THE  CANAL

In 1789 an Act was obtained for the Andover and Redbridge Canal which followed the course of the Rivers test and Anton to Andover. In May 1795 the Salisbury and Southampton Canal received royal assent for its bill to construct two branches to the Andover Canal: one following the River dun from Kimbridge towards Salisbury, the other from Redbridge along the foreshore to Southampton. Work commenced in August of that year.

During the passage from Kimbridge towards Salisbury the Canal would have to pass over a summit at Alderbury Common, 170 feet above the level at Kimbridge, this was to be accomplished by the use of 15 locks. The original estimate of £784 per mile for the canal between Lockerley and West Grimstead prove to be a gross miscalculation and the eventual cost was over £2000 a mile.

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