Kennet and Avon Canal
MILE 33 Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire : KAC33.00=KAC34.00
KandAC mile 33
KandAC mile 33 - OS 1inch map, early 19th century
... here a lock, here another; small steps to climb a moderate hill ..
The Kennet and Avon Canal from mile 33 to 34 is climbing up towards Crofton. The Great Western Railway line to the south west is on the north side of the canal. The towpath is on the south side.
The canal eastward of Bedwyn Church Bridge.
St Mary's Church stands on the north of the canal, a path leads to it from an accommodation bridge. The norman period church is described as shapely by Pevsner. hmm. Sir John Seymour, father of Jane Seymour third wife of Henry VIII, is buried here.
Bedwyn Church Bridge, Great Bedwyn
Bedwyn Church Lock, Great Bedwyn
Yellow flags, Iris pseudacorus, by the towpath.
Boat Rouse and Company No.1 moored above Great Bedwyn.
Boats moored above Bedwyn Church Lock.
Overflow weir east of Mill Bridge.
Mill Bridge, Great Bedwyn
Between Mill Bridge and the railway is 'Canal Mason's Cottage'. Bedwyn Mill was near here. There used to be a marker stone by the towpath dividing the canal into a western section maintained from a depot at Devizes, and an eastern section maintained from Newbury depot.
Comfrey, Symphytum officinale, on the towpath.
Outflow of the waste water overflow round lock 63.
Wooden piling reinforcing the canal bank. (E of Beech Tree Walk Bridge.)
The canal banks are fragile; company bye law 9:-
That if any person or persons navigating the Canal shall use any shaft, pole, or other instrument, except the same be of six inches in diameter at the least at the end thereof, to prevent the same penetrating into the banks of the Canal, every such person shall forfeit and pay the sum of twenty shillings.
Boat Owl, J and M Johnson, Ilkley, passing under Beech Tree Walk Bridge, going westward into the lock.
Beech Tree Walk Bridge, Great Bedwyn
Beech Tree Walk was an avenue running south from Bloxham Copse to the road, Crofton to Great Bedwyn, which runs parallel the canal and railway. There are some old beech trees left; and a lot of young replacement trees growing up.
Crofton Bottom Lock, Great Bedwyn
Boat Brackley towing its companion just out of lock 63.
Brackley and its tow, Ellesmere.
Boat Ellesmere; painted, decorated with traditional ropework, and a fine wooden tiller.
Overflow weir taking excess water round lock 63.
KandAC winding point 33.71
May, out, Crataegus monogyna.
New Bridge, Great Bedwyn
Buttercups, Ranunculus sp perhaps Ranunculus acris? on the towpath.
The site of Crofton Mill is south of the canal.

Kennet and Avon Scrapbook 2000