Blisworth Tunnel 200th Anniversary Festival. June 2005

The opening of Blisworth tunnel on 25 th March 1805 represented the final link in a chain of communications joining London with the industrial Midlands and north. In both World Wars the canal continued to serve the country as a transport link, but by 1970 the regular long-distance traffic had ceased, to be replaced by the present leisure traffic. Between 1980 and 1984 the central section of the tunnel was rebuilt at a cost of £4.5 million. The tunnel was re-opened on August 22nd 1984. Today the tunnel is a vital link in the revitalised waterways system and plays an important role in the economic life of the South Midlands.

This page was last updated 21/06/05