New Marina , Blisworth Arm, Northamptonshire, UK.

Any interest in copies of a picture at a higher resolution (ie. clarity) should be directed through contacts given in the Blisworth "Round and About" parish council publication or using the comment form on the home page.  In some cases the pictures are not available due to copyright restrictions.  However, permission has been obtained, where possible, to include them here.  Printed below each image is the photographer's name, if known.

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46-01  Although the signs of extensive earth-moving have been evident for months, the new marina being built at Blisworth Arm is now fast emerging.  This view from the railway bridge of a four acre patch of ground between canal and railway was taken in November.  The aim of the project is to provide a considerable increase in numbers of moorings for canal boats.  The new marina is a private development rather than one belonging to British Waterways.  Pictures marking progress will be posted below.
This is the layout of the planned marina obtained from the owner's website -  
              www.blisworthmarina.co.uk

The Marina will have 15m quays, it will be fully piled around the edges and will have electricity and water laid on for each mooring.

It will be called Blisworth Marina.

The canal bridge at bottom left is the one next to what was the old Navigation Inn - see the  Neighbouring Villages section.

 

46-02  December 16th, 2006 - some new steel pilings, which define the access water to the marina, are the first visible signs of the future purpose of a large low-lying pit.

 
46-03  As above - picture taken from the canal bank.  The railway main line bridge is in the background.
January 2007 More pilings are added, driven in and capped with a thick border of concrete.  Note the considerable quantity of earth yet to be removed from the inside of the finished edging.  The digger is clearing some earth excess so that more concrete capping can be installed in the channel to be formed from the canal.  Regular stacks of steel pilings have been placed around the remaining perimeter.
March 2007  Much of the base and sides of the marina area are tidied and the supports for the 'walkways' between moorings have been set out along the southern border.  Meanwhile work progresses on the foundations of the office area and the profile for the entrance to the marina from the main canal.
April 9th, 2007  The marina is rapidly approaching the stage of filling from the main canal.  This picture shows the walkways between boats being prepared, the arrangement of services for each docking position, the rings for mooring and a finished walkway.  The latter hardly strikes one as being wheelchair friendly but perhaps one or two will be wider than this.
April 16th to May 8th, 2007  With a relatively narrow bridge of canal bank separating the Marina from the canal, water was admitted on April 16th and allowed to fill and leak test the structure.  On May 8th the bank was carefully removed whilst a barrier and temporary bridge span the marina entrance.  Installing the first customers will not take long!