Oakham Canal

Oakham Canal
The canal looking north from Burley Road bridge
Specifications
Maximum boat length72 ft 0 in (21.95 m)
Maximum boat beam14 ft 2 in (4.32 m)
Locks19
StatusMostly infilled
History
Original ownerOakham Canal Company
Principal engineerChristopher Staveley
Date of act1793
Date completed1802
Date closed1847
Geography
Start pointOakham
End pointMelton Mowbray
Connects toMelton Mowbray Navigation
Oakham Canal
Melton Mowbray Navigation
 A607  Leicester Road
River Wreake
Melton Mowbray station
Melton Mowbray basin
Oakham Canal
Dismantled Rly to Bourne
Teigh Road bridge
Teigh Road bridge
The Wharf, Market Overton
Rutland Railway Museum
Cottesmore Bridge
Ashwell Road bridge
Burley Road bridge
 A606  bridges
Oakham basin
Oakham railway station

The Oakham Canal ran from Oakham, Rutland to Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It opened in 1802, but it was never a financial success, and it suffered from the lack of an adequate water supply. It closed after 45 years, when it was bought by the Midland Railway to allow the Syston and Peterborough Railway to be built, partly along its course. Most of it is infilled, although much of its route can still be seen in the landscape, and there are short sections which still hold water.