Wilts & Berks Canal - 4 - Metamorphosis in Swindon
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- Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
- I visit the Wilts & Berks Canal in Swindon to what exisiting sections have been restored and what future plans there are to connect the canal up to Semington from Abingdon.
Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Website:
www.wbct.org.uk/
Wiltshire, Swindon and Oxfordshire Canal Partnership:
www.canalpartn...
Aviva Insurance's Community Fund for the Wilts & Berks tree scheme:
www.avivacommu...
#Wiltsandberks #canals #swindon
Very interesting to see the old Wilts and Berks coming to life again. A wonderful linear walk for residents and lovely photography.
Thank you! Yes, this will be a super asset for residents and visitors alike - it needs to be signposted though from the railway station, and the New Town shopping centre and Old Town High St. - it is a bit 'hidden'. It will be terrific when it has been completed. Thank you for watching and commenting. Cheers, Paul.
Superb video Paul. Beautifully filmed with the most sublime still photographs. A lovely walk taking in canal and railway segments. English industrial architecture at its best
Another lovely video, Paul! Thankyou
Thank you Michael! Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers, Paul.
Fascinating with the tree growing around the fence. Love the narrow boat poking out of the pub! What a shame that that the restored section is flooded. Another video jam packed with information and you have clearly done so much research for the video. Lovely photos at the end too!
Thank you Louise! Yes, it was great to see the restored sections, especially the bit by Waitrose and that new Hall & Woodhouse Pub/Restaurant. I am not sure why the Foxham bit was left to fallow, but, hopefully, they can make it good again. Thanks for your kind words and comments. Take care, Paul.
Hi Paul nice video ,be great to see it finished ,have a good week 👌👌👌👌
Thank you Roy! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, it would be great to see narrowboats going from Semmington Lock to Shrivenham and beyond once more. Cheers, Paul.
Thank you Paul. Such a shame the new section has been left to become in need of restoration already. Lovely to see the housing developers have to make provision though. Take care and stay safe 😊😊
Thank you Diane! Yes, I am not quite sure what happened to the Foxham section - bit odd, but good, as you say that the developers made provision for it. Thanks again, Paul.
That was a great walk & super pictures. It will be quite something when it is eventually completed.
Yes, I think that it really will - a great asset for residents, visitors and visiting boat people. Thank you so much, take care, Paul.
Very enjoyable tour of restored sections of W&B canal, which in places needs 'joining-up', but overall, very impressive progress on one of the most challenging sections of this grand project. The old railway track is a delightful walk as i recall from a visit many years ago. I still remember the bridge over the main line in its splendid, or perhaps, forlorn, isolation. Thank you.
Thank you Malcolm and thank you too for your reply on my 'Looking for an Abbey' video. This time I did get to read all of it before it dissapeared again! I did have a look on Swindon Borough Council's website about it. Glad you enjoyed my latest canal series one. I was most impressed by just how much there was to see of the W&B in Swindon. Thanks again, take care, Paul.
Hi Paul, I live in Swindon and the place names such as Wichelstowe and East Wichel are pronounced the same as the word "witch".
Thank you Grant! Yes, it isn't always obvious in the area that I cover with place names, like Leominster, Mousehole, Frome, etc! Thanks for the clarification. Cheers, Paul.
Sorry but I have never seen the A34 anywhere in Swindon, I used to walk the canal path every week. It is a good walk for a leisurely quiet walk especially if you include the old railway line, many hours spent here.
Bill from Wroughton.
Thank you.
Yes, I was referring to all the artic trucks that tank out of all the huge metal distribution sheds that surround Swindon. They then flood the M4, and head down the A34 south of Oxford to the port of Southampton. A lot of that freight could have travelled on the M&SWJR, instead of the M4 and A34.
It is indeed a nice walk. I would love to see more of the Wilts and Berks Canal restored though, although progress is being made
I have done a separate video on the M&SWJR through Swindon - although part of the walk was blocked by Thames Water, who have closed the old railway track at present.
Cheers!
Paul
Thanks for a very interesting & comprehensive video on this canal & it’s restoration. I do feel concerned over all the development that is going on wherever you turn: how plans get money and then seem to be abandoned some way through. It’s easy for me to be critical but I feel that no one is taking command of the situation. Anyway a great video, nicely filmed - all the old shops were like going back in time.
Thanks Diana! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, the development only seems interested in building on green soil, and not restoring and redeveloping what has gone before, probably because it is cheaper to do so. I was impressed by Old Town in Swindon - much more character and shops you'd actually like to go in - unlike much of New Town sadly! Thanks again, Paul.
Hi Paul, Wow such a lot of canal activity in Swindon, I would have never associated it with canals. In a few years time it will be a great place for a walk or trip down the canals and towpaths.
You know I think the steam loco at the start was a mural rather than graffiti. The tree which had grown around the fence was amazing as were the bridges of different ages and types ..... and you managed to sneak in a railway walk as well!!
I'm just wondering whether you crossed over one of those bunds .... they looked at big soggy to me😅😅
All in all a great circular tour and you've left us with the conundrum of a 15 year old video of a canal ........
Have a great week and good luck from Spain!!
Hi David, and thank you!
No, I wasn't risking walking across one of those bunds! Yes, it was just a shame that the mural didn't have any canal features on it considering it was next to the route of an old one!
Ah, yes, that virtually unknown canal. I can't say too much except that it is in the area that I cover on my channel, and I was near it recently making another video!
Cheers,
Paul
Considering it closed way back in 1914
the route seems to have survived comparatively well (put to other uses of course)
Yes, this was the first time that I had explored the route through Swindon, and, although I was aware of the new section by Waitrose, I was not aware of the section from there towards the New Town centre. Good to see the M&SWJR put to good use too, although, shame, obvioulsly, that it is no longer a railway. Cheers Stephen!
Swindon doesn’t seem to worry about building on green belt, the area between Blunsdon and Purton a prime example.
Yes, and the town tip that you can see from the train coming from the Cheltenham direction! I was a bit shocked by all the empty space and empty buildings in the New (not so new now) Town centre - I thought Old Town was much better, far more atmosphere and more buzzing businesses. I think Swindon really needs to rethink about how it functions (less periphery, more centralisation) , and be less car dependent. However, this canal can act as a catalyst as to how things are done and create great green corridors for boats, cyclists and walkers. Thanks Dave!
That was very interesting, learnt a lot about some of the areas I have walked. Know what you mean about the building around Swindon 😢.
Thank you Cara! Glad you enjoyed it. It was all new to me as I don't know Swindon at all. As well as the canal, I was also impressed with Old Town - a hidden gem - surprised that it is not promoted more. Thanks again, Paul.
Bits with a good water supply will flood i suppose if they are isolated and not joined onto the main waterway.
fruit and veg dont pay profits.
Well, there are a lot of farm shops around that are doing well from quality fruit and veg sales, but people always want the cheapest food, I guess.