New Junction Canal
The New Junction Canal is a canal in South Yorkshire, England. It is part of the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation (S&SYN), although it was jointly funded by the Aire and Calder Navigation, and was opened in 1905. It links the River Don Navigation and the Stainforth and Keadby Canal with the Aire and Calder Navigation (Knottingley Canal). It is completely straight, and was the last canal built in England for commercial purposes.
| New Junction Canal | |
|---|---|
Guillotine gates protect the canal from the River Don | |
| Specifications | |
| Maximum boat length | 215 ft 0 in (65.53 m) |
| Maximum boat beam | 22 ft 6 in (6.86 m) |
| Locks | 1 |
| Status | Operational |
| Navigation authority | Canal and River Trust |
| History | |
| Original owner | Aire and Calder Navigation, Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation Co |
| Date of act | 1891 |
| Date of first use | 1905 |
| Geography | |
| Start point | River Don |
| End point | Aire and Calder |
| Connects to | Aire and Calder Navigation, River Don Navigation |
New Junction Canal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The canal has one lock, which was sized to allow the compartment boats of the Aire and Calder to use it, but the owning company failed to raise enough money to upgrade the River Don Navigation beyond, and Long Sandall lock prevented working of such boats through to Doncaster until it was rebuilt in 1959. There is still some commercial traffic on the canal, but most use is now by leisure boaters. One notable feature is the aqueduct over the River Don which is protected by large guillotine gates, which can be lowered when the Don is in spate, to prevent the surrounding countryside from being flooded.