The next station after Blisworth is Weedon, properly, Weedon Bec, so called
because formerly there was established here a religious house, or cell, to
the Abbey of Bec in Normandy. The Church, a very ancient building, contains
portions of Norman, and various styles of English, architecture.
[BRIDGE IN THE BLISWORTH EMBANKMENT: ill9.jpg]
The importance of Weedon rests in its being the site of a strongly fortified
central depot for artillery, small arms, and ammunition, with extensive
barracks, well worth seeing, but not to be seen without an order from the
Board of Ordnance. In passing, a few mild soldiers may be seen fishing for
roach in the canal, and a few active ones playing cricket in summer. The
Weedon system of fortification eschews lofty towers and threatening
battlemented walls, and all that constitutes the picturesque; so that Weedon
Barracks look scarcely more warlike than a royal rope manufactory.
After Weedon we pass through Kilsby Tunnel, 2,423 yards long, which was once
one of the wonders of the world; but has been, by the progress of railway
works, reduced to the level of any other long dark hole.
[VIEW FROM THE TOP OF KILSBY TUNNEL: ill10.jpg]