Bruce Tunnel - Eastern Portal (as seen in 1992)

The Bruce Tunnel (grid reference SU244624) is on the summit pound of the Kennet and Avon Canal between Wootton Top Lock and Crofton Locks in Wiltshire, England. The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... A canal pound is the stretch of level water impounded between two canal locks. ... The canal at Bathampton, near Bath The Kennet and Avon Canal is a canal in southern England. ... Wiltshire (abbreviated Wilts) is a large southern English county. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

This is the only tunnel on the canal and is 502 yards (459 m).^[1] It is named after Thomas Brudenell-Bruce, 1st Earl of Ailesbury (1729-1814), the local landowner, who, when the canal was being built, would not allow a deep cutting through his land, and insisted on a tunnel instead.^[2] A disused railway tunnel now converted to pedestrian and bicycle use, near Houyet, Belgium A tunnel is an underground passage. ... The title Marquess of Ailesbury was created in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1821 for Charles Brudenell-Bruce, 2nd Earl of Ailesbury. ...

At the eastern end of the tunnel is a plaque commemorating its construction:

The tunnel has red brick portals, capped with Bath stone, each with a decorative stone plaque of Bristol pennant limestone. The tunnel was begun 1806, finished 1809. It is lined with English bond brickwork and has a wide bore to cope with the 'Newbury barges' used on this canal.^[3] An old brick wall in English bond laid with alternating courses of headers and Brick is an artificial stone made by forming clay into rectangular blocks which are hardened, either by burning in a kiln or sometimes, in warm and sunny countries, by sun-drying. ... Bath Stone is an Oolitic Limestone comprising granular fragments of calcium carbonate. ... Bristol (IPA: ) is a city, unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, 115 miles (185 km) west of London and located at With a population of 400,000, and metropolitan area of 550,000, it is Englands sixth, and the United Kingdoms ninth, most populous city... Limey shale overlaid by limestone. ... 1806 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1809 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Masonry. ...

There is no towpath through the tunnel, and walkers and cyclists must walk across the top of the hill. When canal boats were still pulled by horses, the boatmen had to haul boats through the tunnel by hand, pulling on chains that ran along the inside walls.

Above the tunnel is the Savernake Forest which is open to the public with footpaths, drives and picnic sites,^[4] therefore it is also sometimes known as the Savernake Tunnel. Savernake Forest, between Marlborough and Hungerford, is privately-owned by the Trustees of Savernake Estate - The Earl of Cardigan and his family solicitor. ...

References

2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 22 is the 265th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (266th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 22 is the 265th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (266th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 22 is the 265th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (266th in leap years). ...

See also

• Locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal