Description: ARTICLE: When Sapperton Tunnel on the Thames & Severn Canal opened in 1789 it was the longest canal tunnel ever constructed in the United Kingdom. It is 2.1...
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When Sapperton Tunnel on the Thames & Severn Canal opened in 1789 it was the longest canal tunnel ever constructed in the United Kingdom at 2.17 miles (3.49km) in length. Today it is the third longest.
Construction started in 1783 and the first boat passed through in April 1789. The last commercial traffic to use the tunnel was in May, 1911.
As early as 1916, roof falls made the tunnel impassable to normal boat traffic.