Cosgrove, Northamptonshire
| Cosgrove | |
|---|---|
 Church of SS Peter and Paul, Cosgrove |
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 Cosgrove
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| Cosgrove shown within Northamptonshire | |
| Population | 480 (2001 Census) 521 (2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | SP790426 |
| • London | 62 miles (100 km) |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MILTON KEYNES |
| Postcode district | MK19 7 |
| Dialling code | 01908 |
| Police | Northamptonshire |
| Fire | Northamptonshire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| EU Parliament | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
Cosgrove is a village in Northamptonshire, England about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Stony Stratford, 6 miles (9.7 km) north of central Milton Keynes and 12 miles (19.3 km) south of Northampton along the A508 road and 8 miles (12.9 km) south-east of Towcester along the A5 road (the Roman road Watling Street). The River Tove passes to the east of the village flowing into the River Great Ouse just south, the latter marking the boundary with Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. The Grand Union Canal passes through the middle of the village.
Immediately south-east of the village the canal crosses the valley of the river Great Ouse on an embankment and aqueduct known as the Cosgrove Iron Trunk Aqueduct. The river was initially crossed on the level, with four temporary locks lowering the canal from the south-east, and five raising it from the river towards the north-west (the top lock of these is still in place). The temporary locks were used as a means of getting the canal open to through traffic by 1800 (this river crossing and the tunnel at Blisworth being the only two gaps by that year). However, it was always intended that the river should be crossed by aqueduct, as the locks were wasteful of water, time-consuming and the river in flood in winter could prevent through passage. A brick aqueduct was built, but collapsed in 1808, after which the locks were re-opened. It was replaced by the present Cosgrove aqueduct, built of cast iron, and opened on 22 January 1811.
The 10.5 miles (17 km) Buckingham branch of the canal (also known as Buckingham Arm), an extension of the original proposal for a link to the main road at Old Stratford, was opened in 1801, diverging from the main line just to the south-east of the village, above the lock. It closed in the 1960s but there is a desire to re-open the now dry and defunct canal arm. The Buckingham Canal Society was formed to reopen the original canal line wherever possible.
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Wikipedia