The route stays close to the River Avon as it meanders through the North Wessex Downs from Reading to Bristol. [67], In the Avon Valley to the east of Bath the classic geographical example of a valley with all four forms of ground transport is found: road, rail, river, canal. - RY8R6J from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. [60], Above the Top Lock the canal passes through Sydney Gardens via two short tunnels[61][62] and under two cast iron footbridges dating from 1800. Next to the wharf is the Barge Inn, a substantial public house once known as the George Inn. The Kennet and Avon Canal is a waterway in southern England with an overall length of 87 miles (140 km), made up of two lengths of navigable river linked by a canal. [108][109], There are several locks and bridges in Hungerford, including one which carries the A338. [24] This was replaced with a new bridge, enabling craft to pass more easily. [41][42][43][44][45], Lock number one on the Kennet and Avon Canal is Hanham Lock, first opened as part of the Avon Navigation in 1727. Video, The secret apartment behind my bathroom mirror, Urgent Palace talks over Harry and Meghan claims, Man held over Capitol riot after Kenya deportation, Ofcom to investigate Piers Morgan's Meghan remarks, The US mogul who gave Meghan and Harry a home, French teen admits lying about murdered teacher, UK to return £4.2m stolen loot to Nigeria. [82], At the top of the flight is Devizes Wharf, home to the Kennet & Avon Canal Museum, which has a range of exhibits on the conception, design, usage, and eventual commercial decline of the Kennet and Avon Canal, as well as its subsequent restoration. The Wilton Water reservoir was estimated to produce less than 750,000 imperial gallons (3,400 m3) per day, and the Seend feeder only 250,000 imp gal (1,100 m3). A boater accidentally drained a stretch of the Kennet and Avon Canal after leaving all the lock gates open. The lock paddles "work like a plug on a bath in allowing water in and out of the locks," he explained. A spokesperson for the Canal and River Trust confirmed what happened was not malicious but that the boater was "rushing and left the paddles up". Under a partnership arrangement involving British Waterways, Sustrans, and the riparian local authorities, two main sections of the canal have been improved, and, with a few short diversions, run from Reading to Marsh Benham and from Devizes to Bath as part of the National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 4. In Wiltshire concerns over the limited water supply to the summit, at the highest point of the canal, indicated that back-pumping would be required, which increased the estimated cost for the county to £761,560. [52] The final lock before entering Bath is Weston Lock, opened in 1727. The Kennet and Avon Canal was originally opened in 1810, but gradually fell into decline after the Great Western Railway was built. [8] The journey from Bath to Newbury took an average of three and a half days. [85] While the locks were under construction in the early 19th century a tramroad provided a link between Foxhangers at the bottom of the flight and Devizes at the top, the remains of which can be seen in the towpath arches in the road bridges over the canal. Welcome to the pages of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust’s Museum. [14], During the Second World War a large number of concrete pillboxes were built as part of the GHQ Line - Blue to defend against an expected German invasion; many of these are still visible along the banks of the canal. [3], Plans for a waterway were shelved until the early 18th century. The name was changed from Western Canal to Kennet and Avon Canal to avoid confusion with the Grand Western Canal, which was being proposed at the same time. As a result, the 16 locks utilise unusually large side ponds to store the water needed for their operation. [126] In 2002 English Nature bought Aldermaston Gravel Pits from the mineral extraction company Grundon and it is managed as a nature reserve by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. Here, between 1709 and 1859, there was an active brass and copper industry served by the river, which also provided water power for the cloth industry. [75][76], The first sod for the Kennet and Avon Canal was turned in Bradford on Avon in 1794, and soon there were wharves above and below Bradford Lock. The two river stretches were made navigable in the early 18th century, and the 57-mile (92 km) canal section was constructed between 1794 and 1810. Rebuilding of lock 16 follows major faults discovered. [39][40], The River Avon was navigable from Bristol to Bath during the early years of the 13th century, until the construction of mills on the river forced its closure. We believe in leaving nothing to chance, we are small enough to care personally and big enough to be thoroughly professional in everything we do. The pumps raise water 235 feet (72 m) at a rate of 300,000 imperial gallons (1,400 m3) per hour (380 litres per second). When the flight of locks opened in 1810, allowing the same vessel to navigate the entire canal, the rate of carriage per ton from London to Bath was £2 9s 6d. Kennet & Avon Canal, Reading: See 304 reviews, articles, and 121 photos of Kennet & Avon Canal, ranked No.3 on Tripadvisor among 76 attractions in Reading. It is lined with English bond brickwork and has a wide bore to cope with the Newbury barges used on the canal. There are a variety of riverside public houses, shops and tea rooms. [22] In 1963 the newly formed British Waterways, which was created by the Transport Act of the previous year, and replaced the British Transport Commission as the statutory body for inland waterways, took over the canal and, in partnership with the Trust and riparian local authorities, restoration work began. [84] Because a large volume of water is needed a back pump was installed at Foxhangers in 1996, capable of returning 7 million imperial gallons (32,000 m3) of water per day to the top of the flight, equivalent to one lockful every 11 minutes. The steam engines still pump water on selected weekends, but for day-to-day operation electric pumps are used, automatically controlled by the water level in the summit pound. When the A4 Batheaston by-pass was built, the 22-acre (8.9 ha) Bathampton Meadow was created to provide additional flood relief. Covid vaccines: How fast is worldwide progress? The restoration of the Dundas Aqueduct and several smaller schemes were later added to the list. The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust Centre is next to Devizes Wharf, previously called Town Wharf, the last of Devizes’ three Wharves. Privately owned craft and hire boats from the range of marinas are much in evidence, and there are numerous canoe clubs along its length. [20], A government white paper followed the Bowes Report in February 1959, recommending that an Inland Waterways Redevelopment Advisory Committee should assist schemes to regenerate canals that were no longer able to collect enough fees from tolls to pay for their upkeep. [154][155] Measures to preserve and create water vole (Arvicola amphibius or A. terrestrisis) habitat have had considerable impact on the restoration of the canal, and new "vole-friendly" techniques of bank protection have been developed. Throughout this navigation stretches of natural riverbed alternate with 11 miles (18 km) of artificial lock cuts and a series of locks that overcome a fall of 130 feet (40 m). The proposed route was accepted by the Kennet and Avon Canal Company, chaired by Charles Dundas, and the company started to take subscriptions from prospective shareholders. Some years later the Wilton Water reservoir was created to enhance the supply to this pound using the springs and the River Dun. [94] The tunnel is named after the local land owner, Thomas Brudenell-Bruce, 1st Earl of Ailesbury (1729–1814), who refused to allow a deep cutting through his property and insisted on a tunnel. [55][56] The next of the six Bath Locks is Bath Deep Lock, numbered 8/9 as two locks were combined when the canal was restored in 1976. [5] The last through passage was made in 1951 by nb Queen. The Canal and River Trust said … A boater accidentally drained a stretch of the Kennet and Avon Canal after leaving all the lock gates open. [28], The stretch between Reading and Newbury was completed on 17 July 1990; at a ceremony held at Monkey Marsh Lock several boats competed to be the first craft through. [32] The restoration's completion was celebrated in May 2003 by a visit from HRH Prince Charles,[33][34] but upgrading and maintenance continues. However, in 1715, work was authorised to make the River Kennet navigable from Reading to Newbury. [6], In 1801, trade along the canal commenced; goods initially had to be unloaded at Foxhangers at the bottom of what is now Caen Hill Locks, transported up the hill by a horse-drawn railway, and reloaded into barges at the top. [89], At Honeystreet is the remains of a wharf that was the home of boat builders Robbins, Lane and Pinnegar, which served as the boat building headquarters of the Canal Company. A boater accidentally drained a canal by failing to close the locks properly. [25] Re-puddling was a long process, so experiments with the use of heavy gauge polythene to line the canal were undertaken. The building was destroyed by fire in 1858 and rebuilt within six months. The final engineering task was the completion of the Caen Hill Locks at Devizes. [23] Common reed (Phragmites australis) is among the plant species growing along the edges of the canal. Download this stock image: A drained pound between locks 15 & 16 on The Kennet and Avon Canal, Semington, Wiltshire, UK. [5], A link connecting the Kennet & Avon to the Basingstoke Canal at its Basingstoke terminus was proposed three times between 1793 and 1810, and a route was even surveyed by John Rennie the Younger in 1824, but following opposition from landowners was eventually rejected by Parliament in 1824 and 1826. In October 1996,[30] the Kennet & Avon Canal Partnership attracted the largest single National Lottery grant awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, £25 million towards a £29 million project,[31] to complete the restoration and to make it operational, sustainable and accessible for the enjoyment of future generations. [38] In November 2011 the navigation between Bath and Bristol was closed for several months because of safety concerns about Victoria Bridge. [10] Cargo trade continued to decline, but a few pleasure boats started to use the canal. Sand martin and kingfisher have been seen regularly by the lake, and other migrants have included yellow wagtail, whinchat and hobby. In 1723, despite considerable local opposition, the Kennet Navigation opened, comprising stretches of natural riverbed alternating with 11 miles (18 km) of artificially created lock cuts. Wessex Water Authority agreed to the extraction of 1,000,000 imp gal (4,500 m3) per day from the Avon at Claverton to be pumped east; the costs of the pumps was £175,000. Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, The Wharf, Couch Lane, Devizes, SN10 1EB Tel: 01380 721279 Registered in England, number 726331 Charity number CC209206 [18], A group supporting the restoration of the canal had been set up in the early 1950s independently of the Inland Waterways Association, with which it was subsequently merged. The Kennet and Avon Canal is made up of three different sections - two navigable rivers and one man made canal. The listing imposes a legal requirement on British Waterways to maintain the canal to a standard that ensures cruising craft can safely navigate the entire length of the waterway. It was originally opened in 1810, but gradually fell into decline after the Great Western Railway was built. Geschiedenis. In July 1958, the Bowes Committee published their Inquiry into Inland Waterways which specifically mentioned the Kennet and Avon finding "no justification for restoring the section from Reading to Bath". [48] [85] From 1829 until 1843 the flight,[82] which includes the narrowest lock on the canal, Lock 41,[80] was illuminated by gas lights. The Avoncliff Aqueduct was lined with a concrete "cradle" and made water-tight in 1980. [25] The work funded included complete rebuilding of Foxhangers Lock and bridge at Caen Hill, replacement of lock gates at Seend and Crofton, channel lining at Claverton, embankment repairs at Martinslade, improvements at Claverton pumping station and dredging at various sites. [103] Mill Bridge at Great Bedwyn is unusual in being a skew arch; on its completion in 1796 it was the first of its kind. [3] The North Wilts Canal merged with it to become a branch to the Thames and Severn Canal at Latton near Cricklade. Its construction created an island between the cut and the river weir, which became known as Dutch Island after the owner of the brass mill established on the riverside in the early 18th century. [73], After the Avoncliff Aqueduct the canal passes through Barton Farm Country Park, past Gripwood Quarry[74] and a 14th-century Grade II* listed tithe barn, 180 feet (55 m) long and 30 feet (9 m) wide, on its way into Bradford on Avon. The building was completed in 1810 and the pump was working by 1813. Hungerford Marsh Lock is unique on the Kennet and Avon Canal in that it has a swing bridge directly over the centre of the lock that must be opened before the lock may be used. [99], Water is pumped to the summit at the western end of the locks, from Wilton Water, by the restored Crofton Pumping Station. [29] The shortage of water was addressed in 1996 by the installation of new back pumps at the flight of 29 locks at Caen Hill in Devizes, at a cost of £1 million. Download this stock image: A drained pound between locks 15 & 16 on The Kennet and Avon Canal, Semington, Wiltshire, UK. [104] From there to Hungerford the canal follows the valley of the River Dun through Freeman's Marsh, which consists of unimproved meadows, marsh and reedbed. The National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders sponsored a workshop, which opened in Shrivenham in 1987, to create new lock gates for the Crofton and Devizes flights. [129], Shortly after passing Fobney Lock and the associated water treatment works, the Kennet flood plain narrows and the river enters a narrow steep-sided gap in the hills forming the southern flank of the Thames flood plain. [72] The Somerset Coal Canal was built around 1800 from basins at Paulton and Timsbury, giving access to London from the Somerset Coalfield, which at its peak contained 80 collieries. It passes through the Woolhampton Reed Bed, another SSSI which consists of dense reed bed with smaller areas of tall fen vegetation and carr woodland. Read about our approach to external linking. It is operated by the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, which has its headquarters and a shop within the Canal Centre. It is situated south of Pulteney Bridge. [47] Heading east, the river passes the Somerdale Factory, on its southern bank, which was a chocolate production factory for Cadbury – originally built by the Fry family in the 1920s and 1930s. Some spring tides pass over the weir at Hanham, making the river tidal up to Keynsham Lock. As there is no tow path, a line to haul the barge had to be floated under the bridge and then re-attached to the horse where the tow path resumed. He added that the trust had since restored the water levels. [149] More than 100 different species of bird have been recorded in surveys over the length of the canal,[150] of which 38 could be classified as specialist waterway birds, including grey heron (Ardea cinerea), reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) and common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis). In 1968, restoration work was undertaken on the Bath Locks and Burghfield Lock. From Bristol to Bath the waterway follows the natural course of the River Avon before the canal links it to the River Kennet at Newbury, and from there to Reading on the River Thames. The weir side of the island is also the mouth of the River Chew. A depth of at least 7 feet (2 m) of sandy gravels are recorded, consisting mainly of limestone clasts, but also with Millstone Grit, Pennant Sandstone, flint, and chert clasts. The Kennet and Avon Canal comprises a canalised section of the river Kennet from the Thames in Reading to Newbury, a canalised section of the river Avon from Bath to Bristol, and an entirely man-made section of canal linking Newbury and Bath. A boater accidentally drained a stretch of the Kennet and Avon Canal after leaving all the lock gates open. [97], The Crofton Locks flight marks the start of the descent from the summit to the Thames; the nine locks have a total rise/fall of 61 feet (19 m). The Kennet and Avon Canal is an 87-mile (140km) waterway linking the River Thames at Reading to the River Avon in Bath. Video, Philippines reef littered with PPE face masks, The secret apartment behind my bathroom mirror. These pages will give you some insight into the way the Kennet and Avon Canal was planned, built and worked during its 200 year history. The tunnel was begun in 1806 and finished in 1809. Here the A4 crosses close to the Newton St Loe SSSI, which is designated an SSSI because it represents the only remaining known exposure of fossiliferous Pleistocene gravels containing the remains of mammoths (Mammuthus) and horses (Equus) along the river, and has aided the development of a scientific understanding of the history of early glaciation in South West England. It was roughly half-way along the canal and served as a bakehouse, slaughterhouse and shop for provisions for those living and working on the canal. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the canal gradually fell into disuse after the opening of the Great Western Railway. A spokesperson for the Canal and River Trust confirmed what happened was not malicious but that the boater was 'rushing and left the paddles up'. [134][135] The Horseshoe Bridge at Kennet Mouth was built as a railway bridge in 1839, and the timber-clad iron-truss accommodation bridge was added in 1892. [57] The new chamber has a depth of 19 feet 5 inches (5.92 m), making it the UK's second-deepest canal lock. [148] There are also many non-statutory nature reserves along the canal. The first cargo of "Deal boards, Pig-Lead and Meal" reached Bath in December.[3][4]. The modern Avon is navigable from its mouth at Avonmouth, through the Floating Harbour in Bristol, as far as Pulteney Weir in the centre of Bath and just beyond the start of the canal. Rebuilding of lock 16 follows major faults discovered. © 2021 BBC. The two river navigations were built independently of one another, in order to meet local needs, but they eventually led to plans to connect them and form a through route. [143], The canal and its environs are important for wildlife conservation. In 1983 the Manpower Services Commission, which had a remit to co-ordinate employment and training services in the United Kingdom, agreed to employ 50 men on work that included restoration of Aldermaston Lock, its adjacent wharf, and Widmead Lock. The stretch from Bristol to Bath is made navigable by the use of locks and weirs at Hanham, Keynsham, Swineford, Saltford, Kelston and Weston, which together overcome a rise of 30 feet (9 m) within 12 miles (19 km). The Kennet and Avon Canal has been developed as a popular heritage tourism destination for boating, canoeing, fishing, walking and cycling, and is also important for wildlife conservation. In 1727, navigation was restored, with the construction of six locks, again under the supervision of John Hore. The County Council in Berkshire, supported by local councils, estimated that £1,275,000 was needed for works at the eastern end of the canal and commenced work on replacing some of the bridges. [58] After a slightly longer pound is Abbey View Lock,[59] beside which there is another pumping station and then, in quick succession, Pulteney Lock and Bath Top Lock. In 1788 a "Western Canal" was proposed to improve trade and communication links to towns such as Hungerford, Marlborough, Calne, Chippenham and Melksham. A canal boater accidentally completely drained a section of the Kennet and Avon Canal, in Wiltshire, by leaving all the lock gates open. In 1861 a new order prohibited any traffic on the canal at night, and, in 1865, boats were forced to pass through locks in pairs to reduce water loss. [142] Fishing for bream, tench, roach, rudd, perch, gudgeon, pike and carp is permitted throughout the year from the towpath of the canal, but almost its whole length is leased to angling associations or fishing clubs. [112] The canal passes through an area known as the Kennet Valley Alderwoods, the largest remaining fragments of damp, ash-alder woodland in the River Kennet floodplain. [88], Heading east from Devizes the canal passes through the Wiltshire countryside and a series of locks and swing bridges before another flight of locks at Crofton. The Kennet and Avon Canal opened in 1810, and after restoration was re-opened by HM The Queen in 1990. The name is used to refer to the entire length of the navigation rather than solely to the central canal section. The Kennet & Avon Canal The Kennet and Avon is an impressive feat of engineering, made up of two river navigations and a linking stretch of canal. It was cited by English Nature in 1986, and forms part of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Kennet and Avon Canal is a waterway in southern England with an overall length of 87 miles (140 km),[1] made up of two lengths of navigable river linked by a canal. These are so that the canal can be sealed, and a portion of it drained for repair. ... used to store water to operate the locks – must be drained to around 0.5m deep. A mechanical fault with sluice gates left boats stranded on a canal bed at Kennet and Avon Canal in Twerton, Bath. [153] Several species of Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) and other invertebrates have also been recorded. [27], Various fund-raising schemes, along with some financial support from local authorities, allowed small-scale work on the locks to continue, but the projected timescales for completion were missed. The water front warehouse now holds the town’s theatre and at right angles to this is the Canal Trust, holding an impressive display of canal history with a canal shop and information centre. [122] It is listed as a scheduled monument by English Heritage. [83] The locks were the last part of the 87-mile (140 km) route of the canal to be completed. [2], The main alternative to road transport for the carriage of goods between Bristol and London was a hazardous sea route through the English Channel. [96] There is no towpath through the tunnel, so walkers and cyclists must walk across the top of the hill. [95] The tunnel has red brick portals, capped with Bath stone, each with a decorative plaque of Pennant stone. [3], The River Avon had historically been navigable from Bristol to Bath, but construction of watermills on the river in the early years of the 13th century had forced its closure. The following year the engineers Barns, Simcock and Weston submitted a proposed route for this canal, although there were doubts about the adequacy of the water supply. We soon came to an old wharf which shows this off nicely. A colliery wharf was sited just west of the lock, but the nearby coal mines closed in the 19th century. Three canal locks in Seend are receiving some well-earned attention as part of the Canal & River Trust’s £38 million five-month maintenance programme across waterways in England and Wales from November to March. [121], Monkey Marsh Lock at Thatcham is one of only two remaining working examples of turf-sided locks on the canal today. [91] It was built just within the parish boundary of Stanton St Bernard to "serve the Honey Street wharf in Alton parish, which refused to allow drinking establishments". After the English Civil War four bills were presented to parliament, but all failed after opposition from gentry, farmers and traders worried about cheaper water transport reducing the value of fees on turnpike roads they controlled, and cheaper produce from Wales undercutting locally produced food. [79], Caen Hill Locks, at Devizes, provides an insight into the engineering needed to build and maintain the canal. Along the way you will find plenty of beautiful scenery, as well unique insights into England’s industrial history. [110] In the area around the lock, called Hungerford Marsh Nature Reserve, more than 120 bird species have been recorded. At frequent intervals there are solid metal sections in the rock – on both sides. [71] Excavations of the old stop lock showed that it was originally a broad 14-foot (4.3 m) lock that at some point was narrowed to 7 feet (2.1 m) by moving the lock wall. [105] There are plans to construct a marina and hotel complex adjacent to the site, but the potential environmental impacts (particularly to water voles) of such a development on Freeman's Marsh have led to local opposition. [23], Restoration work involved a collaboration between staff from British Waterways and volunteer labour. [130] At County Lock the river enters the centre of Reading, where it formerly flowed through the centre of a large brewery.