The Stroudwater Navigation is a canal in Gloucestershire, England which linked Stroud to the River Severn. It was authorised in 1776, although part had already been built, as the proprietors believed that an Act of Parliament obtained in 1730 gave them the necessary powers. Opened in 1779, it was a commercial success, its main cargo being coal. It was 8 miles (13 km) in length and had a rise of 102 ft 5 in (31.22 m) through 12 locks. Following the opening of the Thames and Severn Canal in 1789, it formed part of a through route from Bristol to London, although much of its trade vanished when the Kennet and Avon Canal provided a more direct route in 1810. Despite competition from the railways, the canal continued to pay dividends to shareholders until 1922, and was not finally abandoned until 1954.
Nutshell Bridge on the Stroudwater Navigation
The bridge under the Bristol to Gloucester railway line at Ocean was replaced by a culvert in the 1960s.
The restored canal to the west of Ebley Mill is flanked by a new housing development.
Pre-cast bridge components awaiting installation at Stonehouse
Stroud is a market town and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England. It is the main town in Stroud District. The town's population was 13,500 in 2021.
Stroud from the air
High Street, the main shopping street
Kite aerial photo of Stroud Leisure Centre
Kite aerial photograph of the restoration of the walled garden at the Museum in the Park.