Jim Shead Waterways Photographer & Writer

Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.

River Nene

Description: Runs 91 miles from Northampton, where it joins the Northampton Branch of the Grand Union Canal, to the Wash. The lower 26 miles (from Dog-in-a-Doublet Lock) are tidal.

History: Promoted by Acts of 1713 (no work done), 1724, 1754, 1756, 1794, 1827 and 1829. Navigation from Thrapston to Peterborough promoted by the 1724 Act and navigation from Thrapston to Northampton promoted by the Act 1756. Navigation from Northampton to Peterborough was opened in 1761.
For more details see the History page.

Subordinate Waterways:

River Nene Stanground Branch

Navigation Authority: : Environment Agency Recreation and Navigation, Region: Anglia Region, Kingfisher House, Goldhay Way, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough PE2 5ZR: Telephone 01733 371811 : Fax 01733 231840 :

Fotheringhay on the River Nene

Related Books

A Summer on the Nene by D J Watkins-Pitchford, Edition: 1st edition, 158 pages, Published by Kaye & Ward, in 1967, Account of a summer voyage illustrated by the woodcuts of the author..
A Bit More Boating by Shirley Ginger, ISBN: 0-9519198-1-4, 180 pages, Published by Lucifer Press, in 1992, Account of cruising the Nene, Middle Level, Grand Union, Thames, Oxford, BCN and Stratford waterways.. Order now from .
The River Nene From Source to Sea by David Phillips, ISBN: 1 85895 133 X, 192 pages, Published by Past & Present, in 1997, A well illustrated guide to the river and the places along its banks.. Order now from .
Along the Nene by H J K Jenkins, ISBN: 1 873254 00 8, Published by Cambridgeshire Books, in 1991, Order now from .
Rivers to the Fens by Robert Simper, ISBN: 0 9538506 0 9, 82 pages, Published by Creekside Publishing, in 2000, Inclides photographs and maps.. Order now from .
The Canals of Eastern England by John Boyes and Ronald Russell, ISBN: 0 7153 7415 X, 368 pages, Published by David & Charles, in 1977, Order now from .
The River Nene: A Pictorial History by Josephine Jeremiah, ISBN: 1 86077 257 9, 128 pages, Published by Phillimore & Co., in 2003, Covers the river from source to sea, its history as a navigation and includes 176 pictures. . Order now from .

Related videos

The River Nene , Released in 2001, 0 minutes Produced by VideoActive, tape DVD. Order on video tape from . Order on DVD from
A Journey Down The River Nene , Released in 1997, 0 minutes Produced by Heritage Video Films Ltd, tape. Order on video tape from

Related photographs

River Nene: Upper Barnwell Lock No 26 Oundle Marina
River Nene: Islip Lock No 22 Floods on the Nene
River Nene - Fotheringhay
River Nene: Wansford Bridge
River Nene: Doddington Lock No 11 Lorna-Ann moored well out from the Nene bankside
River Nene: Perio Lock No 30 Boats moored at Fotheringhay
River Nene: Woodford Lock No 20 Woodford
River Nene: Ditchford Lock No 15
River Nene: Lilford Lock No 25
River Nene: Lower Barnwell Lock No 27
River Nene: Orton Lock No 37 Narrowboat on Nene
River Nene: Lilford Lock No 25 Lochinvar in
River Nene: Higham Lock No 16

Related External Web Sites

Association of Nene River Clubs The Association of Nene River Clubs is an umbrella organisation for the boat clubs on the River Nene. It provides liaison between the clubs and other bodies such as the Environment Agency and the R.Y.A.
Keeping Up with the Jones Family The Travels of the Jones Family, and Narrow Boat "Keeping Up"
Middle Nene Cruising Club Based at Titchmarsh Mill on the River Nene.
IWA Northampton Branch The Northampton Branch of the Inland Waterways Association.
IWA Peterborough Branch All the news and events of the Peterborough Branch of the Inland Waterways Association.
Nene Valley Boats Holiday narrowboat hire for days, short breaks, weeks or longer from our base near the historic market town of Oundle, Northamptonshire
The Peterborough Yacht Club Based on the River Nene.
Oundle Cruising Club Oundle Cruising Club is a small, friendly club based in Oundle Marina midway between Peterborough and Northampton.
The Falcon Inn Pub with excelent restaurant on the River Nene at Fotheringhay.
The Haycock Hotel A coaching inn that dates back to 1620 in the village of Wansford-in-England on the River Nene.
Poshboatz Trips on the Nene from Ferry Meadows, Peterborough. See the videos on youtube for more information.

Related Cruising Logs

Other Related Pages

Lock Sizes and maximum craft dimensions: Length 78 foot, beam 14 foot. Note - Irthlingborough Bridge restricts the maximum beam of craft navigating the Nene to 13 foot. NOTE: For more details of maximum lock and craft sizes and the basis of these figures see Craft and Lock Sizes Page

River Nene: Table of distances		Miles	Locks	Navigable (N)	Grid ref	OS Map No
Northampton Junction	Junction with Grand Union Northampton Branch Junction with the Grand Union Canal, Northampton Branch, following GU Northampton Lock (No 17).	0	0	N	SP752596	152
South Bridge, Northampton		0.1	0	N	SP754597	152
Northampton Lock No 1	Mitre gates at both ends of this lock.	0.4	1	N	SP758600	152
Rush Mills Lock No 2	Mitre gates at both ends of this lock.	1.9	2	N	SP776593	152
Abington Lock No 3	Mitre gates at both ends of this lock.	2.9	3	N	SP782604	152
Weston Favell Lock No 4		3.5	4	N	SP792604	152
Clifford Hill Lock No 5		4.4	5	N	SP804606	152
Billing Lock No 6		4.9	6	N	SP812610	152
Cogenhoe Lock No 7		6.3	7	N	SP831613	152
Whiston Lock No 8		7.5	8	N	SP846617	152
White Mills Lock No 9	Earls Barton village 1 mile North.	8.4	9	N	SP857620	152
Barton Lock No 10	Earls Barton 1 mile North-west	9.1	10	N	SP867627	152
Doddington Lock No 11		9.1	11	N	SP875636	152
Wollaston Lock No 12	Great Doddington half a mile North-west	11.1	12	N	SP888645	152
Upper Wellingborough Lock No 13		12.5	13	N	SP899662	152
Wellingborough Bridge	A509 Road Bridge	12.9	13	N	SP901664	152
Lower Wellingborough Lock No 14		13.5	14	N	SP909671	152
Ditchford Lock No 15	The only lock on the Nene with a raidal lower gate	15.5	15	N	SP932682	153
Higham Lock No 16		17.6	16	N	SP955700	153
Irthlingborough Bridge		18.1	16	N	SP956706	153
Irthlingborough Lock No 17		18.6	17	N	SP959713	141
Upper Ringstead Lock No 18		21.1	18	N	SP967745	141
Lower Ringstead Lock No 19		21.6	19	N	SP973751	141
Woodford Lock No 20		24	20	N	SP980769	141
Denford Lock No 21		24.9	21	N	SP992768	141
Thrapston Bridge		26.1	21	N	SP990788	141
Islip Lock No 22		26.4	22	N	SP991791	141
Titchmarsh Lock No 23		28.6	23	N	TL018810	141
Wadenhoe Lock No 24		31.1	24	N	TL011832	141
Lilford Lock No 25		32.4	25	N	TL025837	141
Upper Barnwell Lock No 26		34.6	26	N	TL037869	141
Lower Barnwell Lock No 27		35	27	N	TL041873	141
Ashton Lock No 28		37	28	N	TL053877	142
Oundle Bridge		38	28	N	TL045889	141
Cotterstock Lock No 29		39.1	29	N	TL046901	141
Perio Lock No 30		40.9	30	N	TL044923	141
Warmington Lock No 31		43.4	31	N	TL072921	142
Elton Lock No 32		44.9	32	N	TL083940	142
Yarwell Lock No 33		47.9	33	N	TL075972	142
Wansford Lock No 34		49.1	34	N	TL074983	142
Wansford Bridge	A6118 road bridge	49.6	34	N	TL074992	142
Waternewton Lock No 35		52.9	35	N	TL109974	142
Alwalton Lock No 36		54.9	36	N	TL131963	142
Orton Lock No 37		58.6	37	N	TL165972	142
Peterborough Bridge		60.6	37	N	TL193982	142
Peterborough Junction	Junction with River Nene Stanground Branch Junction with the Stanground Branch and the Middle Level Navigations.	61.1	37	N	TL200978	142
Dog-in-a-Doublet Lock No 38		65.6	38	N	TL272993	142
Popeley's Gull		67.5	38	N	TF299000	142
Cross Guns		70.5	38	N	TF346014	142
Guyhirne Bridge	A47 road bridge	73.9	38	N	TF397030	143
Bevis Hall		77.3	38	N	TF437066	143
Wisbech Town Bridge		79.8	38	N	TF461098	143
Horse Shoe Bend		80.5	38	N	TF453108	143
Osborne House		80.9	38	N	TF456115	143
West Walton Ferry		82.8	38	N	TF457141	131
South Holland Main Drain Junction	Junction with South Holland Main Drain is through a sluice which is only opened at flood times.	86.6	38	N	TF477200	131
Sutton Bridge	A17 road bridge	87.4	38	N	TF482210	131
Crabs Hole	The mouth of the river and the junction with the Wash	91.5	38	N	TF494275	131

NOTE: N and U in the Navigable column above indicates that the node is navigable or unnavigable. If a D appears here it means that navigation is difficult or restricted to smaller craft.

Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.