Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/427

 This navigation, commencing at the junction with the Leicester Navigation at 175 feet above the level of the sea, proceeds to Ayleston Bridge in the bed of the Soar River, in a south-westerly direction; at Ayleston Bridge the cut commences, and pursues the same course as the river to a short distance beyond Enderby Hall, where the Soar divides into two branches; from this point it runs parallel to the eastern branch as far as Wistow Hall, having that mansion on its western bank and an aqueduct opposite to it on the eastern. From Wistow Hall it runs in a circuitous easterly course of twelve miles and three quarters, with 160 feet rise to the tunnel at Saddington, where it is 295 feet above the level of the sea. Leaving Saddington Tunnel, it proceeds in a sinuous line on the same level to Foxton and Gumley Hall, where it falls into the Grand Union Canal, having completed a line of seventeen miles. At this point also the branch to Market Harborough commences, running at first in an easterly course for about half its length and afterwards to the south, the whole distance being nearly four miles on one level.

There are warehouses and a basin at Gumley, and the tunnel at Saddington is eight hundred and eighty yards in length; this tunnel was completed in 1800, and the line from Leicester to Gumley opened soon after.

The work, which was executed under the management of Mr. John Varley, Sen. and Mr. C. Staveley, Jun. is of great utility in the supply of timber, deals, &amp;c. and the export of the agricultural produce of the district through which it passes.

LEICESTER AND SWANNINGTON RAILWAY.
11 George IV. Cap. 58, Royal Assent 29th May, 1830.

THIS railway commences from that part of the River Soar near West Bridge, in the town of Leicester, called the Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Union Canal, whence it takes a northwardly course by Freaks Grounds, where it enters a tunnel one mile and three quarters in length; thence in a westwardly course, running parallel with and on the south side of the turnpike-road leading