Frome Road Wharf
Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire KAC65.64
KandAC mile 65
Frome Road Wharf; slipway, dry dock, workshop, lock, bridge.
This and Lower Wharf served Bradford-on-Avon canal carried traffic. Packet boats were running to here from Bath in 1808, before the canal opened throughout in 1810. Soon after, provisions and fine goods were arriving here from Bristol and elsewhere.
In 1829 the town had thirty factories making heavy woollen cloth which would likely have been shipped on the canal. By the middle of the 19th century the wool trade had nearly ceased, lost to the competition of northern mills.
Express 'fly' boats used to leave 3 times daily from Bradford to London; there were 2 passenger boats from here to Bath each day - an hour and a half journey.
The company's boats took priority on the company's canal; bye law 26:-
That every person having the care of a vessel of any description navigating the Canal, shall give way immediately, and lower the line of such vessel, on sight of any passenger-boat belonging to the Company, or any licensed fly-boat, under penalty of forty shillings.
The dry dock at this wharf used to be a gauging dock where boats could be measured to assess their tolls. The gates at its canal end replace an earlier stank. Work in the dry dock is protected, slightly, by a canopy on the workshop building alongside.
Dry dock and workshop.
Boat Dreckly in the dry dock.
Stocks supporting the boat in the dry dock.
Paddle to let water out of the dry dock, to drain into the pound below the lock.
Metal gates at the dry dock entrance, with sluice valves to flood the lock.
The workshop on the wharf has a canopy protecting work in the dry dock, and a small crane.
Frome Road Wharf workshop, dry dock, slipway, etc.
Workshop, which is also a 'canal shop'. Stone built with pantiles.
The wharf has a slipway, located next the dry dock.
Slipway at Frome Road Wharf.
Geared winch for pulling boats up the slipway.
Canal company house at the wharf; stone built with slate roof; note the string course below the first floor windows. The canal sign informs boaters there is a water point and rubbish bin.
Smaller canal building; and digger and dump truck being used for canal maintenance.
Another smaller building by the wharf.
There is mooring at the wharf, including some long term mooring for small boats.
Mooring ring.
Mooring ring.
landing stage for small boat moorings at the wharf.

Kennet and Avon Scrapbook 2000