The Aylesbury Arm:
The Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union Canal was completed in 1815 and descends through 16–Narrow Locks for 6.25-miles. The Canal Rises 94ft-8ins from Aylesbury to Marsworth. The Arm Branches off from the Grand Union Canal at Marsworth, near the Tring Reservoirs, less than a mile from the start of the Wendover Arm, and Heads west to Aylesbury, the County Town of Bucks. Marsworth Wharf stood at the Canal’s Junction with the Aylesbury Arm. When put up for Auction at the Rose & Crown Inn at Tring in 1821, the Wharf comprised:-
“An excellent Dwelling-house & Grocer’s Shop, Warehouse, Stabling for 18-Horses, and other convenient Buildings, Brick-built & Slated and in substantial repair. The Whole Let at an Annual Rent of £60 and Possession of which will be given at Michaelmas next (Sept 29th). – Bucks Chronicle, 9th September 1821
The Townspeople of Aylesbury had to Lobby for nearly 20-yrs to get their Canal built. Plans were not put forward until the Main Line of the Grand Junction Canal was built through Marsworth, which was opened in 1799. In August 1800, people in Aylesbury offered to raise enough money to build a Railroad to the Town. The Grand Junction Canal Company agreed & ordered the Cast-iron Rails, but by the end of the year had changed their mind & the Rails were delivered to Wolverton where they were used in Construction of an Embankment. The reason for the change of mind was Plans to Build a Canal Linking the Grand Junction Canal at Marsworth with the River Thames at Abingdon – a Scheme known as the Western Junction Canal, and favoured by the Proprietors of the Wilts & Berks Canal.
There followed a Period of about 12-yrs where a Series of different Plans & Ideas were put forward by different Interests, including a Rival Scheme (the Western Union Canal) to Connect the Grand Junction Canal at Cowley with the Thames near Maidenhead, which was favoured by the Kennet & Avon Canal Company. However, it was clear, that there was insufficient Trade to Build both Canals, and each proposal frustrated the other. By 1811, a Bill to promote the Western Junction Canal had failed in Parliament, and the Grand Junction Canal Company agreed to Build a Branch Canal to Aylesbury, which would have Narrow Locks to save Water. The Arm eventually Opened in 1814 or 1815 (Historical sources differ), at about the same time as Completion of additional Reservoirs for Water Supply to the Grand Junction Canal at Marsworth.
Traffics dwindled with Rail & Road Competition. A Branch Rail Line from Cheddington, on the West Coast Main Line, to Aylesbury had opened in 1839 (Closed 1964), but Regular Traffic on the Canal Arm still included Coal to the Town’s Power Station, Aylesbury Condensed Milk Co [1870] – later Nestle’s Factory, the Aylesbury Steam Laundry & Domestic Consumers. There was also Grain, Straw Board & Timber from Brentford. However virtually all Traffic had Ceased by the late-1950s and the Canal was in danger of Closure and became a cause for Campaign for Inland Waterways Association, which held its National Rally at the Canal Basin the Town on August Bank Holiday 1961. A small Hire Boat Operation was Established in the Basin & Aylesbury Canal Society formed in 1971. The Society Operated from the Canal Basin at the Head of Navigation until 2013 when it moved to a purpose built Marina & Club House at Circus Fields in 2013 as part of a deal to enable redevelopment of the Town around the Basin.
Aston Rowant & Chilterns Spring Line Villages 