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THE PLAQUE This plaque is dedicated to the steam dredger 'PERSEVERANCE' (built 1934) and the volunteer crews who completed the Hampshire Restoration Dredging at this bridge in March 1993 after 18 years.

After the Norris bridges, it is just over half a mile along the canal to the next, Pondtail Bridge, on the outskirts of Fleet.     When the road linking Farnborough to Fleet was upgraded in 1967/68, the old bridge was isolated and a new, wider bridge was constructed alongside.     However, as had happened at other locations, with the canal being at that time in a derelict state, no forward thinking was employed, and the new bridge was built with very limited headroom for future canal craft.     The older bridge was then left to serve as a footbridge. This dates from 1896 and was the second bridge at the site. This replaced the original 18th-century brick-arch bridge built when the canal was cut.     Fixed to the 'upstream' parapet of the older bridge, there is a plaque which commemorates the Canal Society's historic steam dredger 'Perseverance' which ended its 18-year journey here in 1993 during the canal's restoration.

Looking back at the old bridge, the new, much lower, bridge can just be seen beyond.     Above Pondtail Bridge the canal meanders gently at the end of the gardens of residential houses.     With the amount of trees and greenery, there is little feeling that the canal is passing through a built-up area. In slightly less than a mile, it reaches Reading Road Bridge in Fleet. NEXT - Reading Road Bridge BACK

Last updated August 2004