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Cosgrove – Heritage Landing Stage

Whilst dry-dredging the first section of the canal from Bridge 1 towards the A5 we discovered a narrow section and a partial brick wall. It was unclear what this had been. Investigation in the CRT archives yielded records that showed this to have been a landing stage, built under an agreement in 1903 between W Jakeman (the Wolverton Mill owner) and the Grand Junction Canal Company. It was for loading and unloading working boats to and from the mill using a cart pulled by a horse. Rent was set at £1 per annum, payable on the 25th December.

As a part of restoring the canal, BCS are recreating the landing stage using traditional materials wherever possible. This includes a lime mortar brick wall with granite cornice stones.

No pictures exist in our archives and we would love to hear from anyone who has any photographs etc. of this structure.

Volunteer using trowel to excavate the remains of stone landing stage
2022 – Volunteers excavating the remains of the landing stage
Volunteers excavating the remains of landing stage
2022 – Volunteers excavating the remains of the landing stage
Four volunteers on the canal bank watching two others crossing the canal in a rubber dingy
2022 – Crossing the canal by rubber dingy to look for any remains on the off side (none found)
Volunteer building a brick wall at waters edge
2022 – Creating a new retaining wall for the landing stage