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No. 173 Winter 2005 ÂŁ2.00
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Butty The magazine for the Kennet & Avon Canal
Fish the K&A
Canal ghosts
Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal visited Working to protect, to enhance and to promote The Kennet & Avon Canal
Bar code
Newbury Boat Company Moorings Permanent non-residential and temporary cruising moorings with good security at three sites in Newbury all within walking distance of the town. Resident staff at all sites. Tel: 01635 42884 email: newburyboatco@dial.pipex.com The river at Lock Cottage moorings
All-Aboard Marine Services Dry Dock/Repairs and Maintenance for hull blacking, welding, anode replacement, surveys and hull maintenance.
Also available for DIY All types of boat repairs and maintenance including Boat Safety Examinations
Tel: Paul Hutley — 01635 37606 email: paul@aamarine.co.uk Ham Manor Basin from the river
Greenham Canal Services At Greenham Island
Between Greenham Lock and Newbury Lock Boat Services/Chandlery, Diesel, Pumpout, Calor Gas, Coal etc. Souvenirs and ice cream
Tel: Val or Peter Taylor — 01635 31672 email: enquiries@canal-services.com Greenham Island
Newbury Boat Company Greenham Lock Cottage, Ampere Road, Newbury, RG14 5SN 2
the
Butty The magazine for the Kennet & Avon Canal
contents
Cover photograph: Winter on Caen Hill
No. 173 Winter 2005
Picture by Bob Naylor
The Trust and its aims The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust has three separate but complementary objectives: • To protect the newly restored Canal from neglect, abuse and inappropriate developments. • To enhance the Canal, either by the direct application of Trust funds or, more likely, to unlock larger amounts through matched funding. • To promote the Canal as a magnificent national amenity that is freely available for the enjoyment of all. It was The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust (through its predecessor organisations) that fought successfully to save the Canal from formal abandonment in the mid1950s. Through physical effort, innovative fund-raising and persistent political pressure, the Trust led the campaign that resulted in the Canal’s re-opening for through navigation in 1990 and the subsequent £30 million restoration project from 1996 to 2003. The Canal’s infrastructure is now in a condition that will support sustained operations for many decades ahead. The Trust’s membership reflects the wide range of leisure activities – boating, walking, cycling, fishing, pursuit of wildlife and heritage interests – that the public can enjoy along the length of the 87 miles of Canal. Together, we are “The Friends of the Kennet and Avon”. The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Devizes Wharf Couch Lane Devizes Wiltshire SN10 1EB. 01380 721279 01380 727870 (fax) www.katrust.org President Sir Anthony Durant Vice Presidents Sir William Benyon Peter Collins Donald Collinson Michael Corfield The Rt Hon The Earl Jellicoe Michael Goodenough David Lamb Admiral Sir William O'Brien Philip Ogden Brian Oram Sir Frank Price Prunella Scales Sir John Smith Timothy West Chairman Brian Poulton Company Secretary Fleur de Rhé-Philipe Administrator Mo Crossley e-mail: administrator@katrust.org.uk Hon Treasurer John Heffer Hon Civil Engineer Michael Lee Museum Curator Warren Berry
Trust Council David Copley Michael Davis Fleur de Rhé-Philipe Graeme Dewhirst Peter Dunn Bill Fisher John Forbes Malcolm Grubb John Heffer Roger Hollands John Kirby Ray Knowles Michael Lee John Maciver Brian Poulton Kate Skeates Editor Di Harris Pear Tree Studio High Street Urchfont Devizes SN10 4QH 01380 840584 01380 840954 (fax) 07711 367124 di@thebutty.co.uk Editorial, Design & layout Bob Naylor 07788 134901 bob@thebutty.co.uk For Advertising Contact Di Harris or Bob Naylor Printers BAS Printers 115 Tollgate Rd Salisbury Wilts SP1 2JG 01722 411711
Contributions Articles and photographs are welcome. Please contact the Editor to discuss your ideas before submitting them. Whilst every care is taken with all material submitted, neither the Editor nor the publisher can take responsibility for loss or damage. Disclaimer Views expressed in The Butty are not necessarily those of the Editor nor of the Trust. Registered Charity The Trust is a registered charity (No CC209206) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England (No 726331) at the above address. The Butty is published by The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust of the same address. Data Protection Act The Trust is registered under the Data Protection Act 1984, reference SO46307X. Subject access requests should be directed to the Trust office in Devizes. Copy deadline for The Butty No 174, Spring 2006 Friday 10th February 2006
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6 pages of K&A news
17
Wilts & Berks Pewsham Locks
18
Hereford & Gloucester Canal
19
World Canal Conference
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Canal ghostly goings on
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Bradford Wharf show
23
Fish the canal
24
Walking in Bath
26
Trust website — redesigned
27
K&A Fisheries
Plus regular features and branch news 4 Chairman’s report, 11 BW update with Eliza Botham, 12 Enterprise report, 13 Safety report, 14 Museum report, Canal at War exhibition, 15 Marketing report, 16 Cotswold Canal news, 22 Les Amis – BBQ, 28 From the Archives, 29 Branch reports, 34 Reviews, 36 Letters to the Editor, 37 Page for younger readers, 38 What’s on, 39 Crossword, Unclassified ads
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No. 173 Winter 2005
Chairman’s Report Brian Poulton elcome to the fourth edition of the new-look Butty. The new style, format and content have been widely acclaimed and, by reducing printing costs whilst increasing revenue from advertising and sales, we have been able to produce four editions a year at no additional cost to the Trust. The Editor and her team deserve many congratulations for producing the new-style Butty, and I intend to offer the new Butty as a candidate for the IWA’s ‘Canal Magazine of the Year’ award. Wish us well!
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Membership Entitlements I very much regret having to announce changes to the privileges that go with membership of the Trust. Since late 2003, Trust membership has entitled the card holder to free access to the Trust’s buildings at Crofton, Claverton and Devizes and free trips on the Trust’s passenger boats run by our trading company, Enterprise (Ltd). Unfortunately, this latter ‘freebie’ has fallen foul of the Inland Revenue’s conditions concerning Gift Aid on membership subscriptions. Unless we withdraw the offer of free boat trips, the Trust would be barred from claiming any Gift Aid and so we would lose the Inland Revenue’s grant of several thousand pounds per annum. The entitlements to free entrance to the Trust’s pumping stations and the Devizes Museum are unaffected but, with regret, we have to announce that the free boat rides will not be available from 1st January 2006.
Recalling the Canal in Wartime Having won a grant of £13,000 from the Big Lottery Fund, our Museum staff have built a magnificent exhibition of the Kennet & Avon Canal in wartime (see page 14). The exhibition is open to the public during shop opening hours (10 am to 4 pm – Tues to Sun) until the middle of
January. Entrance is free: do come and have a look! Credit must go to Clive and Helen Hackford and Warren Berry, our Museum staff, who have drawn the exhibition material from the archives and designed the display. Our thanks also go to Chris Corden, the acclaimed film-maker who waived his fees in making the DVD for the exhibition. Your generosity is much appreciated, Chris.
Recalling 25th November 1955 By the time this edition lands on your doormat, the Trust and the Reading Branch will have celebrated the 50th anniversary of the protest meeting, held at Reading on 25th November 1955, that triggered the public campaign that saved the Canal from formal abandonment. We expect the reception to be attended by Reading’s civic leaders, MPs, and senior officials from Reading Borough Council, British Waterways and the Environment Agency. Also present will be some of the original members of the Reading Branch of the K&A Canal Association that formed at that pivotal meeting 50 years ago.
Web-site Goes Live! Just as The Butty has had a major face-lift recently, now the Trust web-site has been completely redesigned and upgraded. Have a look at www.katrust.org or www.katrust.org.uk (see page 26). I hope you will regularly visit the site and click on the ‘News’ page to keep abreast of activities and appeals.
It came as a considerable shock to us all when Reg and Shelagh Paynter told us that they were going to retire. Living in a tied cottage can never be permanent, and Reg and Shelagh have decided that they should move on now, after 10 years of devoted service. Between them they have virtually made Crofton what it is today, a delightful, friendly and popular place for the steam and canal enthusiast, and the general public alike, to visit and enjoy, and they will be missed by their many friends who visit the Station regularly for a cup of tea and a chat. They will also be terribly missed by their friends in the Crofton working gang. Reg was always ready to exchange a laugh or willing to help lift some heavy object, or do some awkward/filthy job. Their contribution to Crofton should not be underestimated. Only paid to run the Station for the five non-steaming days a week, Reg and Shelagh also ran the Station as volunteers on every non-steaming Saturday in the open season. Notwithstanding this, they also set things up, making sure that the loos were clean etc. on open Sundays and Steaming Bank Holidays, again not part of the formal job. If you met Reg socially, and the conversation got around to Crofton Pumping Station (or could be steered that way!), you would be assured that you
Picture by Harry Willis
would not get away without listening to his ‘sales pitch’ and having a leaflet thrust into your hand! It’s also going to be a hard wrench for them, devoted as they have been to the place, and we wish Reg and Shelagh well and hope that their new life proves to be as pleasant and enjoyable as we know the last 10 years have been. They are going to be a very hard act to follow! But be followed, it must! The jobs are advertised elsewhere in this magazine, and are also being advertised nationally. For the right couple it could be a very satisfying, and rewarding existence, living in the delightful Pump House Cottage attached to the Station, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with all the lovely Wiltshire countryside around them, and the satisfaction of looking after such a magnificent relic of our industrial past.
An outstanding opportunity to live and work in these delightful surroundings
A Happy Christmas to you all and best wishes for 2006 Interested?
Crofton Pumping Station needs to recruit a Warden and an Assistant Shop Manager These salaried positions are suitable for a couple who are prepared to live on site in the delightful adjacent Pump House Cottage, who are self motivated, have initiative and are good at dealing with the general public.
phone Mo Crossley on: 01380 721279 The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Devizes Wharf, Couch Lane, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 1EB.
www.katrust.org www.croftonbeamengines.org
Brian Poulton, Chairman
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Crofton to lose Reg and Shelagh after 10 years
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Museum award for Hoppy rust museum volunteer Margaret Hopkinson, known to all as ‘Hoppy’ has won this year’s Museum Volunteer of the Year, organised by Wiltshire County Council. Hoppy, 83, has been volunteering in the museum for over 15 years and has been there to open the museum to the public every Saturday morning. Hoppy was nominated for the award by Museum Curator
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Warren Berry. And she was also nominated by Lackham Museum of Agriculture and Rural Life where she started volunteering in 1992. Hoppy met the judging panel at the Canal Centre in Devizes where they were impressed by her quiet good humour and kindly nature. Receiving her award at a ceremony hosted by the Trust in October, Hoppy said, “I am delighted. But this is not just for
me, it’s for all the volunteers who do so much. It’s all about teamwork and we have a wonderful team. If one person is unwell there’s always someone ready to fill their place.” Hoppy received a certifiacte and the museum was given a cheque for £250, which will be used to install an automated sustem to help volunteers monitor visitor numbers.
Picture by Bob Naylor
Threatened reed dweller Housing plans for historic boatbuilder’s wharf found on the K&A he Kennet & Avon Canal is home to one of the UK’s most threatened birds, a British Waterways wildlife survey found. Bittern, also known as the Great Bittern, were seen on the K&A in a survey that identified 60 different species of wildlife in 3,700 recorded sightings nationally. The bittern is a thickset heron with all-over bright, pale, buffy-brown plumage covered with dark streaks and bars. It is a secretive bird, very difficult to see, as it moves silently through reeds at the water's edge looking for fish. The males make a foghornlike call in Spring. The bittern’s dependence on reed beds and its very small population make it one of the most threatened birds in the UK. The canal is also home to
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some of the UK’s other rare wildlife such as water voles, otters, kingfishers and mink along with more common inhabitants such as mallard, swan, moorhen, heron and coot. Other waterways recorded exotic inhabitants including dolphins, terrapins and porpoise.
Cotswold croc shock On the K&A’s neighbouring waterway, the Cotswold Canals, among the abandoned bicycles and supermarket trollies in the Stroudwater Navigation at Stonehouse lurks at least one crocodile and on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal there are reports of ducks being attacked by a crocodile.
David Owen & Co Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors 17 Market Place Devizes Wiltshire 01380 722211
126 High Street Marlborough Wiltshire 01672 512163
Auditors to The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust
lans for the redevelopment of Honeystreet Mill, adjacent to Honeystreet Wharf, were announced in mid Summer. The application is for 22 dwellings be built or converted on the site and the main East Barn be retained for light industry or retail use. The Trust proposed that the plans be slightly amended to allow the construction of some ‘nose-in’ moorings for narrowboats in the area that was formerly Honeystreet Wharf. The Trust argued that the entire plan would be enhanced by a connection with the Kennet and Avon Canal which was such a major factor in Honeystreet’s evolution. The Trust also asked that the place of Honeystreet in the history of the K&A be
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recognised, particularly since the Honeystreet site was owned by Robbins, Lane and Pinnager who were responsible for the construction of a particular type of wide-beam barge unique to this canal. The site is of such historical importance that, in any event, the Trust would wish to see the erection of an illustrated display board that was accessible to the public and passing boaters. The board would indicate where, in relation to the developed site, the boats were built and where they were launched, together with information on the canal’s role in the development of Honeystreet. Responses to the planning proposals are now with Kennet District Council.
Log donations warm Trust café inter visitors to the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust’s café and shop on Newbury Wharf can enjoy a roaring log fire thanks to West Berks Council. The logs are from the restoration of Snelsmore Common Country Park, a Site of Special Scientific Interest managed by WBC. They are delivered by Keith Tomey, the park Countryside Ranger. Keith, who relies on volunteers to help him manage the common, said “I am pleased that my volunteers — Snelsmore Old Scrub-Bashers — are able to help out the equally hard working volunteers
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Trust volunteers, Maureen Pearce and Colin Clappen, take delivery
of the local K&A Canal Trust shop run by Tracy Perryman.” Both organisations need volunteers so if you want to help in the K&A shop contact Tracy on 01635 522609. To help out on the common, contact Keith on 07765 898577 — both will be pleased to hear from you.
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Kennet Chalkstream Restoration Project gets go-ahead nvironmental pressures over many decades have caused a serious deterioration in the Kennet’s vitality, and the river’s ability to sustain the rare and protected species that depend upon it has reduced dramatically. There is a danger that, without positive action, the River Kennet might lose the Site of Special Scientific Interest status awarded by English Nature. The River Kennet Chalkstream Restoration Project is the first major project of the new Thames Rivers Restoration Trust (TRRT) who are looking for a professional fund-raiser to raise for it.
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Funding has so far been pledged by the Environment Agency and British Waterways, who will both contribute £25,000 for each of the next 5 years, and by Thames Water who have donated £25,000 for the first year. The K&A Trust is represented by Bill Fisher on the Project Team meets regularly and has drawn up 10 areas of work that could bring benefits to the river’s condition. The Team will be implementing and co-ordinating activities that will, firstly, restore the characteristic habitats, plants and animals of the Kennet and, secondly, further improve water quality,
flows and habitat diversity. These activities will include advice to landowners and farmers, physical work to prevent unwanted nutrients and other materials entering the river, and changes to the way the river and canal are managed. Trust Council member Bill Fisher represents the Canal Trust on the Kennet Chalkstream Restoration Project Team. The TRRT evolved from the Thames Salmon Trust (TST), which has been wound up and its funds transferred to the TRRT, those funds will be used for projects that have the specific goal of returning salmon to the River Thames.
The reed boat is coming Wharf car park he carpark outside the Trust Building on Devizes Wharf is taking less than £4 a day. Making the car park ‘pay and display’ cost Kennet District Council £995 and in its first six months has taken £613 in parking fees. The car park had always been free and used by visitors to the Trust Building but it is now empty most of the time.
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News in Brief Continuous Cruising The threat of huge annual licence increases for Continuous Cruisers has been removed. Following consultation on a review of licence fees which proposed an increase in the region of £1000 a year for Continuous Cruisers BW has decided that there will be no increase in licence fees based on whether a boat has a home mooring or not. The issue prompted protest meetings around the country and one held at Honeystreet on the K&A attracted a diverse group of more than 50 people, some of whom were not continuous cruisers — but thought they might want to be in the future.
Combe Opera fundraiser
British Waterways SW are bringing their weed boat from the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal and it will be tackling the reeds on the Long Pound during January.
Open Days 2006 We are open to the public every Sunday, Wednesday and Bank Holiday from April 16th to October 22nd Opening Hours Wednesdays: 10am until 4pm (last admission 3:30pm) Other open days: 10am until 5pm (last admission 4:30pm) Pumping Days 2006 July 9th & 23rd April 16th & 17th May 1st, 28th & 29th
August 13th, 27th & 28th
June 11th & 25th
September 24th
The annual Combe Opera organised by David and Mary Russell held at the end of September raised £1,260 for the Trust.
Stoppage lists The printed national list of stoppages will no longer be sent out to all boat licence holders. Instead the list can be downloaded from www.waterscape.com/boat ing/stoppages — either the full national list or by individual waterway. You can also sign up for regular email updates of stoppages and a weekly waterways newsletter.
Dundas Pump-out Dundas pump-out is to be connected to the mains. At the present the holding tank is emptied by tanker. It will now be pumped up to the mains which will eliminate the risk of the tank overflowing.
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News in Brief
Peter Crawford has retired after 5 years as Director of Boats on Kennet & Avon Canal Trust (Enterprise) Board. Peter was invited to take on the role by former Enterprise MD, David Saady because of his background as Chief Quality Engineer for BA. He is a qualified skipper and he will continue to help with the running of the Rose of Hungerford.
Lock works survey The Trust’s Hon Engineer, Mike Lee has been working as a consultant to BW on a condition survey of all the locks on the K&A. He will produce a report on ways to extend the life of existing locks on the canal.
Pump out cabinets Stainless steel cabinets are being designed by BW to enclose the pump out equipment at all the sites along the canal. This will have health and safety benefits and improve their looks.
he ‘John Gould Award’ is given annually by British Waterways to the person or group who has ‘undertaken noteworthy actions or deeds for the Kennet & Avon Canal in the past year’. This year’s winner is Gerry Townsend who was presented with his award at The Cross Keys pub in Wootton Bassett in October by BW Economic and Social Development Manager, Terry Kemp.
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Basingstoke Canal campaign rally for 2006 he Basingstoke Canal Boating Club, The Surrey & Hampshire Canal Society and the Inland Waterways Association will be holding a campaign rally at Brookwood on the Basingstoke Canal from the 26th – 29th May 2006. The canal is owned by Surrey and Hampshire County Councils and supported by local councils. Some of these councils have cut their contributions in recent years and there is a shortage of funds which has led to maintenance arrears. The aim of the rally is to promote the use of the 32-mile waterway. For further information contact the publicity officer, Sally Schupke at:
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publicity@brookwood2006.com
Gerry Townsend is one of the founder members of the Pewsey Wharf Boat Club but perhaps more importantly was an active volunteer on the canal. Over the years, with his wife Madge, he was part of the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Youth division workforce that cleared the Devizes Lock Flight and he was involved in the restoration and reopening of the Wootton Rivers Locks.
Picture by Bob Naylor
Boats director retires
‘John Gould’ award for Gerry Townsend
Economic and Social Development Manager for BW, Terry Kemp, left presents the John Gould award to Gerry Townsend. With them is Pewsey Boat Club Commodore, Tony Mason.
New Boat Safety guide on-line The new , revised, Essential Guide to the Boat Safety Scheme is available as a free-download pdf. A printed version is £8.99 — including post and package with a folder — or £7.69 without. Contact the BSS office on 01923 201278 or download it from: www.boatsafetyscheme.com/site/GettheGuide_7.asp
The Tutti Pole by the South side of Hungerford Bridge Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of our Tea Room/Restaurant and Patio Area seating up to 50
Morning Coffee • Luncheon • Afternoon Tea Roast Sunday Lunch • Home made fare a speciality Monday – Friday 9am – 5.30pm • Saturday & Sunday 9am – 6pm The Tutti Pole, 3 High Street, Hungerford RG17 0DN Telephone: 01488 682515
CATLEYS CALOR GAS CENTRE NW & J
Briggs
Boat Trips
From the Cunning Man, Burghfield Bridge Public trips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .May to September Private party hire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A range of cruises Day boat hire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Self-drive for up to 12 people Holiday hire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Berth Narrowboat Flexible weekly or short break periods Moorings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Permanent or temporary Enquiries: 14 Beech Lane, Earley, Reading, RG6 5PT Tel: 0118 987 1115 Fax: 0118 921 0604
www.kennetcruises.co.uk
Appliance sales & Installations
Bring your boat up to Boat Safety Scheme standards
Repairs, Servicing and installation Telephone 01380 727266 The Green, Southbroom Road, Devizes, SN10 1LY
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News in Brief Public hanging BW are inviting the public to watch the hanging of the new lock gates at Lock 33 on the Caen Hill Flight — this is likely to be in the second week in February.
Lock gate weeds The problem of the weed growth on lock gates that causes damage to the woodwork is being tackled during this Winter work programme.
Hedge and tree management BW will work on hedges and trees along the towpath during the winter — with emphasis on ensuring that there is a minimum headroom of 3.5 mtrs which will improve the towpath for all and make it safer for cyclists.
Census BW undertook a national boat audit throughout the entire waterways network in the first week in November.
Shared ownerships The recent BW review of licence fees has concluded that boats operated under shared ownerships by commercial management companies will pay the same licence fee as hire boats.
New shop to open near the canal at All Cannings n 2002 the last surviving shop in All Cannings closed down. From what had been a High Street of shops and businesses at the turn of the century, they all closed one by one. David and Isobel Lane had run the village shop for many years and had earned their retirement. Now a group of villagers have bucked the trend and are opening their own general store in the village on 10 December, almost three years to the day since David and Isobel’s shop closed. Located behind the Village Hall and opposite the old shop, the All Cannings Community Store will be a shop with a difference. It will be run by and for the community; it will stock local produce alongside the better known brands and will be a hub for finding out about local crafts and services. Only half a mile from the
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Picture by Bob Naylor
The Community Store Committee, from left, Peter Cooper, Chair, John Mead, Secretary, Sheila Griffin, Tim Moore, Celia Gordon, Hazel Barber, Shop Manager and Gerry Postlethwaite.
canal at Woodway Bridge, the shop will be keen to cater for the passing canal traffic as well as walkers and cyclists. Peter Cooper, Chairman of the organising committee, said: “People have commented that the heart has been missing
from the village since the shop closed. We aim to put the heart back in the village. But we are not complacent. We know that we will have to sell what people want at the prices they want to pay, if the shop is to have a long term future.”
Timothy West to present K&A on TV his Summer the BBC asked the public to nominate their favourite man-made structure in the their region for a programme about the seven most acclaimed wonders. The Kennet and Avon Canal is one of the seven ‘winners’ of the poll in the BBC West region. Trust vice-president Timothy
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West will present the K&A and he will cruise on a narrowboat from Avoncliff Aqueduct to Dundas Aqueduct through the Limpley Stoke Valley and he will be interviewed by BBC Bristol presenter Amanda Parr. Timothy West and his wife Prunella Scales are boatowning canal enthusiasts and they give their time generously to many canal-related events.
Many Trust members will recall their TV series in the early 90s when they cruised from Bath to Reading on the newly-opened Kennet and Avon Canal. The ‘Seven Man-Made Wonders’ programme will be transmitted on BBC One (West) in January 2006 and shown again at a later date in a series on BBC Two.
British Waterways cares for the old
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Divers finds at Newbury
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Picture by Bob Naylor
Thames Valley Police divers who searched for a pair of £400 glass lost by a 33year-old man when he was pushed into the canal at Newbury Wharf in October didn’t find the glasses — but they did find 3 bicycles, a 100-year-old old clay pipe and some old glass bottles.
ith more than 3000 designated examples of industrial heritage and engineering feats across the country British Waterways is the third largest owner of listed structures in Britain. BW held a heritage awareness day at Bradford on Avon in October. The public were able to learn about lime mortar and try their hand at repointing part of a historic canal building using this traditional mortar. Visitors also learned about the original recipe for lime mortar, used by John Rennie – the engineer and architect for the Kennet & Avon Canal.
Bath Branch member and IWA Avon and Wilts Chairman, John Webb, right, tries his had at lime mortar pointing on the old stable building at Bradford on Avon watched by BW South West Heritage Advisor, Jamie Preston
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Avian Flu vian influenza (bird flu) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting the respiratory, digestive and/or nervous system of many types of birds. Low pathogenic bird flu is thought to be present in many birds, but it is the highly pathogenic form which is making the headlines. All the outbreaks so far have been brought under control by vaccinating, slaughtering and quarantining. The fear is that a new strain of flu will be created, which is resistant to current antibiotics and therefore difficult to control. Migratory wildfowl are the natural carriers of bird flu viruses, but they also have the most resistance. They can carry the virus over great distances and excrete it in their droppings, but only develop mild and short-lived illnesses themselves. It is thought that bird faeces remain a key vector for the disease. DEFRA are carrying out a survey of wild birds to build up
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a picture of bird flu and will be taking samples from live and dead birds over next three months to test for bird flu. The target species are; Widgeon, Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveller, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Pochard and Lapwing. DEFRA is asking anyone who finds significant numbers of dead wild birds to contact them on 0845 9335577. The advice is to wash hands thoroughly with soap (and dry afterwards) after contact with any wild or domestic birds (including bird faeces). DEFRA emphasises the low risk of high pathogenic bird flu reaching the UK through migrating wild birds. Whilst it is thought that many wild birds have the less contagious strain of bird flu, only a small proportion of these may carry the vigorous strain. It would then require people to have close contact with these infected birds, which is practically impossible with wild species.
ITV film BW dredging near Newbury and winter maintenance at Crofton TV South is to film BW’s dredgers at work in the Theale area of the Kennet & Avon Canal navigation in early December. The TV crew have already recorded interviews with Trust Chairman, Brian Poulton, and BW’s Project Director, David Bereznskyj, beside Sheffield Lock, and they visited Aldermaston and Newbury to see for themselves why routine maintenance of the Canal is so important. At Newbury, through the kindness of Val Taylor of Greenham Canal Services, the programme’s presenter Keith Malone and cameraman were able cruise through Newbury in glorious Autumn sunshine on board the day-boat ‘Cygnet’. Brian said, “I was keen to stress the importance of regular dredging and I am very
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pleased that the canal sections of the Kennet navigation are now receiving attention from BW. Boat movements are one — just one — of the causes of turbidity in the River Kennet, but we can reduce the amount of mud that is churned up by boats’ propellers by maintaining a good depth of water below the boat. This dredging programme is to be welcomed.” Keith also plans to visit Crofton Pumping Station to see Trust volunteers at work on the winter maintenance programme. In all, three ‘episodes’ featuring the Kennet & Avon Canal will be screened in December on ITV’s flagship news programme ‘Meridian Tonight’ that goes out at 6 pm on each weekday evening.
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BW praised for Bull’s Lock paddle gear trials by Bob Naylor
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paddles quickly in an emergency. BW have taken up the suggestion from Bill Fisher of Newbury that trials should be conducted on a number of locks with alternative lock gear arrangements fitted to find a cost-effective and acceptable solution. The work on Bull’s Lock is the first of these trials and the recently fitted 3–1 ratio reduction boxes have been removed and the ‘Gloucester gearing’ has been refurbished and the rack and pinion renewed. The reduction box has been retained on the ground paddles with the paddle gear re-aligned. Everyone spoken to has found it much easier to use than the modified gear fitted earlier this year on most of the locks on the canal.
Fatima McCloskey of West London said “This is much better than most on the canal — really easy.”
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New Patrol Officer for K&A new patrol officer joined Jane Newton in September to cover the canal between Hanham Lock and Reading with her. Russell Bennett came to BW from the Army after serving 25 years, attaining the rank of Sergeant Major.
he newly refurbished lock gear at Bull’s Lock in Newbury has received an enthusiastic welcome from all who have used it — novice and experienced boaters alike. Following complaints that the lock gear on the K&A was difficult to operate, British Waterways embarked on a £260,000 programme to improve the lock gear on the canal earlier this year 3–1 gearboxes were fitted on top of the existing 5–1 gearboxes already on the gate paddle gear which resulted in 60 turns of the windlass being needed to raise each paddle — and the same number of turns to close them! This led to unprecedented levels of complaints from individual boaters and canal user groups because of the number of turns needed to operate the locks, the effort needed to turn some of the gear, injuries to people when windlasses slipped off the new gear, and safety fears about not being able to lower the
News in Brief
Lyn Hobbs of Southampton said “I’d rather have this — without any doubt.”
Craig Hunter leaves the K&A Waterways Supervisor Craig Hunter is leaving the K&A to take on Health and Safety role at Gloucester. He will be replaced by Mick Black.
Pub plans Plans were submitted in October for planning permission for a canalside pub to be built at Devizes Marina.
“Some of the locks have been almost impossible — this is really great” said Barry Hobbs from Southampton.
13-year-old Abi West from Romsey said, “This is easier than any of the other locks on the canal.”
Lock gear latest Following the success at Bulls Lock BW have removed the 3:1 reduction boxes and completed the refurbishment of Aldermaston Lock top gate gearing and modified the pawl (catch) that holds the paddle in the up position which makes it more user friendly. We are told this is a local staff initiative that could be fitted as standard in the future.
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BW update
by Eliza Botham, BW South West Service Manager Lock paddle gearing As a result of very constructive feedback at the user group meeting, it was agreed that we would carry out trials of alternative solutions to the new gearing that resulted up to 60 turns. The 3:1 gearing on ground paddles has generally been well received but alternative solutions will be trialed on gate paddles at three locks. Bulls Lock original gearing has been refurbished and so far we have received positive feedback. Alternative trials are proposed for Aldermaston and Midgham or Colthrop. Engineers are currently investigating the possibility of a revised ratio gearbox, if this can be manufactured to fit within the existing housing. This would then reduce the number of turns necessary to lift the paddle. We are hoping to work closely
with the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust on this initiative over the coming months.
Café – successful summer During its first season, the Café at Caen Hill exceeded all of our expectations. Estimates indicate that between Easter and August almost 33,000 people visited the Café. The customer comments book is brimming with praise for the site, the staff, the cleanliness and presentation of the Café and also the quality of the produce. Over the summer season, we’ve expanded the menu to include hot bacon rolls, pasties, sausage rolls, soups and ‘Boatman’s Lunches’ to complement our range of local ham, cheddar, excellent homemade cakes, cream teas, teacakes, ice creams and drinks. Café Supervisor, Angela Cave, drew on her many years living in Italy to create our own
New engineering manager for BW South West A new engineering manager for the South West, Paul Boddy joined us on 31st October. Paul has been with British Waterways for four years; his first two years were spent as a project engineer for the old Midlands & South West region and for the following two years he was professional services contract manager for Arup & Halcrow.
The Stores High Street Great Bedwyn
general provisions newsagent off-licence specialist cheeses home-cooked ham fresh vegetables photocopying and fax facilities
canal pump-out cards Tel: 01672 870211 Open Mon–Fri: 7am–8pm Sat: 7am–7pm Sun: 7am–2pm
speciality – very garlicky bruschetta! Bonios are proving very popular with our fourfooted customers. In September we held our first major event – a Fashion Show organised in partnership with the Shaw Trust and the Frocks Dress Agency in Devizes. More than 100 people attended the evening and raised over £1,000 to help support initiatives to improve employment opportunities for adults with disabilities. We’ve had such positive feedback from our regulars that we will open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from 10.30am – 4pm right through until Easter. We’ll be closed for the Christmas break from 20th – 29th December, re-opening on Friday 30th December. Do pop down on New Year’s Day for a brisk walk and a free glass of Hot Spiced Apple Juice – guaranteed to revive even the most jaded palette!
Cruiseway status Ian Jarvis met with Nigel Johnson, Legal Director to discuss the process for applying for Cruiseway Status. This has never been done since the creation of the 1968 Transport Act (a previous case was passed in a later British Waterways Act). British Waterways are compiling a portfolio, with the support of the Board, who passed a resolution last year explaining why we think reclassification is necessary. This will be presented as a formal application to the Secretary of
State and we expect to be able to do this during this year.
Boating matters The patrol and moorings team have been keeping up the efforts to reduce licence evasion and ensure that Continuous Cruisers are cruising within the guidelines. We have recently appointed Russell Bennett to work alongside Jane Newton on the Kennet & Avon Canal and Russell will be out and about in the coming weeks. The team are taking part in the National Boat Count during the second week in November. This will enable us to get a picture of boats across the network and cleanse all our data. Jane has a further three boats lined up for removal from the canal in the coming weeks. In March 2005, 1,407 boats were counted on the canal, with private boatyards accounting for a further 651 boats (2058 boats in total). Whilst lock counts do not indicate that the canal is congested at locks in comparison with other waterways, anecdotal evidence suggests that there is overcrowding in the Bath area. We are continuing to monitor numbers of boats on the waterway and look at ways of dealing with the increase in boats. Part of this is to review our local policy on the creation of offside moorings and new end of garden moorings, in order to meet our obligations under the conservation plan and work with local authorities in a sustainable way.
Goodbye to John Laverick John Laverick’s leaving ‘do’ was held on the Replica Mississippi paddlewheel hotel boat, ‘Oliver Cromwell’ at Gloucester Docks on the 20th October. BW South West General Manager, Ian Jarvis made the presentations to John. He is pictured with his wife, Valerie, after the presentation. Picture by Robert Coles
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Enterprise report by Malcolm Grubb Managing Director of Kennet & Avon Canal Trust (Enterprise) Ltd
Well — it’s certainly been an interesting first 9 months! ur retail outlets have overall performed well. Excellent revenue performances from Crofton, Newbury and Bradford on Avon have together offset a disappointing performance from our biggest outlet at Devizes. Aldermaston and Claverton have each made important contributions to our business. Our catering income has increased significantly over 2004 levels with Newbury and Bradford on Avon delivering impressive results. My grateful thanks are extended to all Shop Managers and volunteers for their hard work, enthusiasm and commitment.
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The highs and lows of trip boats Moving on to boats the position is less rosy. Most of you will already know the fate of the ‘Barbara McLellan’. In June the boat sprang a leak overnight resulting in significant internal flooding and consequential damage. Severe corrosion from inside to outside was found to be the cause. The boat has now been re-plated, modified and refurbished. Unfortunately it is not
expected to be back in active service this year. We have therefore been hit by a double whammy — unbudgeted cost of repair and reinstatement works plus loss of revenue and profits whilst the boat has been out of commission. May I take this opportunity to thank all volunteers who have worked so hard on the ‘Barbara Mac’ in stripping, preparing and reinstating the boat. As for the “sinking”, the matter is now in the hands of our lawyers. Thankfully our other two boats — ’Rose’ and ‘Jubilee’ — continued to perform well in delivering public trips and charters. Congratulations to all newly qualified boat masters and my grateful thanks to all boat crews and volunteers for all their hard work.
Looking forward to 2006 Planning is well underway for the 2006 season. Our retail outlets will be refurbished and upgraded and new product lines introduced. Our boats will undergo stringent winter service and maintenance programmes. The
‘Barbara Mac’ will return as good as new and the ‘Jubilee’ is to have a new engine. A new boat management structure was put in place with effect from 1st October to strengthen the engineering and marketing functions. As a consequence the position of Director Boats, held by Peter Crawford for a number of years, has been disestablished and Peter has retired from the Enterprise Board. We thank Peter for his contributions to our boat operations. We now look forward to the delights of financial year end and stock takes! Never a dull moment in Enterprise!
Can’t wait to get out? … … then why not wiggle!
Winter treats Looking forward to the winter, our shops offer a tempting range of Christmas “goodies” and gifts with especially eye catching Christmas cards, 2006 calendars, notelets and painted ware. All these products are also available from Devizes by mail order. The log fire at the Stone
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Building at Newbury is particularly welcoming as are the toasted tea cakes. Bradford on Avon paninis also come highly recommended along with the chocolate gateau. As far as our boats are concerned, our ever popular “Santa Cruises” are once again in high demand.
NEW For 2006 We now have available a series of guided walks using our bookable Wigglybus services along the Kennet & Avon Canal in the Vale of Pewsey and are also developing further Wigglywalks in the Hungerford, Calne and Alton Barnes areas. To explore these beautiful landscapes on foot and by bus using our current leaflets, or to register interest in our new 2006 range of walking leaflets please call:
During office hours or please leave a message at any other time
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Safety matters Ben Woodman The Trust Safety Adviser
Risk assessment magine you’re walking along the canal towpath, perhaps with family or friends. As you approach a lock you see a boat coming through. The children run on ahead for a closer look, and you yell out ‘Be careful, not too close, the water’s deeper there’.
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Guess what? You’ve just done a risk assessment! The law says that risk assessments have to be carried out for all tasks at work; this applies to employees and volunteers alike. Oh dear, more red tape, more work for you and me! Is it really necessary? At least we don’t have to do it for jobs around our homes. What about that most routine of all household jobs, changing a light bulb. Who would think about doing a risk assessment for that job! Of course you might have to stand on a chair to do it; most of my bulbs are flush mounted in the ceiling so I have stand on something. I know that I should use my stepladder, but it lives in the garage. A chair is always nearby! What if the chair slips? Will we land on soft carpet or kitchen floor tiles? Will we
bounce off the sofa... or flatten a baby playing on the floor? Twenty-seven year old Barry from Leicester had the worst landing of all; he stood on his desk to change a light bulb. His desk was next to a second-floor window and Barry fell through to his death 25 ft. below. Barry’s was just one of the 26,000 accidental deaths and serious injuries that occur at work every year in the UK. Many more happen at home! If only someone had thought of the possible consequences of Barry falling. A desk isn’t much higher than a chair but it’s what might happen if you fall off that matters. Makes you think doesn’t it? Perhaps we should start thinking in terms of balancing the risk against the possible consequences... sort of assessing it! Maybe risk assessment isn’t such a bad idea after all.
Carbon monoxide poisoning Val Jones tells of an encounter with CO and just how quickly it can take its toll. discovered the dangers of carbon monoxide at first hand last June when I went to visit my elderly mother. I knew that CO poisoning could give flu-like symptoms but things happened so fast that I missed this stage and I had a serious and potentially lethal encounter with fumes from a stove. Although it was June, the weather was cold and we decided to light the cooking range. The flue had been swept regularly, but it had only been used intermittently the previous year. We turned the stove down to keep it in overnight and went to bed. I woke at 7.30 the following morning with a splitting headache that reached from ear to ear and all I wanted to do was go back to sleep. I forced myself to get up. By the time I reached the kitchen, I was starting to feel unsteady on my feet and I had a dreadful pain in my chest. Everything felt stretched and I
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thought I was having a heart attack so I phoned a neighbour for help. The next thing I knew, there were men all over the house opening windows and I was being given oxygen. By this time my mother had collapsed on the floor and was being put on a stretcher by the ambulance crew. We both had 20% CO in our blood and needed oxygen for 24 hours before our blood levels became normal. I was off work for several weeks and my short-term memory was badly affected. Even after 5 months the effects are still with me. I still suffer from headaches and pains around my eyes. My short-term memory is still affected — but at least I do not fall asleep every afternoon when I get home from my part-time job. And although things are improving this is still having an effect on my work and everyday life.
Val’s story highlights a problem that that we should all be aware of whether in a house, caravan or boat. Carbon monoxide is odourless so is difficult to detect. To minimise the risk you should have appliances checked regularly and have good ventilation — if you block vents to cut draughts you will put yourself at risk.
Symptoms to watch for Watery or itchy eyes, flushed appearance, tightness across the forehead, headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness,
nausea, vomiting, collapse, increased pulse rate, coma, intermittent convulsions, heart problems, weak pulse, slowed respiration.
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Museum News by Curator, Warren Berry ork associated with the Home Front Recall funded story of the canal during wartime is progressing well and Helen and Clive Hackford in particular have put a lot of effort into designing and developing numerous displays and information boards (see below). Why not come along to Devizes wharf and have a look for yourself.
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Museum volunteer award Wiltshire County Council presents the prestigious Museum Volunteer of the Year Award each Autumn, with a cheque for the nominating museum. Congratulations to our volunteer, ‘Hoppy’ who, was the very deserving recipient of this year’s award. I must thank Elected Members
and Officers of WCC for providing and presenting the award and cheque.
Visitors from near and far Looking through the museum visitor’s book, the international profile of visiting individuals and groups is clear. One group that paid us a visit recently was associated with the Herreshoff Marine Museum, which is located at that other Bristol — on America’s Rhode Island — at the site of what was once the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company’s boat building and manufacturing complex. Operating in a period from the middle of 19th to the middle of the 20th century, this company built steam engines and torpedo boats for the American Navy as well as schooners and sailing yachts
Visit the museum and the Canal at War exhibition at the Canal Centre on Devizes Wharf. For times call 01380 721279 of many different types and sizes. These included some of the finest Americas Cup racing yachts the world has ever seen. For the most part the designs for these beautiful and costly racing thoroughbreds came from the drawing board of Nathaniel Herreshoff (Captain Nat as he was fondly called) and in the affluent and international yachting circles of the day, the legendary design skills of Nat Herreshoff were held in such high esteem that he became known as the Wizard of Bristol. This appears to have been a completely apt description, as no matter how much skill and money the would-be challengers for the coveted Americas Cup poured into the design, construction, and fitting out of their own huge racing yachts, Captain Nat’s magnificent racing machines
invariably crossed the finishing line in front.
Transatlantic similarities What has this got to do with the canal, you might ask? Clearly nothing directly, but our American visitors were very impressed with the museum and with the restoration and general canal history it portrays. They saw many similarities in the entrepreneurial spirit and the engineering and construction skills exhibited by people like John Rennie, compared with those that enabled American designers and manufacturers such as Nat Herreshoff to also push forward and rise above the constraints of accepted practice, and become world leaders in their respective fields.
Re-living war-time memories on the K&A ne of the sheds at the Canal Centre at Devizes has been transformed, and the story of the Canal in the two World Wars is told via a specially-commissioned DVD film, a series of information panels and a display of associated wartime artifacts. Camouflage netting adorns the ceiling and drab green
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walls set the scene for this exhibition which covers boat movements during the war years, military training and other land forces involvement, air activity and photo reconnaissance, naval involvement, the canal as an integral part of the countries war time invasion defences and Fire Brigade and ARP activity.
Museum Curator, Warren Berry, left and Clive Hackford who produced the exhibition.
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But perhaps most importantly we have personal and family reminiscences of those who lived or worked in Devizes and other locations near the canal during the war years. Entering the exhibition you will be transported to the canal in the World War 1. You’ll see a copy of Hitler’s Directive No 19, proposing the invasion of
Southern England and see the lengths that were taken to create the defensive ‘blue line’ along the K&A to slow down the invading troops. Captured directives from the Luftwaffe show the airfield and pilot training station at Alton Barnes and Le Marchant Barracks in Devizes as serious targets for bombing raids. Picture by Bob Naylor
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Wild over Waterways project launch by John Kirby Marketing & Membership Director he wonders of our waterway will be brought to schoolchildren along the length of the K&A in 2006 when we begin a new project in partnership with British Waterways — and Trust members can bring their enthusiasm for the canal to the project.
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Wild over Water (WOW) aims to show children that canals are about more than just boats and water. The web-based project teaches young people about the nature, science, history, industry and geography of our inland waterways — as well as the safety implications of being near water. Our contribution to WOW will be to go into schools and talk about water safety. In other parts of the country
this sort of contact with children has reduced vandalism and bred a feeling of empathy for canals in young people. So we need a band of volunteers to talk about WOW and the K&A in school assemblies. BW will be providing all the training volunteers need and covering out of pocket expenses. If you would like to join our WOW team or would like more information, please contact Mo at the Trust office.
Volunteers needed
The Wild over Waterways project needs volunteers to give water safety talks to schools. Full training will be given. Contact Mo at the Trust office on 01380 721279
Marketing As this year draws to a close, I would like to thank my ‘Star Assistant’ in the marketing team Sue Attwood — without whose hard work and support we would not have achieved the successes we have in marketing and membership this year. She has done sterling work in the office as well as helping to get the Trust ‘on the road’. Sue and her RUV have transported the Trust gazebo to all the events we’ve attended and she has been there alongside me promoting membership. Many thanks Sue.
Ever growing membership This has undoubtedly been the best year for membership recruitment for many years. In one month we recruited as many new members as we did during the whole of 2004. Our new corporate leaflets, improved distribution, new membership pack and the redesigned Butty all contributed to a healthy net increase in membership and I have to single out Bob Naylor whose enthusiastic recruitment has increased our membership by approaching a hundred. Bob said, “It is not difficult to
recruit new members to the Trust — or to persuade lapsed members to rejoin. Once people are persuaded that the work of the Trust is not finished — and that the Trust doesn't just represent boaters but all users of the canal — then I find that most people are eager to join.” Thank you Bob. I launched the recruitment drive with a plea for each member to recruit just one more. Bob has shown that it’s possible to better that. So next year I’d like to see Bob given a run for his money. Who will beat him in the recruitment stakes in 2006?
Benefits of Trust membership Although we are no longer giving free boat trips to members, I believe that this will not adversely affect recruitment and membership levels. Members still have the benefit of free entry to Crofton, Claverton and the museum — as well of course as four copies of The Butty posted to them each year.
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From 30ft narrowboats through to our range of larger wide beam vessels
To visit by canal look for our sign at Hilperton Marsh Farm (Bridge 165) our yard is in the farm buildings
Tel/Fax: 01225 775100 www.mp-steelcraft.co.uk 15
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No. 173 Winter 2005
Cotswold Canals update
Lady Mavis Dunrossil, Chairman of Gloucestershire County Council opens Pike Bridge
River Severn
by Jack Telling
Pike Bridge opening celebrations
Saul
he new bridge was completed on time and opened by Lady Mavis Dunrossil, Chairman of Gloucestershire County Council, on Saturday 10th September. An open invitation was issued to residents of Eastington and, despite a rather wet afternoon, over 200 villagers and other guests of the Trust assembled in a field next to the bridge for the ceremony.
Gloucester & Sharpness Canal
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Everyone was greeted with a glass of sparkling wine and just before 3 pm the entire gathering made the short walk to the bridge for the Opening Ceremony. Ken Burgin, Vice-Chairman of the Trust, started the proceedings by outlining aspects of the project including the Trust’s determination to work closely with the contractor, Ringway, to complete the project on time and within budget. He was followed by Tony Stephens (a director of Ringway) who paid tribute to the obvious
enthusiasm of Trust members and local people. He marvelled at the number attending the Ceremony, citing the recent opening of a major bridge elsewhere which attracted just 7 people! Lady Dunrossil then formally opened the bridge by unveiling a plaque. She reminded everyone that in the 1970s local authorities were busily filling in canals. It gave her great pleasure, however, to open Pike Bridge which illustrates present day recognition of the importance of restoring canals for the
benefit of the community. Bruce Hall, Chairman of the Trust, then thanked Lady Dunrossil and all who had helped to make the day a great success. He particularly thanked the people of Eastington for their patience in enduring over 4 months of temporary traffic lights during the construction of the bridge. Trust and South West Waterway Recovery Group volunteers were also praised for their work in restoring and repairing structures associated with Pike Bridge and for organising the Opening
Ceremony, which he preferred to call a Coming Together in Celebration of the restoration of the Cotswold Canals. The gathering then returned to the field where sandwiches and cream teas were served in the marquee to the accompaniment of the King’s Stanley Band. The opening was a great success and brought together volunteers, villagers, local authority politicians, officials, partners and sponsors who left even more determined to ensure the restoration of the Cotswold Canals.
Stage 2 bid
The net result is that it is likely that there will be an increase in costs, but not of the magnitude suggested by the final studies. The plan is to fund this increase partly by asking British Waterways, the South West Regional Development Agency and Heritage Lottery Fund to make additional contributions and partly from a combination of Section 106 payments from adjacent land development and by fundraising. The good news is that BW, as lead partner, submitted Stage 2 applications to both the Heritage Lottery Fund and the South West Regional Development Agency on 17th October. We expect to hear whether the bid has been successful by the end of January 2006. A ‘Project Atlas’ has been produced which summarises the restoration project. This will shortly be available to download from
Next Steps
hand). The Trust has also submitted a bid, in respect of rebuilding Stonepits Bridge as a swing bridge, to the IWA Diamond Jubilee Project.
The Stage 2 bid for the restoration of six miles of the canals from Stonehouse to Brimscombe Port suffered a temporary setback when final studies suggested that costs could increase by as much as £10 million. The bid should have been submitted by the end of August but HLF granted a 2-month extension whilst costs and funding were reviewed. The Cotswold Canals Trust played a major role in this review. The review showed that, since the Stage 1 application to HLF was made, construction costs in general have risen far faster than the retail price index. This factor alone added £1.25 million to the project cost. In addition, dealing with and managing predicted flood flows in the main river section of the restoration is expected to add a further £1 million. The review did, however, identify some areas where costings had been unduly pessimistic.
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www.britishwaterways.co.uk/cotswolds
In the west, the Trust will have to make some important decisions as to where to focus its future restoration efforts. The current assumption is that BW will carry out the restoration of Phase 1a (from Stonehouse to Brimscombe Port) with minimal volunteer input as far as physical restoration is concerned. Phase 1b (from Stonehouse to Saul Junction) is vital to connect 1a to the inland waterways system via the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal and River Severn. A priority is to reach agreement with the relatively few private landowners along the line of canal. This would enable a number of projects to be considered including the rebuilding of Walk Bridge (which is the first obstruction of navigation after Saul Junction) and the completion of work in the vicinity of Whitminster Lock (for which the Trust has substantial funding in
Swindon to the Thames The Cotswold Canals Trust recently agreed in principle to join the Wilts and Berks Canal Partnership in making a £25 million bid to the Living Landmarks Lottery. If successful, this exciting project would restore parts of the North Wilts Canal and Thames & Severn Canal to provide a through navigation from Swindon to the Thames at Lechlade. The Stage 1 submission deadline is January 2006. Further Information www.cotswoldcanals.com
Cotswold Canals Partnership www.britishwaterways.co.uk/cotswolds
Or contact Jack Telling (Cotswold Canals Trust) on 01453 825709 or 07785 330480 (mobile)
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Wilts & Berks Canal
Pewsham Locks progress
by Colin Fletcher t Pewsham Locks near Chippenham, a lost industrial site from the early nineteenth century is coming to light. Beneath a canopy of mature oak lie the remains of a once bustling boatyard.
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As late as 1895, Luke Bishop worked here as a boat builder, although by then boat repair was probably the main activity. The original shallow dry dock still survives beside bottom lock — it was filled and emptied by gravity as is Bradford on Avon Dry Dock. It only catered for empty wooden boats which floated in shallow water. All working
boats were horse drawn then, so once the coal was removed the boat lay high in the water. Local branch volunteers, assisted by visiting parties from the Waterway Recovery Group, are now bringing the old dry dock, saw pit and other remains back to their original condition, safeguarding our industrial heritage and having a good time while they do it.
Picture by Bob Naylor
Members of the Melksham, Chippenham and Calne Branch take a break during a Sunday working party at Pewsham Locks.
Connecting to other waterways f the three canal junctions connecting the Wilts & Berks canal to the national waterway network, the southern connection at Semington is the most challenging and vital. The immediate objective is to establish a new route across farm land to the River Avon near the Western Way roundabout. The new navigation will continue up river for about one kilometre before a second new canal cut provides a link to the original line north of the town. The river is several metres lower than either canal, creating minor engineering and major political challenges. Our third, and hopefully final, study into the issues arising from this proposal will be published in
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the spring; the detail provided will at least ensure the debate is well informed. Meanwhile, the active volunteers of the Trust are working to restore, and where possible re-water, the original canal between Melksham and the river Marden at Stanley, 14 kilometres north of Semington. Most of the original line is intact but heavily overgrown with thorn, blackberry and nettle. Five original locks, though damaged, are recoverable, as are the field bridges. Road bridges are another matter entirely — but fortunately there are only four of them and the new route through Melksham cunningly makes use of existing bridges. Three substantial lengths of
canal offer the promise of early re-watering and volunteers are currently working on one of these between Chippenham and Lacock. Professional bricklayers and plant operators are used to advantage, but the
main body of the work is driven forward by our volunteers who spend two Sundays a month clearing and maintaining the bed of the canal and repairing brickwork.
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Ledbury
Hereford
The Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal
H&G Canal Dymock
by Dick Skeet he Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal was born in the heady, optimistic days of the Canal Mania of the 1790s, when fortunes were imagined to be easily made by anyone who could move coal by canal.
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The waterway was promoted on the basis of the small Newent coalfield on the edge of the Forest of Dean and the first part of the canal, from Gloucester to Ledbury, was opened in 1798. All of its authorised capital had been spent on building just half of the line and the expectations of the mines was never to materialise. It was not until 1845 that the canal was completed to Hereford. By then there was little enthusiasm for the canal and, although the railway did not arrive in Hereford until 1853, the writing was on the wall.
Canal closed For some years the canal was operated jointly with the Great Western and West Midland Railways until closure became inevitable. In 1881 work began on building the Gloucester — Ledbury Railway, most of the line being laid on the bed of the canal. Traffic on the Hereford — Ledbury section of the canal ceased two years later; the land was sold and, for the most part, nature began to take over. The canal was quickly forgotten and remained so for a hundred years until interest was shown by a small group of enthusiasts who formed the Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal Society in 1983.
Trust formed Interest and enthusiasm grew and in 1992 the Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal Trust was inaugurated with the declared aim of restoring the whole 34 miles of the canal to full navigation.
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Of the 18th Century canal, little remains. A section of the line, avoided by the railway, between Dymock and Newent and including the long Oxenhall tunnel remains in water and has been partially restored.
What’s left of the canal The railway line, itself closed in 1964, has protected the route and returning it to canal is perfectly possible though will not be easy in some places. The tunnel itself appears to be in reasonable condition for its age, but at least one section is known to have collapsed, possibly during construction of the M50 which passes over it. There is much more to be seen of the canal between Ledbury and Hereford. Considerable lengths still hold water and the tunnels at Ashperton and Aylestone are reported to be in remarkably good order. Most of the original bridges survive, though not always in a navigable condition and perhaps a dozen wharf buildings and at least three lock houses survive as private homes.
Restoration Two sections of the canal in Herefordshire and two in Gloucestershire have been the subject of restoration work including the restoration of House Lock near Newent and work on the Ell Brook aqueduct nearby is now in progress. At Over, where the canal will connect to the River Severn, the basin has been rebuilt in partnership with the developer of the adjacent housing. As part of the Collaboration Agreement, the developer has
River Wye
Newent Gloucester
Sharpness Canal
Monmouth
also provided the shell of the Wharf House, a magnificent building which is being fitted out by Trust volunteers. Already a restaurant, shop and interpretative centre are open and seven high quality bed and breakfast units are planned to open over the next two years. Hopefully this will provide a valuable source of income to the Trust for many years to come.
Future plans In Hereford, a new terminal basin will form the centrepiece of a major development of the City proposed by the Herefordshire Council. On the edge of the City a new park is being developed which includes a section of the canal. Here the Trust is working in partnership with the Council to build footpaths and cycleways as well as restoring the waterway itself. The entire canal corridor, including some short
diversions from the historic line, is fully protected by Local Plans and all the local authorities are enthusiastically supportive of the restoration. Apart from short sections owned by the Trust, the land is in private ownership, which makes access difficult for the general public and creates the greatest challenge to restoration. When fully restored, this delightful and almost entirely rural canal will join two historic cathedral cities, already themselves tourist destinations. Boaters and walkers alike will be able to visit the old market towns of Ledbury and Newent and enjoy the pretty villages along the canal as it winds through some of the most beautiful countryside in England. It will have about 28 locks, making a perfect week’s cruise for the holidaymaker – or a fortnight for those who really know how to unwind!
Stop at the one-stop service
HONE YSTREET Visit our Wharf on the Long Pound by Honeystreet Bridge for diesel, Calor Gas & coal water & 240 volt electrics overnight moorings pump-out & ‘Porta Potti’ disposal
Gibson’s Boat Services Telephone 01672 851232
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No. 173 Winter 2005
Sweden hosts World Canals Conference ACT member Peter Badger and his wife Marian from Surrey ventured across the North Sea to enjoy the canals of Sweden while joining hundreds of canal enthusiasts, professionals and scholars from around the world at the 2005 World Canal Conference
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The Swedish canal authorities hosted this year’s Canals Conference from 22nd to 24th August in the town of Trollhättan in western Sweden, some 50 miles north east of Gothenburg. Delegates attended from the USA and Canada, the UK and Ireland, France, Belgium, Germany, Finland, Norway and of course Sweden. They represented official bodies, amenity and tourist authorities, canal associations, and some, like us, just plain canal enthusiasts.
Narrowboats to Sweden In addition to the hundreds of people present, four English narrow boats were afloat at Trollhättan: ‘Witcombe’, ‘Zavala’ and the working pair ‘Aldgate’ and ‘Angel’. They were there to help promote the conference, which they did very effectively. How do you get narrow boats to Trollhättan? Simple, go down to Tilbury Docks, get loaded onto a ro-ro ferry and proceed across the North Sea to Gothenburg where you get unloaded. From there you motor up the Göta Älv river to Trollhättan. While in Sweden, the boats took the opportunity to go deeper into the country’s beautiful and interesting canals before the conference began. Following the river upstream brings you to Lake Vänern near Vänersborg. From there, hugging the western shoreline of the enormous lake as far as Köpmannebro, they turned left into the Dalsland Canal. The Dalsland is a series of lakes joined together by a lock or a short flight of locks. Part of the summit lake Stora Le lies over the border in Norway. So having moored up at that end of the lake, the boats’ crews were taken by land to Ørje on
Norway’s Halden Canal (yes, Norway has canals too), where they were hospitably entertained and shown round the canal locks and other facilities.
Three full days Back in Trollhättan the conference fully occupied the three days under the theme “Historic and Commercial Canals in a Modern Society” with presentations and discussions on a wide range of subjects. These included: the technical (vacuum mooring for inland waterways, experience of different kinds of material for lockgates, remote control and automation of historic locks in north-western Germany); the historic (Hans Christian Andersen’s three journeys on the Göta Canal and a review of 500 years of canals in Sweden); the economic (tourism as an answer for some Finnish canals, regional and local effects of living waterways and winter navigation on Swedish inland waterways); and the future (a novel solution for a new crossing of the motorway by the Göta Canal at Söderköping and ro-ro solutions for inland waterways and short sea crossings).
Study visits Two study visits were included in the conference programme. The first was by the boat ‘Elfkungen’ to the lock area at Trollhättan, where there have been three successful attempts to overcome the 32-metre height difference between the lower and upper levels in the river. We viewed the remains of the lock flights from 1800 and 1844 and the current lock flight (a staircase of three locks and a top lock) dating from 1916. From one control
Picture by Peter and Marian Badger
Trip boat ‘Dalsland Kanal’ ascending the locks at Håverud, crossing the aqueduct to turn the corner into the top lock.
cabin the locks and bridges are operated with radar and CCTV systems on a round-theclock basis for commercial and leisure traffic between Gothenburg and the Lake Vänern ports. About 5000 leisure boats go through the locks in a summer season. Our second visit was to the Dalsland Canal at Håverud. The canal runs through a landscape of lakes and wooded hills and is now used only for leisure traffic. At Håverud the canal makes a daring sweep with locks and an aqueduct across a narrow rocky gorge with a rail bridge overhead and a road bridge higher up, so bringing together three forms of transport. Round the bottom of the locks cluster cafés, exhibition and visitor centre, youth hostel and museum. Here we boarded our boat ‘Dalslandia’ for the voyage down to the entry lock on the canal at Köpmannebro, calling in at a wilderness campsite, one of several set up alongside
the lakes of the waterway for the outdoor life so popular in Sweden.
The Swedes know how to stage a conference It was a well-balanced agenda with good presentations run pretty much to schedule, though with starts at 08.30 and lunch at 11.30! Those Swedes know how to put on a good conference and to ensure that delegates are suitably fed and entertained once the day’s business is over, late nights too! Quite an experience. Once conference was over there was for some of us the post-conference tour to Stockholm with more canals to see and boat trips, but that’s another story. Will we be going back to Sweden and its canals? Certainly!
Future World Canal Conferences The conference in 2006 will be in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. In 2007 it will be coming to the UK — when the IWA will be hosting it in Liverpool on 13th–15th June.
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No. 173 Winter 2005
Ghostly goings on N
o Christmas would be complete without some tales of the unexplained to read along with a glass of mulled wine sitting next to a roaring log fire — or wood burning stove! The canal is a source of some interesting and varied tales. From haunted B&Bs to ghostly music on the air or phantom anglers or scary dogs, there are plenty of stories to tell. Di Harris has compiled a selection of her favourites here. If you know of any others, send them to the office for inclusion in another collection next year.
Friendly ghost at Devizes B&B t was a few days before Christmas. We were staying overnight in a B&B backing onto the K&A after enjoying a fabulous meal with the owners. The evening was perfect. The company was jovial, the food superb, and the red wine exceptional. At some time after midnight we went to bed. We were sleeping in the ‘pink room’ and our bathroom was across the corridor. At about 3.15, I woke and padded across the corridor to the bathroom. What a surprise I had when I opened the door. Where the bath had been the previous night there was a desk with a young man writing at it. I couldn’t tell you the period of his clothes because I’m hopeless at history, but I would say he could have
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walked right out of Pride and Prejudice. He looked up at me, hand hovering over the ink well that he was just about to prod with his quill. He didn’t seem as surprised to see me as I was to see him. I said, “Excuse me, would you mind leaving. I want to use this room”. “Certainly” he replied, and then without another word he rose and walked past me into the corridor. I didn’t see him again. When I mentioned it in the morning, our hosts gave each other knowing looks and all I could get out of them was “My lips are sealed”. I think they know who I saw that night, but they’re definitely not saying!
Hauntings at swing bridge he field-path between All Cannings and Allington was known as ‘the Corpse Road’ because it was the route taken to carry coffins from the hamlet of Allington for burial at All Canning churchyard, before the days of motor transport. A ghost was said to haunt the swing bridge, springing on people using the pathway from the withy bed growing on the Canning’ side of the towpath. In the early 1900s, an old Allington mid-wife named Beccy Grant was returning home
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rather late one evening and arrived in a shocking state, claiming that the ghost had sprung out upon her, pinched and pummelled her and pushed her into the canal. A doctor was called who admitted that he didn’t know what to think. Mrs Grant was bruised from head to foot and was most certainly suffering from shock. Did she really see a ghost, or had she an enemy? (Kathleen Wiltshire’s book, Ghosts and Legends of the Wiltshire Countryside)
The Beehive’s white lady here are numerous reports of ‘white lady’ ghosts, but the one seen in several rooms of the Beehive Inn at Bradford on Avon and reported by the
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Trowbridge Town’s Women’s Guild in 1977 has never been known to cause harm to anyone. (Kathleen Wiltshire’s book, More Ghosts and Legends of Wiltshire)
A fishy tale member of Devizes Angling Association has this story of ghosts to tell…. “Night fishing on the canal a few years ago, at the bottom of the Caen Hill flight of locks — in the pound known to local anglers as the Dredger — I encountered a young boy, and to this day I am not sure where he came from, or indeed where he went to, or what century he lived in! “The night air was warm to the skin, and the light was dusky under a moonlit sky, with drifting clouds. As I concentrated on my float, a shadow appeared to my right and the air went sweet and then cold. “As I slowly turned, there was a figure — a young boy about 12 years old, dressed smartly — staring across the water at the farmhouse, almost glaring and totally oblivious to anything around him. “I asked him if I could help, but as I spoke he turned, went up to the lock, stood on the
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lock bridge looking down towards the road bridge, and then walked down the small bank and disappeared into the hedge. “As he walked through the hedge the air turned warm again, and the sweet smell vanished. “I have fished there many times since, but have never met him again — but I wait to see him in the future.”
Wilcot & Lady’s Bridge cross the road from the Golden Swan Inn in Wilcot is the gate to an overgrown driveway leading to Stowell Park, which is known locally as Nanny’s Lane, and which the village folk used to avoid after nightfall. The tale is told of a bygone squire of the Wroughton family, who one Christmas Eve, turned his young wife out of the house into the snow, accusing her wrongly of infidelity. Dame Anne found her way across the road, to make her way along the track beyond Wilcot Manor, leading
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to Cocklebury. But she never arrived — her body was found frozen beside the track the next morning. Why she was going there, no one remembers; perhaps some faithful maid, now married, lived there. From that time a white form is sometimes seen, either gliding along the way to Cocklebury, or crossing Lady’s Bridge, which spans the canal and still bears the Wroughton crest, a ‘maunch’ or hanging sleeve. ( Kathleen Wiltshire’s book, Ghosts and Legends of the Wiltshire Countryside)
Horton hound and dog he first sightings of a black dog at Coate, near Bishops Cannings, was recorded in November 1938. In Kathleen Wiltshire’s book, Ghosts and Legends of the Wiltshire Countryside, she describes a great dog ‘... wi’ eyes as big as saucers’, which would sometimes sit on a stone-heap by the roadside. This phantom sat quietly, but if someone threw a stone, or even picked one up, its eyes became even larger — and no
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one seems to have waited to see more. The dog was also credited with the power of disappearing from sight without any movement being heard or seen. According to Kathleen, witches have claimed to produce these saucer-eyed dogs by concerted thought, but she gives no explanation for how or why. In 1970, another sighting of the saucer-eyed black dog at Coate appears to have co-incided with the death of a local man. In 1970, Mrs Read of Bishops Cannings WI told how her grandfather had been called to the deathbed of his grandfather. He saw the black hound just shortly before meeting the undertaker coming from his grandfather’s house. A black dog is still thought to haunt the towpath at Coate, along by the ‘block house’ near the layby. In 1990 or thereabouts, the Bridge Inn pub dog was seen by a local 3 days after she had died. No amount of arguing would convince him that he hadn’t just seen Cindy, a dog he had known for years.
Bruce Tunnel melodies Cruising through the Bruce Tunnel on the Millennium New Year I definitely heard the haunting sounds of music coming from ahead of me. I’ve heard the same thing on other occasions. Has anyone else heard the music?
Pewsey panther lack dogs have been part of the folk lore of Wiltshire for generations. More recently, the legend of the black panther or puma has been getting more exposure all over the South West. Bratton has its regular panther sightings and the Quantocks has a puma. And of course there’s the ‘beast of Bodmin’. But recently, not wanting to be left out, Pewsey has been the source of several sightings of a large black beast, most often recognised as a panther.
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Recent sightings of this animal on the towpath near Pewsey Wharf have been questioned by locals who suggest the observer might well have had a drop too much fine ale. But Cathy Francis for one is certain about what she saw. “I was walking my dog on the towpath near Wilcot last Spring and a huge black cat was sitting in the woods behind me, just watching me. This was definitely no domestic animal.”
Newbury Lock shock for courting couple lbert Emblin was the last resident Lock keeper at Newbury Lock. Albert has long departed this world, as has the lock cottage that he lived in for many years. He was one of those ‘once seen never forgotten’ characters, wearing what I suppose was the canal uniform of a bygone era, brown corduroy trousers (string at the knees), a waistcoat, a flannel shirt (minus the collar) with rolled up sleeves — all this underpinned by a huge pair of hobnailed boots. Even in the boots Albert stood little over five foot nothing. As well as Lock keeper he was lengthsman from Newbury to Widmead Lock — 4 miles to be inspected daily excluding Sundays, which required a bicycle. Albert’s bicycle was more reminiscent of a Klondike gold prospector’s mule than a bike. It carried everything, two sacks of ashes over the crossbar (for minor leak repairs), a 12-foot keb protruding fore and aft and a large canvas bag containing an assortment of canal-orientated tools. And when homeward bound pea or runner bean sticks and at Christmas a large bunch of holly for Mrs Emblin. But back to the story... The Ghost of Newbury Lock OR...? Albert was returning home to Newbury Lock one late December evening complete with bicycle. He went through the little tunnel to the towpath having crossed Northbrook Street, as there is no towpath under the town bridge. In Albert’s own words, “In the darkness I was cannoned into by a young couple, over went my bike and I landed on my backside and them two tangled up in my bike and the young lady sat on Mrs Emblin’s holly. “Sorry Mr Emblin” the lad shouted, “but we’ve seen a Ghost.” “What do you mean a ghost”, said Albert, as they picked themselves up? “We were sat on a lock beam at your lock minding our own business when this thing like a monk with a hood rose up out of the empty lock; it was covered in weed and slime and
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then slithered down again.” When relaying this later Albert said, “I’ve never had much truck with Ghosts but this seemed a rum do! Perhaps we had better go up and have a look. The pair of them took off like a couple of frightened rabbits which left me to look in the lock alone. I picked the bike up wheeled it up to the lock, leant it against the beam of the bottom lockgate and looked into the tail of the lock, Nothing. So I collected the bike and walked on up the lock, then I heard it. It was laughing. I know nothing about Ghosts”, said Albert “but I’d know that laugh anywhere, that’s John Gould’s laugh.” Sat on the top beam of the lock was John, tears running down his cheeks. “You all right John I says.” “Yes” says John “but did you see a courting couple take off down the towpath a couple of minutes ago?” “I did” said Albert “they had me off the bike in the tunnel.” In those early days of the Kennet & Avon Canal Association and when Newbury Lock was the only working lock for miles, we in John Gould’s Navy tended to regard the canal as our private duck pond and thought nothing of leaving a leaky boat (they all leaked) above the top gates of the lock with a siphon running over the top gates and on to the cill below. It transpires that John had climbed down the lock gates to start a siphon on the old River Lea Gunpowder Barge ‘Brimslade’ that was his floating office in Victoria Park during the summer months. After a few aborted attempts he eventually started the siphon and climbed back up the gates wearing his enormous ex-naval cream coloured duffel coat with the hood up. And so disturbing a courting couple using the lock beam for what most courting couples seem to think lock beams are for. “They took off as though they had seen a Ghost. I bet they won’t be back for a while” said John with tears still running down his cheeks. As told to Bill Fisher
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No. 173 Winter 2005
Bradford on Avon Wharf Show returns
A 1933 caravan on show
fter a break of three years the Bradford on Avon Wharf show returned in August at the instigation of Richard Burchell of Bradford on Avon Wharf Marine Engineering Services who with the help of Trust Branch member Andrew Cox organised the show. The day was a great success thanks to the efforts of branch
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members and raised over £500 for Trust funds. Planning has already started for next year’s event. The Redwing Trophy for the best turned-out boat went to Paul and Jill Skelton of nb ‘Elsie Joan’, the best turned-out crew were Malcolm and Sheila Patrick of nb ‘Katie D’ and the boat handling trophy was won by Margaret Jupp of nb ‘Chuffed’.
Malcolm and Sheila Patrick, winners of the best turned-out crew trophy
Boat handling
Paul and Jill Skelton who won the Redwing Cup for the best turned-out boat adopted a ‘Trafalgar’ theme for their dress.
Pictures by Elaine Kirby, John Maciver and Bob Naylor
Beryl Curtis demonstrates spinning
Nivernais boaters entertained at Crofton
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mike.margaretlee@btinternet.com
Crofton Branch members with posters and Champagne presented on behalf of the visitors by Jo Parfitt, second right.
Tinker’s Bag entertain
Picture by Bob Naylor
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Mike Lee will organise hire boats from either Vermenton or Chatel Sensoir to explore the middle section of the canal. A warm and friendly welcome is assured. The best time to visit is early September when the heavy summer hire boat traffic has diminished. There is no commercial traffic on this part of the canal but plenty of locks. Anybody interested can contact Mike on 0122 5873915 or email:
Picture by Bob Naylor
es Amis du Canal du Nivernais, from of our twin French canal association, visited the eastern end of the K&A in September. They enjoyed their visit and were particularly delighted with Crofton where they saw the engines working under steam. Trust members joined them in the evening for a BBQ and musical entertainment by the English traditional music band, Tinker’s Bag. Jo Parfitt of Les Amis said, “This event was a real surprise and I had no idea English music could be so exciting and enjoyable.” Their final stop on the trip was at Newbury where the Branch laid on a buffet for them. The weather was kind, they loved this part of the canal and they all returned home very happy. Les Amis are now keen for K&A Trust members to visit the Nivernais and Jo Parfitt and
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No. 173 Winter 2005
Canal Fishing
Picture by Bob Naylor
Community spirit on the canal
Devizes Angling Association evizes Angling Association, which was established in 1893, controls the fishing rights from Semington Bridge to Lady’s Bridge at Wilcot. To fish these waters you will need an Environment Agency Annual Rod Licence which you can buy at any Post Office or on the internet. You will also need a Day Ticket, a 14-day Ticket or to become a Member of Devizes AA. Water Bailiffs patrol the canal frequently to check. Membership of Devizes
by The Perchman
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AA and day tickets can be bought at Bernie’s Bait & Tackle, Snuff Street, Devizes. Day tickets are also available at The Spar Shop on Bath Road, Devizes, Seend Caravan & Camping Centre and from the Foxhangers Camp Site. The canal is a wonderful natural environment for everyone, somewhere for us all to enjoy in peace and harmony.
Devizes AA Pike matches 2006 New Year’s Cup . . . . . 8.1.2006 G Beavan Cup . . . . . . 29.1.2006 Jack Fell Cup . . . . . . . . 9.2.2006 Open Match . . . . . . . . 12.3.2006 Pike Pairs . . . . . . . . . 26.3.2006
hen I first came back to Devizes eleven years ago (and I had been fishing here eleven years before), the canal was idle and covered in duckweed. Since the pumping station at Foxhangers has been restored, the whole environment for the boats, the fishermen and, most importantly, the wildlife has improved. The kingfishers are back, as indeed are the herons! And the fishermen are back too, with many people enjoying the delights of the canal bank, catching bronze bream, common carp, eels, crucian carp, tench, perch, gudgeon and esox lucius (the pike)… the list is endless. The canal is a wonderful place which is respected by
. . . . . . . . . .All Cannings . . . . . . . . . .Lady’s Bridge . . . . . . . . . .Marsh Lane . . . . . . . . . .Town Pounds . . . . . . . . . .The Pile
For further information go to: www.devizesaa.org.uk
the vast majority of fishermen who not only take care of the fish but also take care of the litter along the towpath in and around Devizes. The water bailiffs from Devizes Angling Association — Bill and Lloyd — together with caring members of the public regularly walk the towpath and collect the rubbish, making it a cleaner place for us all. The boats which moor along the canal and the life they bring really enrich the lives of the townspeople and the fishermen. The community that lives on, and looks after, the canal is once again truly alive and well along the length of the Kennet & Avon.
The Caen Hill Flight – an angler’s guide nyone listening to anglers in the Devizes area talking about where they are going fishing could be forgiven for thinking they were talking about other waterways with names like Shangri-la, Prison and Soapy . But these are just three of the names given to the Caen Hill flight pounds by Devizes Angling Association. Some of the names have obvious origins, others are lost in time. Here is a map of the flight with the anglers’ names.
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La ne
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Caen Hill locks — no fishing
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Marsh
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25 ile d’s 26 y e P pher e h T e nn i h 27 h p S S s -la gri Spire s ’ n a y rke ap Sh Cla So
Dre dge r
Mar C ina urry Prison ’s
Rd Bath
50 49
Caen Hill
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46
47
B Bla 48 ather ck s Hor se
Cat holi c
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No. 173 Winter 2005
Following in Jane Austen’s footsteps
A boat enters Sydney Gardens tunnel
On your left, before the shops that sit on top of the bridge, you will find steps leading down to the riverside. Walk along the river. This is a good place to stop for a coffee in the cafe overlooking the weir. Carry straight on, with the river on your right,
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Cleveland House and tunnel
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One of the iron bridges in Sydney Gardens
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Sydney Gardens
Road
Cross over the canal to pick up the towpath as it passes through the tunnel into Sydney Gardens and as you enter the gardens look back up to see Sebrina, goddess of the Severn in the stonework above you. Ahead is the first of two ornate iron footbridges in this stretch of the canal, known as Bath’s Little Venice. If you look to the tunnel ahead you will see Old Father Thames leading you to the West.
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Turn left off the towpath through a gate that leads into the Gardens and follow the path round to the right — past the back of the Holbourne Museum. When you reach the road, turn left and you will pass No 4 Sydney Place on your right, the home of Jane Austen. Turn right into Great Pulteney Street and follow this Georgian masterpiece past the fountain in Laura Place and towards Pulteney Bridge.
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on Av er Riv
Start on the towpath opposite Bath Narrowboats at Sydney Wharf and walk north towards Cleveland House. Built as the Canal company’s HQ in the early 1800s, this is the only purpose-built Georgian office on a tunnel.
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ad Ro
ick thw Ba Pulteney
The walk includes no strenuous climbs unless you choose to walk up to Bathwick to enjoy the view. et tre S ey en ult P at Gre passing under a road 4 bridge and past some houses until you reach the junction of the river and weir the canal. Recreation Ground As you turn onto the towpath, pass Thimble P Mill and Widcombe Lock North Parade Road and then follow the P Cricket towpath past Deep Lock Ground (originally 2 locks) and then on past the 4 other Ferry Lane locks in the Widcombe flight. Bath Spa If you are up for a bit Station of a climb, take a Widcombe Lock (7) short detour off the towpath. Cross the footbridge over Top Lock, Bath Deep Lock 5 (8/9) walk to the road and then take the steps in front of you to Bathwick and enjoy the superb view of Bath which is well worth the climb. To finish the walk continue on the towpath to Bathwick Hill. Great Pulteney Street
his is a perfect walk for a winter’s day as it covers sound footpaths and roadways — a few puddles here and there, but no muddy stretches. With the whole walk easily accessible from Bath it is possible to start and finish at any stage. We started at the Bathwick Hill bridge, and soon reached Sydney Gardens, a beautiful park where Jane Austen would walk every day, crossing the canal on the beautiful footbridges .
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Bath & Bristol Branch Chairman, Mike Davis takes Di Harris on a walk around his home city Length: 2 miles
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Road
Bath Top Lock 13) and Footbridge
Pultney Gardens Lock (12) Horseshoe Bridge Lock (11) Wash House Lock(10)
Map: GEO projects map of the Kennet & Avon Canal
Looking back down the Widcombe Flight from the footbridge at Bath Top Lock
Pictures by Bob Naylor
6 Take a short walk uphill from Top Lock to Bathwick and from this large National Trust owned field you will get a 24
superb view across the city — night or day.
Join The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust now to help Protect, Enhance and Promote the waterway and you will get:
The K&A Canal Trust magazine
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Membership Fees – please tick one box Annual fees are for one year from the month of joining Pay by standing order and claim your FREE leather card wallet Annual Membership Fees Adult Single/£15 Senior Citizen Single/£10 Adult Family/£17 Senior Citizen Family/£12
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Life Membership Fees
T T Adult Family/£250 T Senior Citizen Family/£125 T Adult Single/£200
Senior Citizen Single/£100
Junior (14–18)/£7 Corporate membership – please phone 01380 721279 for information Branch Membership – please tick one box
T T Newbury Devizes Bath & Bristol T I/we would be interested in helping with branch activities T Central
Reading
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Hungerford Crofton
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West Wilts Claverton
Your details – please complete all sections I/we wish to join the Trust and enclose: A completed Standing Order form A completed Gift Aid Declaration form A cheque (payable to The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust) I would like a FREE leather card wallet
T T T T
(standing order applicants only after receipt of first payment)
FREE entry to: Claver ton Pumping Station Devizes Canal Museum Crofton Beam Engines
Name(s) of applicant(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................. ............................................. Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................. ............................................. Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Standing Order Name of Member’s Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Address of Member’s Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .............................................
A GEOprojects canal map of the Kennet & Avon Canal (and including the River Avon and Bristol Docks)
Please pay to Lloyds Bank plc, Devizes Wilts SN10 1JD (sort code 30-92-63) credit A/C No. 0441822 The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust the sum of £. . . . . . . On (date). . . . . . . . . .and the same sum on the same date each YEAR until further notice. Signed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Account No. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Join at any of the Trust shops or the attractions listed — or phone: 01380 721279
............................................. To Bank: When making payments please quote: . . . . . . . . . . . Gift Aid Declaration Name of Charity: The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Details of Donor Title: . . . . . . . . .Full Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Address: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Postcode: . . . . . . . . . . .
If you pay by standing order you will also get a leather K&A wallet to keep your membership car d in Registered Charity no. CC209206
I want the charity to treat all subscriptions/donations I make from the date of this declaration until I notify you otherwise as Gift Aid Donations. Signature: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Date: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . You must pay an amount of Tax at least equal to the tax that the charity reclaims on your donations in the tax year (currently 28p for each £1.00 you give). Please post or fax this form to: The Membership Secretary, The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, FREEPOST, Canal Centre, Couch Lane, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 1BR. Fax: 01380 727870
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No. 173 Winter 2005
Trust website redesigned and relaunched he newly re-designed and updated KACT website went ‘live’ in October and has already attracted over 2000 hits. We’ve received very positive feedback so far and are delighted that the new site both looks good and is easy to navigate. The Trust is particularly The new site is designed
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around the branches of the Trust and, by clicking on a particular section of the map of the Canal, you can tap into the activities of the local Branch, the local history, the local weather, local boat-trips and retail outlets, and the Canal’s heritage. There are also pages for those who use the Canal for boating, walking, angling, and cycling. A small Web-site Steering Group — James Harrison, Harry Willis, Sam Weller and John Kirby — gave much of their time agreeing the look and content of the new site. Their advice was invaluable as they each brought their own expertise to the project.
There are movies about Crofton and Claverton Pumping Stations
Crofton
Claverton
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indebted to Colin Harrison of Kelston Group, plc, who designed the site and showed enormous patience and cooperation as we assembled the site’s material. With our new website we can now keep members right up-todate with news and events on the canal. Trust Administrator Mo Crossely will be making regular day-to-day editorial changes to the content to ensure it is always topical. We are, however, still looking for a new website editor. Please get in touch with Mo if you have a little time to spare for this non-technical job.
Home page The newly designed home page is the doorway to everything the K&A has to offer members and visitors.
Branch pages Discover the canal section by section and find out local news.
Go to
www.katrust.org Museum pages The history of the canal truly comes to life on the museum pages. Have fun with the interactive working lock animation and marvel at the video clips of our two pumping stations, Crofton and Claverton. Our new website explains what went into the planning of the canal, the technologies and methods used to build it and — of course — the boats and cargoes, people and trades that thrived on the waterway while it was in its heyday. The decline of the canal completes the site.
Other pages Discover what the K&A has to offer boaters, anglers, walkers and cyclists.
Interactive animation Working a lock has never been easier! Follow the instructions on screen to open the bottom lock gates, drive the boat into the lock, tie it up and close the gates again before activating the windlass to open the paddles and watch the lock fill and the boat rise up before cruising out at the higher level. And it takes no elbow grease at all!
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No. 173 Winter 2005
Fisheries of the Kennet & Avon Canal In the first in an occasional series about fish on the Kennet & Avon Canal, Bob Preston, the Environment Agency Fisheries officer, examines the fish in the eastern end of the waterway. he Kennet & Avon Canal is a major East–West waterway linking the rivers Kennet and Thames with the Bristol Avon. It was built during the late 18th/early 19th centuries and for a few years was a thriving commercial route between London and Bristol. The coming of the railways during the mid 1800s brought about its slow decline and it ceased to be an effective waterway after the Second World War. The Canal enters Thames Region via the Bruce Tunnel south of Savernake Forest near Marlborough. From there it drops down to the Kennet Valley to its first meeting with the Kennet west of Kintbury. From here, and at a number of locations down to Reading the canal and river join and diverge, and in some places share a common channel.
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The upper reaches In the upper reaches above Newbury the fish populations in the canal are typical of a canal fishery anywhere in the country. Roach tend to be the dominant species with bream, tench, carp, pike and perch present in varying numbers. Pounds that still have plentiful reed beds and tree cover have larger and more diverse fish populations than those that are more exposed.
Below Newbury Below Newbury the river influence is greater and the fish population changes somewhat. Roach are still dominant, and bream, tench and carp are still present in
survey carried out in the mid1980s on behalf of British Waterways before the canal reopened was limited to the Berkshire section. Carrying on from that was an MSc study by a student on placement with the Environment Agency’s
Algal bloom In March 1998 a major incident occurred in and around Hungerford. An unseasonal algal bloom died rapidly during a cold rainfall event following on from a period of warm weather. This triggered a bacterial toxicity event which first came to notice in the trout farm at Denford. Follow-up investigations over a period of several weeks narrowed down the cause and surveys on the Canal locally demonstrated that the fish population had been seriously impacted. Some restocking was carried out and the canal rapidly re-established itself.
Important course fishery many locations. Perch and pike are still to be found, but in the flowing sections chub, dace and barbel are also to be found. Lower down the river/canal towards Reading, the barbel in particular grow to large sizes with individual fish larger that 13lbs being found in recent fish population surveys.
Fish population surveys A number of fish population surveys have been carried out on the Kennet & Avon Canal. A
predecessor body (the National Rivers Authority), which looked at the entire length of canal in Thames Region. This, together with a few more sites, was later incorporated into the first baseline survey of the entire River Kennet and its tributaries which was completed in 1989. A further Kennet & Avon Canal survey was carried out the Environment Agency in 1994. In 2002 a National Core Monitoring Programme was started and the Kennet & Avon Canal has since been monitored four times from Newbury down to Reading.
The Kennet & Avon Canal is a highly valuable and very popular coarse fishery throughout its length in Thames Region. The survey programmes demonstrate that significant changes in the fish population structure have occurred since the opening of the canal in 1990. Some of these were anticipated as they have occurred in other canals nationally and have been monitored and studied. These changes have not been seriously detrimental to the canal as a fishery, and it remains a popular coarse fishery to this date.
ALL-ABOARD MARINE SERVICES & NEWBURY DRY DOCK
All boat maintenance services Boat Safety Examinations Anywhere on the K&A and Thames
Corgi Reg: 189616
Tel: 01635 37606 Mobile: 07940 583361 & 07703 235779 GREENHAM LOCK COTTAGE, AMPERE ROAD, NEWBURY RG14 5SN
www.aamarine.co.uk
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Butty
No. 173 Winter 2005
From the Archives Exactly 50 years after the first issue of The Butty, we start a series looking into the past activities of the Trust 50 years ago
evizes Canal Shop and Tourist Information Office opened on 24th May 1980. Sponsored and financed by Kennet District Council, and the West Country Tourist Board, the shop was staffed by volunteers from various organisations including Probus and the Soroptomists as well as KACT members. It sold a range of items from various sources including the central stores of the Trust in Newbury. In a fore-shortened season, opening from 10.00am to 5.30pm every day, they dealt with enquiries and purchases from 3321 visitors and had profits of £913.00 to assist the
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anuary 1956 saw the first issue of The Butty. There had been previous bulletins from Newbury and Bath, but this was the first magazine covering the whole of the K&A. Reading Branch was formed in November 1955 and the canal now had branches along its entire length. The main story of Butty No 1 was the petition delivered to HM the Queen with 20,000 signatures protesting against closure of the canal. The Bill proposing the abandonment of the canal had been introduced to Parliament,
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but the Association had rallied important opposition. After a lead taken by Bath City Council and Bathavon Rural District Council, almost every local authority along the canal was opposing the Bill. Members were still being asked to write to their MPs and to ‘keep on at them’, stressing the need for maintaining the canal to full navigational standards. A plea for a public enquiry into the possibility of restoring the K&A was made to the House of Lords by Lord Somers. Anthony Hurd, MP for the Newbury Division, called for an ‘impartial inquiry’ into the
restoration fund. Peggy Codrington’s artistry won the runner-up prize in a competition sponsored by the English Tourist Board — 480 Tourist Information Centres had entered. 1980 had been a fair one for Membership and from 1st April – 30th September there were 268 new members and 92 members lost — a net gain for 6 months of 176. A membership drive was planned for the Spring and Summer of 1981. At that time the subscription was £5. British Waterways Board’s winter maintenance programme included a stoppage at Sulhamstead Lock to replace
the top gates fitted with poor wood in 1965. It was predicted that more and more steel gates would appear because good quality oak was so difficult to obtain. Contractors had left Ham Lock, but there was still much to be done before the paddle gear (described as ‘unfortunately hydraulic’) could be fitted and the lock finished. IWAAC Chairman David Wainto proposed ways to increase revenue on the waterways — and suggested (following a European lead) increasing freight carrying on inland waterways to benefit the economy, save money and reduce pollution.
cost of restoration rather than the abandonment proposed by the British Transport Commission. Members were questioning the quality of the British Transport Commission,s work at Hamstead sluices which had made Benham Lock practically unworkable. “Was this sheer incompetence — or could some other reason have been behind it?” Mr CL Boucher consented to become Honorary Consulting Engineer and carried out a complete and extensive survey of the canal.
25 years ago
Christmas prize caption competition B Picture by Lee Hamber
There will be scant regard for fairness in the judging of this competition and the Editor’s decision is final. Entries on a postcard to the Trust Office or by email to butty@diharris.co.uk — by 18th February 2006
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Picture by Graham Sleeman
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Picture by Harry Willis
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There is a copy of the Countryside Books ‘The Industrial Revolution Explained’ by Stan Yorke — reviewed by Tim Wheeldon in this issue — for the best captions for these classic pictures of busy Trust Chairman, Brian Poulton, at a presentation to Ray Knowles at Crofton and on a Newbury Branch first aid course and this unusual caravan sighted near Bathampton.
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Butty BRANCH REPORTS
No. 173 Winter 2005
Newbury
Reading
Graham Smith 01635 580356
Mike Wyatt 0118 9427708 ur summer programme ended with a bang with Water Fest, but started again with a puff of smoke with the Branch BBQ at the start of September. It was a glorious summer evening with no need to put up our gazebos and about 40 members and guests enjoyed a very pleasant evening. Our thanks go to Jenny Cann whose family once again cooked our supper for us. September also brought a speaker who told us about the Chiltern Air Ambulance, which apart from the NHS paramedics is totally funded by charitable donations. Hopefully none of us will need this service as it’s for those who must be hospitalised very quickly or are in inaccessible locations, but then again, I can think of many canal locations without road access where a helicopter would be invaluable.
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50th Anniversary A small sub-committee is very busy sorting out the arrangements for our 50th Anniversary as I write this. I fear that the format of the letter may have unwittingly upset some members. If I have upset any ladies by not including them in the address, then the mistake was mine and I wholeheartedly apologise. I can only add that I had thought that the reply slip made it clear that partners were included as it asked for their names and their membership dates.
e were very pleased with the outcome of this year’s Newbury Waterways Festival from both the publicity and financial perspectives, though the accounts haven’t quite been finalised. The background work for next year’s event has already started and we hope this will be even bigger and better. Once again we are seeking the support of as many volunteers as possible to back up our hard-pressed stalwarts both with the pre- and post-event organisation and with the event itself. Please contact our chairman, Kate Skeates, on 01635 821780 if you think you might be able to help in any way.
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Picture by Brian Poulton
Under sail in the Solent
Thames Barge trip in Solent A number of us enjoyed a rather wet Sunday afternoon sailing on the restored Thames Spritsail Barge ‘Kitty’ in mid October. It was a remarkable experience, particularly when you recall that the barges were frequently laden with 150 tons of goods and sailed through the North Sea in winter with only a Skipper and a Mate and possibly a 15-year-old boy. To complete the event, the topic for our next speaker is the restoration of the Barge ‘Cambria’, the last Thames barge to trade under sail. For those who have not had the chance to sail on a barge perhaps the pictures will give some idea of what we experienced, including a spectacular locking, rather different from our usual small locks.
Waterways Festival The Waterways Festival is a regular feature of the town calendar and the timing is in part constrained by other local events; however, we hope that next year it will also suit boaters on extended cruises who wish to cover the length of the K&A before heading to the IWA National Waterways Festival at Beale Park. Mark the date of Sunday 30th July 2006 in your diary now!
Stone Building Picture by Mike Wyatt
Business at the Branch’s shop in the Stone Building on Newbury Wharf continues to
build under Tracy Perryman’s management, with the catering side doing particularly well. As always she would very much appreciate the support of some more volunteers to help spread the load – please contact her on 01635 522609 even if you can only help once or twice a month. Not only is there the social aspect of meeting people at the shop, but Tracy also organises occasional excursions and gettogether for the volunteers. This winter the shop will be closed from Christmas until Saturday 27th February while some refurbishment work takes place. Some of the work will have to be done professionally; however Tracy would welcome offers of help with things like the internal painting work and reorganising the shop’s stock.
Talks calender 2005 – 2006 Our talks season got off to a flying start at the end of September and we had difficulty squeezing in everyone who wanted to come to Robin Higgs’ talk about a barge holiday in eastern Germany. Robin has been heavily involved with the Basingstoke Canal for many years and also gave us a brief insight into the current difficulties there. Geoff Paterson continues to produce a range of interesting speakers for us and the details of future talks are in the What’s On diary. The formal business entailed in the Branch AGM (which we hope to keep to a minimum) will precede the last talk of the season on 26th April.
Locking our of the marina
The Stone Building NEEDS YOU! Our Newbury shop and tea room only remains open with the support of our volunteers. But we need more to join the team
Aboard the Thames Barge Kitty
Picture by Brian Poulton
If you can spare any time during the week, contact Tracey to find out how you can do your it to Protect, Enhance and Promote our canal. To find out more, pop into the shop or phone
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Butty BRANCH REPORTS Hungerford Richard Snook 01635 253446 e are still in the last throes of our summer schedule of public trips as I write this report, due for publication around Christmas time. The weather is still in summer mode as well, with the temperature well into the seventies, which is quite exceptional for the third Saturday in October.
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Boat trips The public trip numbers have been generally very pleasing throughout the season and have been full to capacity on several occasions. The number of boat charters did not quite live up to the earlier promise, but it was overall a very satisfactory result. We always knew that last year’s record would be very hard to repeat. We must remember that there is more to life than numbers
No. 173 Winter 2005
and the sincere thanks and letters of gratitude from our many clients adds to the feel good feeling and buzz that we all get from working with the ‘Rose of Hungerford’.
Bob Maslin memorial seat You will remember my mention of the sad loss of Bob Maslin, one of our mainstays in earlier times at the Hungerford Branch. Well, we now have a seat erected in his memory at Dun Mill Lock. It is planned, in the near future, to have his ashes interred at the same spot. May he rest in peace, by the canal, where he spent so many happy hours in days gone by.
Stand–in Santas Thanks to my repeated appeals in The Butty for stand-in Santas, we have had a positive response and are pleased to add four new names to our festive team. With six Santa charters already booked and
with fourteen scheduled Santa cruises, it means that they should all be very much in demand.
Quiz night In September we had the first of our quiz social evenings for our volunteers, which was a resounding success. Tracy and Maureen arranged the food and the quiz itself was the brainchild of Mike and Karen Hall. Mike, ably assisted by Karen, was acting MC, quizmaster, scorer and adjudicator, and Karen ran the bar as well. Having seen the impressive results, maybe a quiz against other Trust branches would be a good idea for the future. On reflection, maybe not such a very good idea after all, as half of the winning team were Reading Branch members. Thanks to you all for a great evening.
Trees Overhanging trees and other vegetation along our stretch of
the canal continue to make life difficult for the boating community. So during our close season we intend to have a working party organised to give it a good tidy up.
Crofton
Ray Knowles 01672 851639 t only seems a week or two ago that I was writing the last report but this time I have good news and bad news so I will start with the good news.
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Barbecue for Les Amis The branch barbecue was its usual success including the weather as was the special barbecue that we organised for Les Amis who arrived by boat from Aldermaston. By 9pm it was getting dark and a bit cool and those of us who had sidled up to the boiler
The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Public Trip Boats • 3 boats • 3 locations • public trips • special charters •
‘Rose of Hungerford’ Operating from just off the High Street in Hungerford With a seating capacity of 50, ‘Rose’ is a comfortable well-equipped widebeam boat. Public trips: • Every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday from Easter until October – 2.30pm: 2.5 hours • Every Wednesday from June until September – 2.30pm: 2.5 hours • Every Wednesday during July and August – 11.30am: 1.5 hours • Every Sunday during August – 11.30am: 1.5 hours • Special Santa Trips at Christmas
‘Barbara McLellan’ Operating from Bradford on Avon Wharf Cottage The Barbara McLellan is a 65-ft purpose-built wide-beam boat capable of seating 51 passengers.
Public trips: • From May to September–11.30am: I hour trip to Meadows Bridge, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays • From June to mid-September – 4.30pm: I hour trip to Widbrook, Saturday and Sunday • Special trips, including cream teas, Bath, Autumn Tints, Christmas Santa Trips
Charter trips available for all your special occasions Wheelchair/disabled access
Charter trips: for 1 to 5 hours or a whole day. Wheelchair/disabled access Wharf shop and tea-room Boat tickets, gifts, books and refreshments
Booking Manager: 01488 683389
Booking Manager: 01225 775326
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‘Protect Enhance Promote’
‘Jubilee’
Operating from Brassknocker Basin, opposite Viaduct Inn, Limpley Stoke, A36 East of Bath ‘Jubilee’ is a converted traditional narrowboat with a 30-seat capacity. Brassknocker Wharf has ample car parking. Public trips: • Sundays and Bank Holidays from Easter until October 12.00 – 2.00pm Cruise to Claverton and return 2.30pm – 5.45pm Cruise to Avoncliff stopping for 30 minutes and return • From June to September inclusive Tuesdays 2.30pm – 5.45pm Avoncliff and return Thursdays 2.30pm – 5.45pm Bathampton and return
All boats are well equipped to provide a range of refreshments and they have licensed bars. They also have a public address system or will accept your own sound system. General enquiries 01380 721279
real at! a y o j n E e family tr Booking Manager: 01749 850169 Charter trips
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Butty BRANCH REPORTS found our French under severe strain as our guests joined us with technical questions.
Steaming weekend On the first two days of October we finished the season on a high note with a good steaming weekend which had reasonable weather and a lot of interested and pleasant visitors. These included one lady who found herself firing the boiler and commented she was having a completely different day out to what she had been expecting. We also had a visit from Ethel Giles and her family who were on good form as usual.
Winter working Winter working has started and we have already had one working Saturday when a great deal was achieved by 5 of our younger volunteers. The entire engine house has been winterised with Tarp and the firebox fronts have been removed along with the firebars ready for the boiler cleaners who arrived in mid October. The water side of the boiler has been washed out and we will be ready for the boiler inspector who is due next week. These are just a few of the 40 items on this year’s winter work list, some of which do not need to be done until next winter. However, next year the boiler is due for its 10-year inspection and high pressure test and there is so
No. 173 Winter 2005
much work connected with this that we would not have time to do the other items but we cannot leave those until the winter of 2008.
Goodbye to Reg and Shelagh Now for the bad news, Reg and Shelagh, our Warden and Assistant Shop Manager, have decided to retire and will be leaving us at the end of the year so we are having to face up to the task of replacing the irreplaceable. There is a job advert elsewhere in this edition and an article to which many of us have contributed. All of us owe them a deep debt of gratitude for the sterling service that they have given over the past ten years. They have developed the jobs over that time and kept up with the changes to the Trust structure and the new legislation on Health and Safety so as a result Crofton runs smoothly and always looks immaculate during the open season. By the time you read this, we hope to be well into the recruiting process which is being handled initially at Devizes by Mo Crossley so that all applications are treated equally. We are only at Crofton for two days a week in the winter and applications sent there could be delayed. We are also still short of a Secretary, Deputy Chairman and shop volunteers for nonsteaming weekends but they don’t get paid at all!
Devizes
Roger Hollands 01249 650952
he Branch winter programme opened with a fascinating talk on the Past, Present and Future of the Cotswold Canals. To show our appreciation, the Branch commissioned local canal artist Rob Wright to paint a commemorative plaque which the Trust chairman Brian Poulton presented to Bruce Hall. As a follow-up to the talk we hope to arrange a conducted tour of the Cotswold Canals. This will probably take place in early May — no date as yet. If you are interested please let Alice or myself know. Numbers will be limited and on a first come basis. Any preference for a Saturday or Sunday might help with the planning.
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Skittles night On 15th October, we hosted the now-annual skittles match against the Melksham, Chippenham and Calne Branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust at the Cross Keys Inn at Rowde. The Wilts & Berks team were keen to wrest the trophy — a decorated plate that had been painted by Rob Wright — from us, won after a close-fought encounter a year ago. Both sides enjoyed a good turn-out and were able to field teams of more than 20. In the event, after many displays of consummate skill and outrageous luck, we retained
the trophy on the basis of gross score on the night, although the match was drawn in terms of games won. Our thanks go to Rob and Helen Wright who organised the event and to Peter Jordan for again being Master of Ceremonies on the night.
I’ve Survived Christmas I’ve Survived Christmas. This fun-packed evening will be on the 14 January and there will be food, silly games, a raffle and even snowball fights. Please bring your own liquid refreshment. All this for £6.00 — we must know who is coming by 10th Jan at the latest.
Canal Clear Up Removing shopping trolleys and other miscellaneous rubbish from the Canal can be fun! Come along to the Wharf at 10am on 4th March. Then in the evening the Wharf Meeting room will be the venue for a light-hearted Quiz Evening. There will be supper provided and you are invited to bring refreshment of your choice. Just £5.00 per person.
Branch AGM The Branch AGM will be on Saturday April 1st at 7.30 in the Wharf Meeting Room. The AGM will be followed by a talk on a canal related subject. Please look at the Devizes Branch section of the new website for the latest information.
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rd o n Avo n W h o f & ar ad r D r y D ock B 200 years of tradition returns to Bradford Wharf
For Marine Engineering Services & Dry Dock Bookings Covering all aspects of boat repairs, maintenance & improvements Call Richard Burchell on 01225 868 668 or 07971 103436 The victorious Devizes Branch skittles team
Picture by Bob Naylor
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Butty BRANCH REPORTS West Wilts John Maciver 01225 812225
he brilliant weather during August Bank Holiday weekend contributed to a very successful and enjoyable Wharf Show at BOA. Andrew Cox and his team did a superb job in organising the activities on our side of the Cut, helped by all the volunteers who ran the various stalls and orchestrated the entertaining ‘Boat Parade’. Jill Lewis and all her helpers were rushed off their feet in the Tea Room and the garden in particular was a very popular vantage point overlooking the hustle and bustle. The foundation has now been set for an even bigger and better event next year; it’s likely to be during the same period, so look out for the notices.
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Shop & Tearoom The Shop/Tea Room has been our saving grace this year, turning in an extremely good performance, especially on the catering sales; thank you to Jill, and Jane Furniss the Assistant Shop Manager. Throughout the season many volunteers contributed significantly to keeping the Tea Room open, and we’re particularly grateful to those who stepped in at the last minute during extremely busy periods. Because the Tea Room has been so popular and built up such a regular
clientele, it was decided that Dave and Margaret Jupp, assisted by other volunteers, would open up during the weekends in November.
Barbara Mac Sadly, ‘Barbara McLellan’ is still under repair, consequently all the Autumn and Santa Trips had to be cancelled. I am pleased to report that an entire new bottom plate has now been welded into place. The underside of the plate was primed and blacked before the boat was craned back in the water at the end of October. After painting the engine room, reinstalling all the equipment and making sure all the systems operate, the boat was sailed back to BOA for the ‘fun’ to commence as we started refitting the main cabin, bar and galley. In the meantime, Geoff Olver, Boat Manager, and Robin Parry, Deputy Boat Manager, have been very busy painting the hull topsides above the repair area and also carrying out opportunity maintenance. None of this work would have been possible without the help of a hard core of volunteers who have given up so much of their own free time: Roger Davies, Peter Hawes, Laurie Stallard, Tony Neal, Ron Looker, Nigel Millward and Dave Wright. Further, Robin and Roger have been busy drawing up plans for improvements to the seating and table arrangements, better disabled toilet layout and, importantly ensuring adequate
Barbara McLellan at RLL Boats, Keynsham
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No. 173 Winter 2005
Picture by John Maciver
access panels and vent grills are fitted in the cabin floor. The re-fit will take a number of weeks, so volunteer working parties will be required leading up to the start of the season. We thank Peter Crawford for all his contribution in the past as Director Operations and welcome aboard John Shaw.
Boat trips 2006 The first Public Trips will commence on 1st April 2006. But the pre-season shake-down trip and the first volunteer Training Day (2 hour sessions) will be on Saturday 25th March, followed by another on Sunday 9th April. A full programme for this mandatory training will be published nearer the time. The training is for complete novices and experienced alike, and will cover an update on recent changes to the operating procedures and a refresher on fire drills, emergency evacuation and other safety matter.
AGM & social events Dave Jupp is arranging our Annual Dinner at The Barge, Send Cleeve, on Saturday 14th January at 7.00pm. Chris Poulter is running the raffle again and would appreciate prizes for the raffle. Our AGM will be on Saturday 11th February 2006 in the Holy Trinity Church Hall, Brandford on Avon, at 7.30pm. A number of Committee Members will be stepping down, so we are looking for new Committee Members and fresh ideas. Without your support and input we cannot operate.The popular Volunteer Social Club meetings (last Thursday in month) run by Andrew Cox, Chris Poulter and John Shirley will recommence in February 2006. Finally, there are many Trust members who have indicated that they would like to volunteer in either the shop or on the boat, so why not get in touch? We would be delighted to welcome you. You do not need any previous experience to participate in this rewarding and satisfying pursuit.
Claverton Pete Dunn 01761 432811
laverton’s next planned big task was to be the replacement of the wooden gear teeth sometime after 2007. Being well staffed with engineering and practical types, we recently decided that the gap in our planned pump maintenance programme for the next few years would allow them the time to take on the reconstruction of the Burbage Crane.
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Sluice problem Of course that was tempting fate as, during the summer, I noticed that the water wheel control sluice was not lowering as smoothly as it should do. An inspection was planned for this winter and I was not expecting to find too much wrong but on our September run we found that the sluice would not lower without jamming. After some work, we managed to start the wheel — just as well because we were expecting the New York Canal Society later that day. The inspection was brought forward. To gain access to the sluice, which is normally under water, we have to drain the mill pond. This can only be done after British Waterways have turned off their electric pumps. With the pond drained, the problem became very obvious. The lower oak timbers of one half of the sluice have rotted so badly that they have started to break up. There is no possibility of running again until the sluice has been completely rebuilt which will take some time and a considerable sum of money. As I write this in mid October, we are urgently making plans to carry out this repair which will entail complete sluice removal and subsequent damming of the mill pond to allow the electric pumps to continue operating. Our Easter runs are in doubt at the moment but I do hope to have the pump running by May. We will open as usual but the
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Butty BRANCH REPORTS machinery will be static until repairs are complete. Anyone who knows the Pump will realise that there are two halves to the sluices and may be questioning the condition of the other side. I have looked at both now and at present we have a problem with just one side, but the other will need attention soon. The winter of 2007 will be taken up replacing the second sluice.
Burbage Crane But back to the Burbage Crane. This project will not be abandoned. I believe we can carry out both projects although the crane’s start may delayed by a few months.
Obituary Liz Perrington It is with great sadness we have to report that Liz died on 5th October 2005. Back in 1989, Liz and her husband Brian were looking for a new challenge to adopt as a hobby. At the same time, all the then current members of Claverton Pumping Station were off on a holiday over the Easter break and needed somebody to ‘look after the shop’ — in stepped Liz and Bri both of whom went on to become very important members of the group. Over the years Liz has taken on the roles of committee secretary, treasurer and shop manager and was always available on pumping days as well as being part of a regular static opening team. Liz could also be seen doing many hands on tasks around the Pump House. She was still busy and committed at the Pump right up to the end of the 2004 season. Outside of the Pump, Liz was a keen quilter and was involved the scout and cub movement in her home of Keynsham for many years. Liz was always there with a smile and a friendly word and will sadly missed by all.
No. 173 Winter 2005
Bath & Bristol Mike Davis 01225 448576 nother good season for all our activities draws to a close. It was glorious summer weather this year, although we now need a warm and wet winter to replenish the water levels; not the cold and dry one which some people are forecasting.
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Jubilee’s year Our trip boat ‘Jubilee’ has had another good year. Financial results lag behind last year, which was a very good year. There is now an important winter refit set up, including the installation of a new engine. Charters were two short of the hundred, carrying 2,060 adults and 126 children. In addition, there was the normal programme of Public Trips each week. It is interesting that the main source of bookings is now the Internet, some of them from far afield. John Shaw has been appointed as Director of Boat Engineering on the Enterprise Board, with responsibilities for all three of our trip boats. Congratulations, John! I am glad to say that he will remain on our Branch Committee. The Trust website has been substantially improved and relaunched, and we have our own Branch page so members and others can keep up to date with what is happening on-line. Bob Wlodarczyk has taken over responsibility for this. Go to www.katrust.org.
This will be part of the Trust website but will also be linked to other sites as well.
Open Days We will be holding two Open Days at Brassknocker Basin (bottom of Brassknocker Hill, on the Bath–-Warminster road) on Saturday and Sunday, 6th and 7th May. Attractions will include the ‘Jubilee’ running shuttles to the Claverton Pumping Station, the Trust Special Projects of the Crane and Ticket Office at Dundas, a display of the canal restoration, demonstrations by the Bathampton Anglers and some of the other canal societies. A walks programme will include the newly-restored Dundas Aqueduct. This is in addition to the permanent activities at Brassknocker, including the Angelfish Restaurant and the boat and cycle hire business. There will thus be plenty to do and see and we encourage our existing members to come along and get involved. It is the ideal opportunity to do so. Remember that Trust
members can visit any of our attractions free of charge. So bring your friends and neighbours with you too and show them what we have achieved and what we have to offer. It will be a good way to get next season well and truly kicked off.
Branch events On Tuesday, 14th February, we have a Winter Meeting at 7.30 pm at St Mary’s Church Hall, Bathwick. Robert Coles has been taking wonderful photographs of the K&A for 50 years and now has a Treasure Trove in his trunk at home (he has promised to bequeath it to the Trust Museum!). Robert will be showing a selection of these photographs and his talk is entitled “Pictures Past and Present”. This is not to be missed. The Branch Annual General Meeting will take place also at the St. Mary’s Church Hall, at 7.30 pm on Tuesday, 28th March. We hope to see as many members there as possible.
Walks leaflet Bob is also now developing our Branch Walks programme. Our Walks Leaflet is many years old so we are producing a new one which will be integrated with Public Transport access and other non-canal complementary walks such as the National Trust’s Bath Skyline Walk. He has already identified nearly forty walk options between Bath and Claverton. The programme will primarily be web based, with hard copy print runs from time to time.
Y BOATING DAon the beautiful
Kennet & Avon Canal self-drive and skippered boats canadian canoes & cycle hire The Bath & Dundas Canal Co. Brass Knocker Basin Monkton Combe, Bath, BA2 7JD Telephone: 01225 722292 Web: www.bathcanal.com
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No. 173 Winter 2005
Reviews Tim Wheeldon Our reviewer of technical books Tim Wheeldon has lived in the lock cottage at the junction of the K & A with the Somerset Coal Canal overlooking Dundas Aqueduct since 1979 and has been in business on the canal since 1982 when he and his wife launched the restaurant boat “John Rennie” in Bath. Before that he was an estate agent, Royal Navy helicopter pilot, and civilian helicopter pilot, but canals must be in his genes — his parents hired a boat in 1939 and went down the Shrewsbury arm! Nowadays he looks after the quarter mile arm of the Somerset Coal Canal which he and his business partner restored in the mid nineteen eighties for moorings and other activities including the Visitor Centre at Brassknocker Basin. Having been involved with the K&A for so long, he has seen the unfolding of the recent story of the restoration and has much respect for the early pioneers who, in the fifties and sixties, changed the political climate and thereby saved the canal.
Satellite Television Martyn Satman Telephone: 07914 401036 Forget ghosting, crackling sound, with satellite. 100% perfect picture, over 200 free channels and no monthly payments. Fully fitted system on site to your existing television, including demo – £450
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The Industrial Revolution Explained By Stan Yorke First published in 2005 by Countryside Books ISBN 1 85306 935 3 128 pages. £7.99 soft cover
ne of the “England’s Living History Series” published by Countryside Books this neat A5 sized paperback is one of the clearest and comprehensible books covering the Industrial Revolution I have yet read. It is clearly a reference book and some might be put off by its “back to school” feel, but for easily understood information about an enormous subject this book is hard to beat. The photographs, taken by Stan Yorke and well-captioned, are all black and white which is a clever touch as it gives a period clarity to which colour would not be necessary and might even be a disadvantage (see next review). The photos are augmented by excellent line drawings by the author’s son, Trevor. Whilst it is not really surprising that the K&A doesn’t get a mention in the short and generalised chapter covering both canals and railways it is, perhaps, a bit of a pity that there is no mention of Crofton pumps in the more detailed chapter on steam engines and pumps - although it is listed in the comprehensive list of industrial sites and museums (Claverton isn’t). With this small caveat, an excellent read.
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Win a copy of The Industrial Revolution Explained in our Christmas caption competition on page 28 The Architecture of Canals By Derek Pratt First published in 2005 by Shire Publications ISBN 0 7478 0632 2 56 pages. £5.99
erek Pratt is such an accomplished photographer and author that it is rather surprising to find a new publication that doesn’t quite seem to match up to his previously high standard. Although the text and information is good, standard, accurate stuff some — and I emphasise some — of the photos are a little, well, gloomy. Having said that there are plenty of them and of a great variety of subjects. One or two of the photos are eye-catching — a splendidly reflective shot of Cleveland House, for example. Butty readers will be reminded of Derek’s well-known attraction to the K&A as our canal merits more mentions than any other subject in the book — more even than Thomas Telford (and he spells Avoncliff correctly!). An informative final chapter covers new canal architecture on waterways which have been, or are being, or will be restored — the story continues. If you have a teenager (or you are, or feel you are, a teenager yourself) who is showing an interest in inland waterways, this will make a good Christmas present.
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No. 173 Winter 2005
Starlight By Geoffrey Lewis First published in 2005 by SGM Publishing ISBN 0 9545624 5 3 159 pages. £6.99 Soft cover
his wonderful evocation of boyhood friendship in the 1950s flows beautifully and convincingly. It’s not a long book, yet manages to convey both family life and the working life of the canal without seeming to stint either. It brought me memories of dim distant days learning about the coal and coke carrying barges of the Hargreaves Group. The author, who lives on a narrowboat on the Grand Union canal, admits that it’s unusual to start a work of fiction with acknowledgments, but ‘wanted to be sure that the background to this story was believable and accurate’. It certainly comes across as such, but doesn’t scream ‘RESEARCH’. He credits Alan Faulkner’s Willow Wren, Our Canal in Oxford by Mark Davies and Catherine Robinson, and No. 1, a memoir of the days when he was working the ‘Oxford Cut’ of the 1950s by Tom Foxton, one of the ‘real’ people who appear in the story. Having photos of the fictional characters on the cover is a nice conceit. A feel-good book with a poignancy warning.
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Prunella By Teresa Ransom First published in 2005 by John Murray ISBN 0 7195 5697 X 250 pages. £16.99 hardback
his is the authorised biography of one of our Vice Presidents, Prunella Scales, with contributions from another (her husband Timothy West) and their sons Sam and Joe; plus revealing extracts from her diary and letters. The writer is given access to Pru working in TV, on stage, for a Tesco commercial, and giving a masterclass for actors. OK, so Marriage Lines, Fawlty Towers, Mapp and Lucia spring quickly to mind, and for me my favourite radio then TV After Henry, and An Evening With Queen Victoria: but they are only five titles out of an 11-page list of her Theatre, Film and TV work (Radio not included). How she came to be an actress and how she gets inside a character are fascinating. My only moan is that there is no index. Is this a portrait of the person I came to know when she was a judge and I was running the BBC Radio Comedy Awards? Definitely. Someone who really cares. And their narrowboat? She loves a home, Tim loves travelling: it gives them the best of both worlds.
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Leonard Pearcey Our reviewer of non-technical books Our new reviewer of non-technical canal-based books, Leonard Pearcey, has long experience as a writer and broadcaster on a wide variety of topics. He has reviewed books for BBC Radios 2 and 3 and for major publications, and has abridged and read for BBC Radio 4, notably the 1920s travel journal Jogging Round Majorca, whose author Gordon West he made a posthumous bestseller. Leonard has produced and introduced P&O ship-naming ceremonies throughout the world (including New York with Sophia Loren and Olivia de Havilland), and has guested on various programmes including ‘Going For A Song’, ‘Songs of Praise’, and ‘Breakaway’ where he took the producer on a trip on the Regent’s Canal. Leonard is a life member of The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust.
Foxhangers Marine
Modern narrowboat hire fleet all built by Foxhangers, 10 boats 2 new semi-trads for 2006 Full engineering/maintenance base BETA and ISUZU engine sales/fitting WEBASTO central heating dealers Covered narrowboat painting dock Bespoke boat building undertaken Based at the bottom of Caen Hill Locks
Tel: 01380 828795 www.foxhangers.co.uk
Books reviewed in The Butty are are available from the Trust shop on Devizes Wharf or through other Trust shops. If it is not convenient to visit in person you can use our mail order service by telephoning 01380 729489. 35
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Butty Letters to the Editor
No. 173 Winter 2005
Letters on any subject related to the canal are welcome. We want to encourage debate about canal issues. This is your forum to voice your views. Requests for Editor, Di Harris
anonymity will be honoured, but no letter
will be published unless it arrives with contact details. Letters should be not more than 300 words and may be edited for reasons of space or clarity. Send letters to the Editor: contact details on page 3.
LEAKIEST LOCK ON THE K&A? CANAL RAGE Could it be that after ‘road rage’ we now have ‘canal rage’? I type this on our nb ‘Mendip Digger’ on a September week’s cruise from our mooring on the K & A at Bathampton down onto the Avon and onto Bristol and back. All was going well on a sunny day on the Widcombe flight into Bath, with a passing family of tourists from Denmark enjoying a surprise boat trip with us. We had descended the ‘deep lock’ and the final lock to river level — my wife Janet was finishing dropping the gate paddle when she was accosted by a lady-boater from a narrowboat which had been two locks behind us. With her face just inches from Janet’s, she berated her loudly, and in no uncertain terms, for descending the locks without waiting for her boat to catch up and share the lock. She said words to the effect that “haven’t you seen the signs — you were supposed to wait for half an hour at the lock for other boats — don’t you know there’s a water shortage?” No we hadn’t and, had we, we would have complied with the request (a voluntary one as it turned out). Shortly after, her husband appeared and carried on the harangue by demanding “what do you mean, you didn’t see us?” Janet was fairly speechless at this verbal assault and meekly responded that she “heard what they were saying”, agreed with their sentiments and wished them a nice holiday.
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It turned out that the couple were correct in having seen a BWB request somewhere on their journey from the Thames area — we had just started our trip and had not seen any. There were no notices on the Widcombe flight or on the notice board near Bathampton we had checked on starting our trip. Ironically there were notices pinned to the balance beams on the locks all down the River Avon to Bristol — incorrectly as we were told by the lock-keeper at Hanham — they did not, of course, apply on the river. Even though I had spoken briefly to the man two locks previously there was no request to wait and share the locks and, had we been aware of the voluntary request, we would of course have done so without question. It was the uncompromising anger displayed by this couple that upset us somewhat and occupied our minds for much of the following week. How could this couple on their holiday feel so angered by our actions that, rather than gently pointing out the apparent error of our ways, felt they needed to publicly and very loudly berate us in front of a family of equally surprised foreign visitors? In over 25 years of cruising our boat on the K&A we have never come across behaviour such as this. Was this an (hopefully) isolated incident or are there increasing occurrences of canal rage across the country? If so, how soon before it turns to violence?
Clive and Janet North, Radstock; nb ‘Mendip Digger’
Could this be the worst lock on the K&A? Travelling towards Crofton recently we passed through Wootton Rivers lock. There on the balance beams were notices from BW saying, “Water shortage. Conserve water. Do not leave locks empty after use”. So we travelled through the lock and moored above it, leaving it full as requested. Imagine my surprise, when as I walked past the lock less than 20 minutes
later, l discovered it to be completely empty. Had I left a paddle up? No. The bottom gate is leaking so badly that it took barely any more time to empty with the paddles down that it would have with the paddles up. Thanks for the notices about water shortage, BW, but there’s more to conserving water than issuing instructions to boaters.
CANAL CENTRE
should not be taking this lying down. We should be shouting in the streets. We owe it to those Trust members who put all their time and energy into restoring the buildings and we owe it to all the volunteers who worked so hard to keep the K&A open and ultimately have it restored so that we can all enjoy it. We cannot allow Kennet Council to waste everything that has gone before. We need to develop the Wharf in a creative and imaginative way. Perhaps Kennet Councillors could do worse that taking a day trip to Banbury one of these days.
I was amazed to see no response in Butty 172 to your report about the Devizes Wharf in Butty 171. Was I reading too much into your words, or is the Trust under threat of losing the building that so many volunteers put so much hard work into renovating? How can this be allowed to happen? Devizes Wharf is (or should be) a focal point for visitors to the Caen Hill flight – one of the seven wonders of the waterways – and to Devizes itself. Surely there can’t be any other town in the country that fails to take full advantage of its waterway attraction. We
C Miller, Reading by email
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Butty The page for younger canal users
No. 173 Winter 2005
Scouts learn the ropes hirty six Scouts of the 1st Bedhampton and 2nd Leigh Park Scout troops held their annual camp this summer by the canal at New Mills near Pewsey. Trust members Rob and Julie Dean joined them with their narrowboat ‘Pukeko’ and gave the troop a chance to spend half a day afloat learning to handle a narrowboat and they ran six trips each with a patrol of six Scouts. Most camp activities are intended to teach Scouts useful new skills so Rob and Julie were keen that the canal trip would be a learning experience rather than just a boat ride. They planned a trip that would teach the Scouts something about the canal and boat handling as well as developing their teamwork skills. Narrowboating is ideal for this with a whole set of separate tasks that each need to be coordinated to navigate the boat safely along the canal. Setting out each day from New Mills, the patrol was split into two teams; red and blue. The red team handled the boat with one on the helm and one each on the bow and stern lines. The blue team could relax but not for long as the Wootton Rivers flight was only a mile away and their job was to operate the locks
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with one on each gate and the other to take lines and consult with other boats sharing the locks. It was necessary to supervise each team closely and either Rob or Julie were always at the helm with the other at the lockside. The teams rotated so that each Scout had a chance at the helm. Some took to it instinctively; others needed help and the cries of “push away” and “pull to you” rang out all day! After four locks it was up onto the summit and a chance for the boys and girls (yes, we have girl Scouts these days too) to relax and enjoy the tranquillity of Savernake Forest before the excitement of the Bruce Tunnel. Then on to the winding hole above Crofton top lock where the boat swapped crews for the return journey with another patrol that had walked from the camp site, visiting Crofton pumping station to learn just how all that water gets to be 480 feet above sea level. And so ‘Pukeko’ headed back down to New Mills and turned ready to do it all again the next day. All the Scouts enjoyed their trip and learned a great deal about the canal and boat handling. There was strong emphasis on safety with a detailed briefing beforehand and a set of rules for
Watching wildlife Is it a mink or an otter? pot a long thin animal with short legs and a long tail and it could be either an American mink or an otter. But how can you tell them apart? Otters and American mink are very closely related and therefore look very similar. They are both members of the mustelid family along with stoats, polecats and badgers, which means they have long slender bodies, short legs and a skull fitted out with powerful jaws. They also both have dark coloured fur. Both animals lead their lives near to water. American mink are semi-aquatic and spend
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some of their time in the water. Otters, on the other hand, are totally aquatic and have webbed toes and a powerful rudder-like tail to propel themselves through the water. They can even close their ears and nostrils underwater. Both prey on fish, crustaceans such as crayfish, birds and mammals, and can be active at almost any time of day,
Otter Picture BBOWT
Scouts aboard Narrowboat Pukeko
each Scout to learn. As for Julie and Rob, they found the 3 days hard work and were glad to head off at the end of the week to join the Newbury Waterways Festival. But they are now enthused about ‘Scouts on the
Cut’ and are planning a weekend next season with a group of the keenest Scouts to train them for their ‘Power Coxswain’s’ badge. Who knows, some may get the boating bug for life!
What are the rules? he Scout Association sets strict rules before allowing Scouts afloat. Julie and Rob needed the RYA Inland Waterways Helmsman Certificate as demonstration of their competence. They prepared a plan for the activity, a risk assessment and safety procedures. This was approved by the Scout District Commissioner. The Scouts all had to wear lifejackets whenever on board or at locks. Rob thought this was excessive at first but in
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although you are most likely to see them at dusk or during the night.
So how can you tell them apart? The best and easiest way to tell an otter from a mink is to look at the size of their bodies. Mink are about half the size of the otter. Mink can grow to 55 cm and otters up to 110cm. Their footprints will also differ in size. American mink prints are about 2.5cm across and otter’s about 7.5cm. If you are up close
practice it made sense, “You simply can’t watch six kids all at once and the lifejackets would gain you extra time in a mishap”. The lifejackets also helped to remind the Scouts that the activity had its dangers. “We saw another youth group on a community boat where the youngsters were being poorly supervised. “It was an accident waiting to happen and we were glad we had our Scouts on a fairly short rein.”
you may be able to see if the animal has a light coloured chest – if so, then it is an otter. One way you can tell the difference is by smelling their droppings. But only if you have a strong stomach! Otter droppings smell quite pleasant, like hay, whereas, the mink have horrible rancid fish smelling pooh. Another difference is the way they breed. Otters can have litters all year round, whereas the mink only have one lot of babies in April or May. If you are still not sure which animal you have seen, call the Wildlife Information Service on 01865 775476 and they may be able to help tell the difference.
Mink Picture by Tony Margiocci
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What’s On Diary January Saturday 14th Devizes Branch. The ‘I’ve Survived Christmas’ party. Our ever-popular event! Excellent food, party games, raffle, possibly snowballs! £6.00. BYOB. 7.30pm at the Canal Centre, Devizes Wharf. Please contact Alice Boyd on 01380 724701 by 10th January. Saturday 14th West Wilts Branch Annual Dinner, The Barge, Seend Cleeve, 7.00pm. Contact Dave Jupp. Raffle prizes to Chris Poulter. Wednesday 25th Newbury Branch. ‘The Lowlands Canals’, talk by David Saady. The Stone Building, Newbury Wharf everyone welcome. 7.45pm. Friday 27th Reading Branch. Talk by David Blagrave.
February Saturday 11th West Wilts Branch AGM, Holy Trinity Church Hall, BOA, at 7.30pm.
Tuesday, 14th Bath and Bristol Branch, ‘Pictures Past and Present’ by Robert Coles, 7.30 pm, St. Mary’s Church Hall, Bathwick Wednesday 22nd Newbury Branch. ‘Thames passenger steamers: past and present’, talk by Keith French MBE. The Stone Building, Newbury Wharf. Everyone welcome. 7.45pm prompt.
March Saturday 4th Devizes Branch. Canal Clear-Up. Help us clear up the canal and the towpath between top lock and Coate Bridge, it really is fun! Anyone can join in! Followed by our Supper and Quiz Evening. £5.00. Raffle. BYOB. 7.30pm at the Canal Centre, Devizes Wharf. Please contact Alice Boyd on 01380 724701. Saturday 25th Barabara McLellen’s shake down cruise and first volunteer training day (2-hour session) Tuesday, 28th Bath and Bristol Branch AGM, 7.30 pm, St. Mary’s Church Hall.
Crofton Beam Engines Amazing industrial archaeology in a rural setting
Open daily 10.30am — 5.00pm from April 14th to October 1st
May 27th-28th-29th
Aug
26th -27th-28th
Sept 30th-Oct 1st
1812 Boulton & Watt and 1846 Harvey beam engines regularly steamed from hand stoked, coal fired Lancashire Boiler
A fascinating place to visit for families,or anyone interested in the history of the Kennet & Avon Canal, or our industrial past. Also a delightful place to stop for an ice cream ora cup of tea. Why not time your visit to see it in steam
Crofton Pumping Station, Crofton, Marlborough, Wilts., SN8 3DW. Tel: 01672 870300 www.croftonbeamengines.org
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Saturday 1st Barabara McLellen’s first Public Trip of the year Saturday 1st Devizes Branch AGM, followed by a speaker (to be announced). 7.30pm at the Wharf Sunday 9th Second Barbara McLellan volunteer training day Sunday 9th Claverton AGM. 2.00 pm in the Pump House Wednesday 26th Newbury Branch AGM, plus ‘Berkshire Countryside at Risk’, talk by Margaret Cubley (CPRE). The Stone Building, Newbury Wharf. Everyone welcome. 7.45pm prompt.
BW’s planned K&A winter stoppages 9th January – 12th March Devizes Caen Hill Locks 22-50 new lock gates 9th January – 17th March Copse Lock 80 new lock gates and general repairs 9th January – 17th March Sulhamstead Lock 100 new lock gates and general repairs
The Barge Inn Honeystreet Historic Canalside Inn
Real Ales Campsite Marquee for parties
Crop circle venue with notice boards
April 29th-30th-May 1st
29th-30th
April
www.the-barge-inn.com
April 15th-16th-17th
Jul
Saturday and Sunday, 6th and 7th May Bath and Bristol Branch. Open Days at Brassknocker Basin (bottom of Brassknocker Hill, on the Bath–Warminster road).
Tel: 01672 851705
In Steam
24th-25th
May
serving home cooked food from noon — 2.30pm and 7 — 9pm
2006
Jun
Wednesday 29th Newbury Branch. ‘The Thames Traditional Boat Society’, talk by Dr John Galley. The Stone Building, Newbury Wharf. Everyone welcome. 7.45pm prompt.
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No. 173 Winter 2005
PRIZE CROSSWORD The prize for the winner of this crossword will be a video from the Trust’s Shop. Two runners-up will get £10 voucher to be used in the shop. Send your entries with your name and address to: Prize Crossword, Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, Canal Centre, Couch Lane, Devizes SN10 1EB before 18th February 2006. Photocopies will be accepted.
The Butty Prize Crossword No 173 Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................................... ..................................... .....................................
ACROSS 1. Squeeze between two layers for light lunch. (8) 5. Inebriated spacer flew astronomical distance. (6) 10. Straight ritual by the sound of it. (5) 11. Splinters equal trees. (9) 12. Bury violent duel between acts of a play. (9) 13. Fill imperial milk bottle up entirely to start with. (5) 14. Summary of truncated large-scale book. (7) 16. Instrument holder for packing up your troubles? (3-3) 18. Device for detecting shattering snores. (6) 20. Wrap up tungsten in bicycle seat. (7) 22. Oriental destiny concealed by black Armageddon. (5) 23. Criticism of severe enticement without latitude. (9) 25. Long established practice I trained to lacking energy. (9) 26. Jewish teacher will chat on endlessly. (5) 27. Detest gift when pressure removed. (6) 28. Emotions engendered by ecstasy twice in highland dances. (8)
Butty Crossword 172 Solution
Down 1. Young pilchards – could be tightly packed? (8) 2. Mysterious thing after dark. (5) 3. Battle position at end of mainline route. (8,7) 4. Calculate, changing penny for money, on daily travel to work. (7) 6. A seasonal song, by Dickens! (1,9,5) 7. Winter transport supplied when directors support cold precipitation. (9) 8. Club lugged about after carbon inserted and gravity removed. (6) 9. 21 down goes mad on naked run! (6) 15. Diamonds cover elite society – chilly confections! (3,6) 17. Strangely, it cheers unorthodox believers. (8) 19. Victorian critic might hide after sport. (6) 20. Weird and unnatural anger supports saint. (7) 21. Traveller over ice takes right turn. (6) 24. Endlessly elegant from the city. (5)
UNCLASSIFIED ADS Buying a narrowboat? Need it moved to another location? Don’t have time to do it yourself? Let me move it for you. Apprehensive about cruising for the first time? Don’t have time to take a full day’s instruction? Just need someone to give you an introduction into boat handling and gain confidence? Give me a ring. I can help. Just call Roy on 01635 821780
Winner: Mrs CJ Smee, Coventry Runners up: Mrs SE Emmett, Bath and Mrs M Pearse, Bradford on Avon.
Commission a collector’s model of your nb/trailboat/etc or cottage, or both – in a bottle. Leaflet John Burden, 32 Astley Close, Pewsey, SN9 5BD. 01672 563193. Guild Waterways Artists. Waterways Craft Guild – Master
Bob Naylor Boat Safety Examiner Tel: 01380 840584, Mobile 07788134901 Email: bob@boatsafe.co.uk Boat surveys. Professional surveys of any type of boat undertaken for sale, insurance or damage. I have over 40 years of boating experience and guarantee prompt, efficient and sympathetic surveys with realistic recommendations. George Gibson, Gibson’s Boat Services. Tel: 01672 851232 Unclassified ads are free for members of The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust for up to 30 words
Roses and castles Painting courses These ever-popular courses will be running again in the Spring. One day course (£35) Two day courses (£75) For more details and dates, contact: 01793 615898 (evenings) or email spengi@ntlworld.com Canal Centre, Devizes Wharf. All materials & refreshments included. Fancy a weekend’s hard graft? The NWPG arranges monthly restoration trips to southern canals. Learn new skills – for free! Contact Graham Hawkes on 0118 941 0586 or grahamhawkes@btinternet.com
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Welcome to the new guide to car free days out on the Kennet & Avon Canal. The guide is packed with useful information and things to do on the Heart of Wessex Rail Line and the Kennet & Avon Canal. It includes three car free walks starting and finishing at train stations, details of cycle hire and also features attractions such as Bristol Zoo and Claverton pumping station. So why not leave the car at home and take the train to explore some of the Kennet & Avon Canal and River Avon between Bristol and Bradford – on - Avon. The guide was produced in partnership by the K&A Rural Transport Partnership, the Heart of Wessex Rail Partnership and the Severnside Community Rail Partnership.
For more information visit www.visitkanda.com www.heartofwessex.org www.severnside-rail.co.uk www.waterscape.com