Fossdyke Navigation
engineered by The Romans approx 120 AD, 11.3 miles long with 1 locks

History and General Knowledge of the Fossdyke Navigation

The Fossdyke Navigation is a canal located in Lincolnshire, England. It is one of the oldest canals in the country.

The original canal was built in AD 120 by the Romans to connect the River Trent to the city of Lincoln, which was then a major Roman settlement. The canal was dug by hand and it was used to transport goods and people to and from the city.

After the Romans left Britain, the canal fell into disrepair. Over the centuries that followed, the Fossdyke regularly silted up. It was not until the 12th century that it was revived. In 1121, whilst King Henry 1st was on the throne. Later, responsibility for the upkeep was handed to the city of Lincoln by King James 1st. Bishop Alexander of Lincoln had the canal dredged and widened and it became an important transportation route for goods, including wool, from Lincoln to the ports of the Humber estuary.

Improved for navigation with the addition of its only lock at Torksey in 1671 during the reign of King James 1st. As the Canal Age began to spread, the Foss Dyke was properly improved and used for cargo carrying for some time.

In the 18th century, the canal was again improved and a lock was added to allow boats to navigate the waterway more easily. This work was carried out by the engineer John Grundy, who also worked on the Trent and Mersey Canal.

During the 19th century, the Fossdyke Navigation faced competition from the railway, which began to take over much of the canal's freight traffic. However, the canal remained an important transportation route for coal, stone and other goods. It was used for commercial traffic until the mid-20th century.

After the decline of commercial traffic on the canal, it underwent a period of restoration and improvement. It was eventually reopened to pleasure craft in the 1960's.

Today, the Fossdyke Navigation is a popular destination for boaters, walkers, and cyclists and it is an important part of the industrial heritage of Lincolnshire.  It is a popular waterway from Lincoln to Torksey Lock where it joins the River Trent. It joins the River Witham to Boston. The River Witham has only five locks.

At Torksey Lock, there are three sets of gates at either end. This allows the lock to be used at all states of the tide.

The Fossdyke Navigation is a testament to the ingenuity and determination of the Romans and the people of Lincolnshire who maintained and improved the canal over the centuries. Its long and varied history is a reflection of the changing needs and priorities of the people who used it, and it remains an important part of the cultural and economic landscape of the region today.