in the 1980s, with sections lined with pre-cast concrete rings. It was also used to test out the materials that were later used on the [[Channel Tunnel]]. One of the unused rings is on display just outside the south portal.▼
▲Due to changes in the shape of the tunnel over time, the tunnel became unnavigable. There was
==Features==
[[
<!-- tunnel mid-point used for article location -->
{| class="wikitable"
!Point
!Coordinates<br />(With links to map<br />and aerial photo sources)
|-
|Northern portal
|{{coord|52.1696|-0.9354|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Northern portal}}
|-
|Midpoint
|{{coord|52.1560|-0.9285|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title|name=Mid point}}
|-
|Southern portal
|{{coord|52.1458|-0.9217|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Southern portal}}
|}
{{clr}}
Line 64 ⟶ 66:
== External links==
{{
*[http://www.blisworth.org.uk/images/ Blisworth Images] - A compilation of archival and modern photographs recorded since c. 1880 and a collection of articles on both the heritage and the history of the village.
[[Category:Canal tunnels in England]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Northamptonshire]]
[[Category:
[[Category:Tunnels in Northamptonshire]]
[[Category:Tunnels completed in 1805]]
[[Category:1805 establishments in England]]
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