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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Wiltshire => Topic started by: gralorn on Sunday 10 September 23 20:34 BST (UK)
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Is anyone able to explain the canal when it came from Chippenham to Semington Junction in particular as it passed through Bewley Common and Lacock, where there was a supposed hand bridge over the canal, then a bridge by the Bell inn, a wharf, with Wharf cottage, and also I believe a brewery and Toll. Then going further on to three locks, two being Queensfield and Melksham Forest. Can anyone put some meat onto the bones for me. Any old maps, photos of such like material would be most welcomed. Thank you.
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Try:
https://www.wbct.org.uk/enjoy-discover/interactive-map
or:
https://www.canalpartnership.org.uk/index.php/map-of-wilts-and-berks-canal
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Also the Wilts & Berks canal trust; https://www.wbct.org.uk/links-publications/videos-media
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1885 map
https://maps.nls.uk/view/102347986#zoom=6&lat=2767&lon=7584&layers=BT
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1885 map - canal continuing south - Queenfield listed
https://maps.nls.uk/view/102347986#zoom=6&lat=2767&lon=7584&layers=BT
Just place cursor on maps to scroll
Added - oops, wrong map selected see
https://maps.nls.uk/view/102348004#zoom=5&lat=8984&lon=6878&layers=BT
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? Not sure if this Newspaper Article (Oxford University and City Herald) - Saturday 22 April 1809, helps in any way.
BERKSHIRE
The Wilts and Berks canal is intended to be opened into the Thames, at Abingdon, in September next; by means of which, and its junction at Semington with the Kent and Avon canal, an inland water communication between Bristol and London will be completed.
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Thank you very much. I once found old Frith black and white photos of these bridges, but alas cannot find them now. ‘that’s life’. Thank you for all information though, much appreciated.
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This looks interesting
https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/wilts-and-berks-canal-revisited/9780752451466/
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? Not sure if this Newspaper Article (Oxford University and City Herald) - Saturday 22 April 1809, helps in any way.
BERKSHIRE
The Wilts and Berks canal is intended to be opened into the Thames, at Abingdon, in September next; by means of which, and its junction at Semington with the Kent and Avon canal, an inland water communication between Bristol and London will be completed.
That would be the Kennet and Avon Canal ;)
Connecting the (Bristol) River Avon to the River Kennet, and onwards to the Thames.
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Thank you, so there must be photos or paintings.
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Would anybody have any photos of Bewley Bridge, The Wharf or the bridge at the Bell where the toll house was?
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My BANKS ancestors of Lacock lived in the house by the Warf on the canal
I understand coal was brought from Somerset and distributed from the warf. When George Banks died his wife successfully carried on with business.
My late father researched this aspect of our Banks family in detail. I have files and files of notes that I have yet to properly read through.
Dad was known as The Historian of Lacock 😃
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Brilliant, are there any old photos of the wharf amongst his notes and bits and pieces?
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Hi,
I think Dad had photos taken of himself with bits of machinery possibly back in the late 90s.
I’ll have to do a search so don’t build your hopes up !
I inherited over a hundred A4 files plus lots more from my Dad and my Aunt. Their research began in 1946 when searching involved going to parishes and begging vicars to let you look at records !
I was brought up with this research so do know quiet a bit about it. But have to find the canal research !
It’s wonderful to see someone else is looking and researching. It’s the history of my family,the history of the village of Lacock and the history of the UK.
Fingers crossed I can lay my hands on it.
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Does the bridge appear in these Geograph images for OS square ST9268?
https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/ST9268
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No, but thank you for the information, appreciated. Where the bridge was is now just a plain road, no bridge.
Thanks again.
G