MK Canals history project

Just seven generations ago, in June 1792, the Grand Junction Canal (now the Grand Union ) was launched at a public meeting in Stony Stratford. There were so many enthiusiastic peolple there that they moved the meeting from the Bull Hotel on Stony High Street to the church over the road. At £100 a share (1790s prices), the project was immediately fully subscribed.

The canal was started very soon after, and was fully functioning, and highly profitable (after several mishaps at the Cosgrove Aqueduct) by 1811. Since then the canals have had their glory days and their ups and downs over more than 200 years.

MK Canals is bringing together a major project to record the life of the Grand Union in Milton Keynes, the Buckingham Canal (now under reconstruction), the defunct Newport Pagnell Canal and the all-new Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway.

Using a seven-generations approach, we're thinking about the stories and events, the people and places which have formed our canals as they are today, and as we plan for generations ahead.

We're already working with a wide range of local partners and activists, assembling ideas and connections.