Gallery - Pictorial Journey from Syston to Melton

Junction Bridge and Toll House near Syston, circa 1900 - The Grand Union Leicester Line emerges from the right and exits behind the photographer on its way to Loughborough. The Melton Mowbray Navigation enters under the bridge

Junction Bridge, circa 2000 - A later replacement for
the previous bridge. By this time, the navigation
had long closed and there was no requirement for a structure with navigable headroom.

Junction Bridge, circa 2000, showing
obstructive steps

Three-Way Bridge, completed early 2013 - Following several years of campaigning by MOWS and several other interested parties, the new bridge with disabled access and navigable headroom was officially opened by local ward councillor, Lesley Pendleton

Three-Way Bridge Sign

Double Arch Bridge, near Syston Before restoration by LCC

Double Arch Bridge, near Syston during restoration by LCC

Double Arch Bridge, near Syston after restoration by LCC

Possible site for 1st winding hole at Syston Mills

Site of 1st (and only missing) lock adjacent Midland Railway bridge

View back to 1st lock site from under railway bridge. The obvious lock mooring whilst travelling downstream

Work carried out by MOWS volunteers in the woods above the 1st lock site

Lewin Bridge, built 1820; prior to its demolition in 1956


Lewin Bridge: present day	The Gate Hangs Well at Lewin Bridge was a boaters’ pub.

The Gate Hangs Well present day. The position of the chimneys on this and the previous photograph line up the images

Potential moorings at the back of The Gate Hangs Well, looking downstream

Lock no2 at Ratcliffe Meadow

The next lock at Ratcliffe Mill is actually in someone’s garden!
Diversion required along original river route (alongside road)

Much overgrown chamber at Thrussington Mill Lock

New bridge at Brooksby

Brooksby Lock experiencing high water levels

Repaired bridge at Hoby

The Water House at Hoby - A chain was strung across the river here to prevent boatmen evading tolls

Washstones Lock (circa 1997)

Frisby Mill Lock - This shows the almost secretive nature of this waterway

Asfordby Lock

Kirby Bellars Lock The semi-circular weirs were built to control water flow

The approach to Eye Kettleby has another of the fine double-arched bridge

Eye Kettleby Lock pre-2000

Rhubarb Island created on the junction of the river and the Eye Kettleby Lock cut

The approach to Melton - river to the left canal cut to the right

Melton’s waterways showing the straight canal
cut and original line through the Play Close

Canal cut in Melton

Leicester Road bridge spanning the canal

Lady Wilton Bridge – a fine piece of architecture would be unseen from the navigation

Journey’s end From here the original line went through
the Play Close on the level to the terminal basin.
There never was a lock here – the ‘lock gates’ are just a seat.

The Melton Mowbray Navigation terminal basin