The Kennet and Avon Canal between Devizes and Bristol.

This part of our topic about the Kennet and Avon Canal covers it's journey from just outside of Devizes and on via the impressive Caen Hill Flight of Locks - Bradford on Avon - Bath - Bristol.

The first part of our Kennet and Avon Canal topic covers the Navigation's journey from where it links with the River Thames at Reading along to Devizes in Wiltshire and this topic continues from there. From Kennet Lock 50 there are 29 locks to negotiate over a 2.25 mile stretch of the canal ending at Caen Lock 22 - a descent of 230 feet. This total descent does of course include the canal's trip down Caen Hill Flight where there are 16 locks immediately following each other taking the Kennet and Avon canal on a descent of just under 131 feet. Each of the Caen Hill Flight locks have associated pounds and the area has been laid out with paths and seating areas so that visitors can wander around and watch the narrowboats heading up and down. Lock keepers organise boats on their 2.5 or so hour trip through the Caen Hill Flight and there are restrictions on access times - currently these are from April to October 0800-1700 (boats must be clear of the hill flight by 2000) and November to March 0800-1300 (boats have to clear the Hill flight by 1530). In addition the lock keepers do like to move more than one boat at time and will ask owners to wait a short while if neccessary for the sake of water conservation.

Prison Bridge 142	AP Herbert Lock 46	Caen Hill Lock 45	Lockgates at Lock 44	Caen Hill Flight	Caen Locks - footbridge
Caen Locks - lock gates	Peter Lindley Jones Lock	A pound at Caen Hill Flight	Caen Hill Lock 29	Caen Hill Flight	Caen Hill Lock 28
Marsh Lane Bridge 144	Caen Locks - Lock 27	Caen Lock 26	Caen Lock 25	Caen Lock 24	Caen Lock 23

Foxhangers Footbridge 145	Caen Lock Flight - Lock 22	Lower Foxhangers Bridge	Dismantled railway-bridge	Martin Slade Bridge 148	Sells Green Bridge 149
Rusty Lane swingbridge	Seend Toplock - lock 21	Seend Locks - 20	Seend Locks - 19	Seend Wharf Bridge 153	Seend Lock 18

This section of the Kennet and Avon Canal has several swing bridges along it's route mostly providing access for farmers into their fields when the canal's route cut through their land. Swing bridges were mainly used as they were much cheaper to construct and maintain than brick built arched bridges. Also where the surrounding area was quite flat this type of bridge saved a lot of earthwork having to be constructed to gain enough height over the canal. The Kennet and Avon Canal's swing bridges were amongst the first to be designed to run on ball bearings. There are several locks and bridges around Seend - the area looks very countrified and peaceful now but at one time this was a hive of activity as it was involved in the lucrative wool trade as well as some quarrying - Seend once had 3 blast furnaces until they were closed in the 1880s. Additionally Seend was on the Turnpike which was built to connect Devizes and Trowbridge and therefore part of one of the main roads between London and Bath.

Seend Lock
bridge 154

Seend
Bottom Lock 17

Seend Farm swingbridge

Lowes Swingbridge
157

Newton swingbridge

Semington
Top Lock 16

Buckleys Lock 15 is quite significant because this is where the currently extinct Wilts and Berks Canal main line leaves the Kennet and Avon Canal - the Wilts and Berks used to go some 52 miles across the countryside via Swindon to give a connection with the River Thames at Abingdon in Oxfordshire. Take a look at the Wilts and Berks Trust site for lots of information - they have plans for a complete restoration of the canal and any support is most welcome.

Buckleys Lock 15	Semington Bridge 160	Semington Swingbridge 161	Whaddon Grove Bridge	Hilperton Marsh Bridge	Hilperton roadbridge
Hilperton Wharf Marina	Balls Bridge 168	Biss Aqueduct (7)	Pipe at Bis Aqueduct	Ladydown Bridge 169	Widbrook Bridge 170

Bradford on Avon. Widbrook Bridge is right at the edge of the old Wiltshire town of Bradford on Avon and the canal's route between here and Bath passes through some of England's most beautiful countryside. Set within the steep and heavily wooded Avon Valley, Bradford on Avon itself has plenty to offer for visitors with it's picturesque narrow streets, very old houses and buildings and with the River Avon going straight through the middle of the town. Bradford on Avon used to be a very prosperous centre for weaving and once had over 30 water powered mills - some of the mills can still be seen along the river although they have now been mostly converted into fairly expensive flats.
The River Avon is crossed by the nine arched Town Bridge (originally a packhorse bridge until the 17th century) which has a small medieval chapel situated in it's centre - the chapel was used as the town's lockup during the 18th century.

Holy Trinity Church Hall

Holy Trinity Church

St Lawrence's Saxon Church

The Bridge Tea Rooms

Town Bridge Chapel

Tithe Barn

Near to the Town Bridge is Holy Trinity Church (Norman) which was originally built in the 12th Century and next to this large church is the beautiful St Laurence's Saxon Church which was founded in 705 and enlarged in the 10th century. This very old church has had various uses during it's long life including being used as a school - it is one of the best preserved Saxon churches in England. Close to the Kennet and Avon canal is one of the best preserved Tithe Barns to be found in England - it is free to look around. The Tithe Barn dates from the 14th century and was built by the Abbess of Shaftesbury as a granary - it is a really huge stone structure measuring 180 feet in length and has two porches, massive wooden doors and a beautifully beamed roof. The town also has a railway station and there are frequent services into Bath, Bristol and further west - as well as to Portsmouth and London. Next to the station there is a quite large pay and display car park which has short stay and long stay section and there are also (very clean) public conveniences available 24 hours. From the far end of this car park steps go down to the River Avon - turn left and it is possible to reach the Tithe Barn and the Kennet and Avon Canal without having to walk along the pavements.

Underwood Bridge 171	Bradford Wharf Lock 14	Bridge over The River Avon - Bradford on Avon	Abbey Mill - Bradford on Avon	Bradford Lockbridge 172	Bradford swing bridge 173
Avoncliff Aqueduct	Avoncliff Aqueduct	Avoncliff Aqueduct	Avoncliff Aqueduct	Avoncliff Aqueduct	River Avon - Avoncliff

The Great Western Railway line and The River Avon are crossed by the Kennet and Avon Canal at Avoncliff via an aqueduct which was designed by John Rennie and Chief Engineer John Thomas in 1801 and features an excellent 60 foot long arch. To continue along the towpath you have to walk down the side and then under the aqueduct to re-gain the towpath on the far side. The section of the canal between Bradford on Avon and Bath is very popular with cyclists and bikes of all sorts can be hired at both towns. Dundas Aqueduct takes the canal back across the railway and river and was also built by Rennie and Thomas - it's constructed of golden Bath stone and crosses the River Avon using one single arch. This beautiful aqueduct has Doric style (ancient Greek) pilasters, balustrades at each end and has a smaller oval arch on either side of the main arch. Cycle hire is also available at Monkton Combe - this is a short distance along the mostly extinct Somerset Coal Canal which leaves from Dundas Aqueduct - as well as being able to hire cycles there is a cafe and toilet facilities. The Somerset Coal Canal opened in 1805 for the purpose of moving coal from the North Somerset coalfields around Timsbury, Paulton and Radstock to the Kennet and Avon Canal and thus onto various locations such as Bath and Bristol and at it's peak carried around 100,000 tons a year. Traffic decreased quite rapidly in the 1880s with the coming of the railways - the canal ceased operations around 1898 and was officially closed by 1904.
The towpath right along the route is in very good condition but some of the above-mentioned cyclists can be a bit of a problem for anyone walking and equally for other cyclists as the riders tend to be more interested in watching their attached young children than watching where they are going.

Canal Bridge 174	Limpley Stoke Bridge no.175	Dundas Aqueduct nos:10 + 11	Dundas Aqueduct	Dundas Junction	Somerset Coal Canal
Somerset Coal Canal	End of the short Somerset Coal Canal	Dundas Bridge 178	Millbrook Swingbridge 179	Claverton Roadbridge no.180	Claverton pump station

Claverton Pumping Station. At Claverton, Warleigh Weir interrupts the River Avon and enables water to be diverted for use by Claverton Mill. However this mill was subsequently purchased by the canal company and converted into a pumping station to supply the Kennet and Avon Canal with water from the River Avon. The mill's beam pumps were used to lift the water 50 feet up to the canal and the pumps were capable of moving 100,000 gallons of water an hour. This unique pumping station started operation in 1813 and pumped water to the nine mile pound from Bradford on Avon to Bath. The pump station is clearly marked from the canal and involves a short but steep walk down hill on a small road into the valley and then crossing the railway line - there is a fee to go inside the pumping station.

Hardings Bridge 181	Barthampton swingbridge	Barthampton Bridge 183	Candys Bridge 184	Folly Footbridge 185	A36t roadbridge

The Roman City of Bath - Sydney Gardens. As the canal reaches the outskirts of Bath it passes through part of Sydney Gardens which are the oldest gardens in Bath. Designed by Charles Harcourt Masters the 12 acres of gardens were opened as a public pleasure ground in 1795 with an entrance fee however Bath Council purchased them with free access in the early 1900s. The canal is crossed by several ornate cast iron bridges which were constructed in 1800 as well as two tunnels - Cleveden House is situated on top of one of these tunnels (Cleveden Tunnel is 173 feet long). This beautiful Georgian House was at one time used as the old canal company's headquarters. The gardens are certainly worth a look round not only for the gardens but also just to look at these bridges which include several GWR Bridges. The railway cuts right through the gardens and the bridges were constructed in a manner in keeping with the grandeur of this part of Bath.

Sydney Gardens footbridges

GWR bridge at
Sydney Gardens Bath

Cleveland House
Tunnel

Sydney Wharf Bridge

Bath Top Lock 13

Bath toplock lock-keepers house

Bath Lock 13 + Bridge 189	Pulteney Lock 112	Abbey View Lock 11	Horseshoe Walk Bridge	Wash House Lock 10	Bath Deep Locks 8 and 9
Bath Deep Lock lockgates	City of Bath - Bottom Lock 7	Baptist Chapel Bridge no.194	Bridge no.194	Beautiful River Avon at Bath	Dolmead Bridge 195

The Roman City of Bath. The Widcombe Lock Flight comprises of 6 locks which takes the Kennet and Avon canal down 60 feet to join the River Avon at Bath Bottom Lock 7 - there were originally 7 locks on the flight but locks 8 and 9 were joined together to make a large Deep Lock which at 19.5 feet deep is the second deepest lock in the U.K. for normal narrowboat use (The Rochdale Canal's Tuel Lane Lock is 3-1/2 inches deeper). The Old Roman City of Bath is extremely popular with holiday makers and sightseers - from the canal opposite Bath Spa Railway station there is a footbridge across the canal and from the station it is only a short walk up into the centre of the City with its beautiful churches, old buildings and of course Bath Abbey and the Spas. (If sightseeing the area by car a convenient way to visit both Bath and Bradford on Avon is to park at the large and fairly inexpensive Bradford on Avon railway station and get a train to Bath Spa and back).

Baptist Chapel Bridge	Dolmead Bridge	Railway Bridges at Bath	River Avon Warehouses - Bath	Small suspension bridge - Bath	Weston Lock 6
a4t bridge	Kelston Park railway bridge 209	Kelston Lock 5	Saltford Lock 4	Saltford weir	The Bristol to Bath railway path

Note for walkers and cyclists. Generally speaking most of the route of the Kennet and Avon Canal is accompanied by a towpath or nearbye path however around Kelston there is a bit of a problem if walking. The Nicholson shows a towpath running alongside the river however access to this is very difficult. You have to cross Kelston Park Railway Bridge 209 (now a cycle route) and then to regain the towpath you have to climb down on the right and go back under the bridge. There is a large steel gate which is locked and the whole area was very deep in mud when we were last there i.e. virtually impassable. The best alternative is to continue along the old railway track/cycle route until you see Kelston Lock 5 and weir a few hundred yards away on the left - there is a clear path down to the lock. Even at the lock itself you have to climb over wooden fencing to take a proper look as it's blocked off. From here the path follows the river for a while then heads across fields to join the road to Swineford. Turn left along the road for about half a mile into the village, just pass the few houses there is a marked path on the left which takes you back onto the towpath. There is a canal lock at Swineford but it is not possible to get to it by foot from this side of the river. As you walk on further round the river you may spot away on the left a steam engine or two chugging along on the Bristol and Bath Railway Path - the steam engines run from Bitton Steam Centre at various times - their website is here so perhaps check it out for running times etc.

River Avon warehouses	White Hart Bridge	White Hart Bridge	White Hart Bridge	Keynsham Lock 2	Keynsham Weir
Sidebridge off the River Avon	Hanham Weir	Hanham - The Avon	Hanham Lock 1	Hanham Lock 1	Nicely bricked GWR embankment
GWR embankment	The River Avon at Netham	River Avon and the Feeder Arm join up	Netham Lock	Marsh Lane Bridge	Feeder Arm - Bristol
Site of the Totterdown Lock	River Avon in Bristol	St Peters Church ruins at Bristol	Bristol Bridge	River Avon once warehouses - Bristol	The Mud Docks area of Bristol

The Kennet and Avon Canal - Bristol. As the Kennet and Avon Canal approaches Bristol - often lined by beautiful woodland - a Great Western railway line also accompanies the canal for a while - it is situated on an embankment on the left and contains several very nicely bricked arched supports. Once the canal reaches Nethan the River Avon goes away to the left via a huge weir whilst the canal continues along a Feeder Arm - passing some nice old warehouses to arrive at Totterdown Lock. The Feeder Arm was cut in 1804 and rejoins the River Avon at Entrance Lock. The canal winds it's way through Bristol and is very pleasant two walk - some of the old buildings are still around but many have been replaced by waterside apartments and their are also plenty of cafes along the way. Some way along you pass through the mud docks which date from 1625 and provided soft mooring for use when the navigation was still tidal. Still further along you can see on the opposite bank the SS Great Britain - this famous iron steam driven passenger ship was built by Brunel in 1843 (small boats will take you for a trip either to the far side of the river or just for a ride around along the river). From the west side of Bristol you reach Entrance Lock and from here you get great views of the River Avon and in the distance Brunel's Clifton Suspension Bridge - the bridge is 230 feet above the river and is 700 feet long.

Princes Street Bridge - lookout building?	Cannons Marsh canal-cut	Bristol City - the River Avon	Bristol Cathedral	The River Avon at Bristol	The SS Great Britain - Bristol
Hotwells riverside cottages	River Avon - Entrance Lock	Old Lock beside Entrance Lock (Brunel)	The really massive lockgates at Entrance Lock	Clifton Suspension Bridge - Clifton, Bristol	River Avon at Clifton
Clifton Suspension Bridge - River Avon	Not much water at low tide - River Avon at Clifton	Clifton Suspension Bridge - one of the stone towers	Lots of wildlife around Clifton - including this Kestrel	Navigation beacons along the dangerous River Avon near Clifton	Sea Mills (near Clifton) - road and rail bridges

Getting Through Bristol. Heading through Bristol Cycle Route 4 leaves from the Feeder Arm and this well-signed cycle-route has been created in such a way that neither cyclists or walkers have to worry about Bristol's busy roads when going through the City - all credit to the authorities. Cycle Route 4 then connects up with Cycle Route 41 which then heads off more or less following the River Avon through to Pill. Pill lies just on the outskirts of Bristol and was as far as we walked the Kennet and Avon Canal - which is pure tidal river at this stage. The River Avon was at low tide when we visited the area and there was hardly any water - just masses of very oozy looking mud. Even so the water in the river was quite violent with small waves going in all directions as well as much swirling from underneath currents - a decidedly dangerous looking stretch of water for any narrow barge to think about travelling along.

Please also take a look at our other Kennet and Avon Canal topic covering the canal's journey from just outside Reading (The River Thames) west to Devizes. River navigations were around much earlier than canals are quite interesting to wander along - two others which we have topics on are the Stort Navigation and the Lee Navigation both of which are located in Southern England.

Books about England - Churches, Canals and Rivers as well as walks in England and English Nature. The Nicholsons Waterways Guides are a "must take" for anyone going on a Canal Barge or Narrowboat holiday (as well as anyone visiting the canals) as they are packed with really useful information. If the development and history of our Canals is of particular interest consider the Anatomy of Canals series - really good reading!. (The relevant Nicholoson Guide covering The Kennet and Avon is BOOK 7.)