Grand Union (Leicester Section) & River Soar

Mooring Information S-N

The Grand Union Leicester Section, sometimes called the Grand Union - Leicester Line & River
Soar Navigation, runs from its junction with the Grand Union at Norton Junction in the south to the
junction with the Trent and Mersey and Erewash Canals at Trent Junction in the north.
In its earliest form in 1780 it was a navigable river from Trent Junction to Loughborough. In 1794
an extension took it to Leicester and then in 1809 on to Market Harborough, from where a plan to
extend it to Northampton never materialised. In 1814 it was finally linked to the Grand Union via
the famous Foxton Locks allowing East Midlands coal to be carried to London.
The section is 106 kilometres or 66 miles long and comprises of 59 locks (17 narrow and 42
broad). There were many schemes to widen the locks at Foxton and Watford (both staircase
locks) to allow wide beam boats access from the Trent to London but none came to fruition.
The Leicester and Loughborough Volunteer Lock Keepers cover from Newton Top Lock to
Kegworth Deep but are mainly responsible for the section from Kilby Lock, south of Leicester,
through to Kegworth Deep north of Loughborough.
To the north of the city the canal from Kilby Lock to Freemans Meadow Lock meanders through
mainly rural country side with occasional stretches passing through suburbs. The River Soar joins
the canal below Kings Lock, where there are good moorings.
From here to Trent Junction the navigation is predominately river and care must be taken to check
the water levels as the River Soar is prone to rise quickly after rain. The presence of flood warning
traffic lights at Barrow Deep, Bishops Meadow and Zouch (pronounced Zoch, ch as in chug) and
water level indicator boards on the tails of lock give evidence of this.
Although amongst some boaters Leicester has a bad reputation but it's no different to many city
centre moorings, there are some places where it's okay to stay and some where it is unwise to
stay. There are city centre mooring at Friar's Mill just before West Bridge and Castle Gardens just
after West Bridge at the north end of the Mile Straight. Both are secured with a BW key.
North from Friar's Mill mooring navigation has a mainly city aspect becoming more rural again after
Bridge 13. As you would expect this section passes by many old industrial buildings, now quiet
and a far cry from the bustle of hosiery and boot and shoe machinery which was once the city's
main output and source of its wealth. It has been said that in the past, these industries made
Leicester one of the richest cities in Europe and the dyes used in the hosiery factories turned the
river pink.
The navigation leaves the last of the cities suburbs at Birstall before passing through the villages of
Thurmaston and Syston and then heading off in a north westerly direction to the university town of
Loughborough or Lugga buroo as the Australian shaggy dog story goes.
From Loughborough it's peaceful fields all the way to Trent Junction apart from the tiny village of
Zouch and a little traffic noise from the A6 main road when approaching Kegworth.

Produced by Pete Smith, e&oe Page 1 of 3

Leicester Lead Volunteer Lock Keeper document1
C&RT East Midlands 09/02/2017
smithpguk@yahoo.co.uk
 Grand Union (Leicester Section) & River Soar
Mooring Information S-N

Foxton Locks

Kilby Canal Bridge Br. 87

Good mooring between
bridge and Kilby Lock
Kilby Lock
Double Rail Lock
Crow Mills Bridge Br. 92
Moorings just above lock
Mooring here for access to South
Wigston shops 600m north

Blue Bank Lock

Mooring above and below lock
Kings Lock
Good mooring below lock
Packhorse Bridge Br. 105

River Soar joins

BEWARE OF
WATER LEVEL
Upperton Road Bridge
Castle Gardens Secure Moorings
See separate sheet for info
West Bridge

Friar's Mill Secure Moorings

See separate sheet for info
Birstall Lock
Good moorings above and below lock
Birstall has a good selection of shops
and eating places Thurmaston Lock
Good moorings above and below lock
Thurmaston has a reasonable
selection of shops
Johnsons Bridge BR.17
Good mooring down to Br.19

Hope and Anchor Bridge Br 19.

Good mooring both sides

Old Junction Lock

Good moorings above the lock

Produced by Pete Smith, e&oe Page 2 of 3

Leicester Lead Volunteer Lock Keeper document1
C&RT East Midlands 09/02/2017
smithpguk@yahoo.co.uk
 Grand Union (Leicester Section) & River Soar
Mooring Information S-N

Cossington Lock
Good moorings above lock

Sileby Lock
Good moorings above and below
lock
Mountsorrel Lock
Limited mooring above and below lock

Mill Lane Bridge Br. 28

Limited Mooring south of bridge
Barrow Deep Lock
Good moorings above the lock

Pillings Flood Lock

Good moorings on North side
Miller's Bridge Br. 34
Moorings just after the bridge

Meadow Lane Bridge Br. 39

Moorings outside The Boat
Chain Bridge Br. 39B
Good moorings above the Loughborough
bridge and after outside Loughborough has the usual
Albion pub
selection of large supermarkets,
pubs and restaurants within easy
Loughborough Basin reach of all moorings
Water, elsan point
Limited mooring

Bishop Meadow lock

Good moorings below lock

Zouch Lock
Good moorings above the lock

Kegworth New Lock

Good moorings above lock and
towards Zouch
Limited mooring at the Otter PH
for patrons

Trent Junction
Produced by Pete Smith, e&oe Page 3 of 3
Leicester Lead Volunteer Lock Keeper document1
C&RT East Midlands 09/02/2017
smithpguk@yahoo.co.uk