Kennet and Avon Canal
MILE 30 Berkshire : KAC30.00=KAC30.20;
Froxfield and Little Bedwyn, Wiltshire KAC30.20=KAC31.00
KandAC mile 30
KandAC mile 30 - OS 1inch map, early 19th century
... nothing changes as you cross the county boundary; it's nothing to do with the real world ...
The Kennet and Avon Canal from mile 30 to 31 is climbing up the valley of the River Dun; it enters Wiltshire from Berkshire at Froxfield. The River Dun is on the south of the canal until its crossing from the north side by a siphon culvert above Upper Froxfield Lock. The Great Western Railway line to the south west is close on the north side of the canal. The towpath is on the south side.
The canal was completed in 1810; in 1824 the Great Western Railway was proposed, its act passed 1835. The canal carried materials to help build the railway; and then lost its trade to the new transport system. In 1852 the GWR took over the canal, with little motivation to keep its competitor in business.
County boundary Froxfield, Wiltshire - Berkshire: SU30556779
Froxfield Bridge, Froxfield
Two minutes walk north of the canal is Froxfield and the Pelican Inn, on the Great West Road, now the A4. By the main road is a magnificent almshouse, the Somerset Hospital, built by the Duchess of Somerset, 1694, for 30 poor widows.
Froxfield Feeder, Froxfield
Froxfield Wharf, Froxfield
KandAC winding point 30.23
The canal westward of Froxfield Bridge, looking eastward.
Oakhill Farm lies to the south of the canal. There are watercress beds here in the Dun valley.
Froxfield Lower Lock, Froxfield
A diesel multiple unit train passing lock 70 going to Great Bedwyn; these commuter trains terminate there.
Froxfield Upper Lock, Froxfield
South of the canal is Frith Copse (lovely tautologous name, that) at the east end of Oak Hill.
KandAC culvert 30.52
KandAC winding point 30.57
Canada geese, Branta canadensis, and goslings by Oakhill Down Bridge, looking for crumbs.
Boat eastward of Oakhill Down Bridge.
Oakhill Down Bridge, Froxfield
Oakhill Down Lock, Froxfield
Coot, Fulica atra, bullying a moorhen, Gallinula chloropus. After chasing the male the coot hassled the sitting female off her nest in the reeds nearby, and trampled her eggs (that's what it looked like, but it must have been a late brood).
Parish boundary Froxfield - Little Bedwyn runs approximately alongside the canal: SU29796690 (to) & SU29816699
The canal between Little Bedwyn and Froxfield.

Kennet and Avon Scrapbook 2000