The old North Wilts Canal through Swindon
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- Опубліковано 5 тра 2020
- The two canals that ran through Swindon were the Wilts and Berks and the North Wilts.
In this video I cycle along what remains of the North Wilts canal,much of it now gone completely and built over in places. There's still enough evidence to show where it ran.
Looking at the Old-maps web site again, the Raychem lagoon which was fed by a leet from the west is about 30 to 40 feet HIGHER than the water level in the canal according to the the spot height measurements on the 1886 map, so I suspect it was a feeder into the canal to keep it topped up. The line of the North Wilts Canal DID go right through the power station. Once you know the route, it is clearly visible on Google Earth. Before the canal reaches Thyme Close, it had turned sharply to the west to meet up with the North Wilts Canal Aqueduct, 1300 yards from the north side of the electricity sub-station and Thyme Close. Zooming out on old-maps you change to a modern OS map and zooming in takes you to the 1886 map. The 'galleries' each side of that lock allow the lock gates, at each end, to bed into the side of the lock when the gates are opened, leaving the width of the lock clear for navigation. You actually cycled as far as the North Wilts Canal Aqueduct which is just by Bremhill Bridge., where you could sadly, go no further.
I just want to say that this video popped up on my recommended videos and it left such an impression on me, the information about the canals of swindon, as I live very close to the magic roundabout, has changed how I see the town completely, you have unlocked a history of Swindon I never knew, thank you this video is excellent, you should be a history teacher of Swindon!
Thats wonderful, Swindon's history can still be seen if you have the eye's to look for it. It's a shame the town hasn't kept a lot of it's historic buildings, a lot has changed since the 1960's.
Thanks for the great video! As someone who moved to Swindon about 14 years ago from Essex, I am still learning about the history of the area, so videos like yours are helping with my knowledge! I used to walk the canal route from Kingshill Road to the new High Street almost every day to get to the station, and was fascinated that it used to be a canal! Lovely to find out more about the canals in the area - thanks once again! 👍
We have some interesting history in Swindon Paul
Sunday evening with Sandy on the tv .....Perfic !
Nicely done Sandy , very informative.
Look forward to you going out in the woods too.
All the best to Mandy. Hope shes well.
P & M
Thanks for the history tour Sandy! Very odd seeing the lack of traffic and the shuttered shops.
Excellent - I lived in Peatmoor and Oakhurst and often walked around Purton Bridge not really knowing what I was looking at. Now I know Thank you
Another interesting venture! Thanks Sandy. while you're enjoying the Sunshine and green leaves etc, I woke up this morning to 2 inches of snow on the ground!. Yep that and 28F (aprox -2/c) /so spring was here for a few days. and then winter reared its ugly head again.!. We have an expression here in the Berkshires, "if you don't like the weather, wait a minute!!" Thanks again Sandy! 73 gud dx CUDTV! de Ellis WA1RKS
Another informative video I have thoroughly enjoyed. Good to see the sign for Semington where I fished on the Kennet and Avon Canal as a lad. I know exactly where the North Wilts Canal entered and realise my home in Kenilworth Gardens in Melksham was probably built behind its towpath.
Love your history tours around Swindon mate.
Nice to see my town in the sunshine during lockdown. You came close. The Tunnel on station road under the railway,was close to me. If I whistled out my window,you would’ve heard me as you went through that tunnel. Near 10:10. Respect ✔️
A lovely bit of exploration - thanks for taking us along. Interesting to compare canal construction there with the old canals here in Ireland. They were amazing engineers back then, considering the methods they had available! Thanks again 👍🏻
Very good enjoyed learning more about the history of Swindon 👍
😎 wonderful images and story, thankyou from Australia
Fantastic job following a disused canal system that was so vital to the economy in Victorian times. Good exercise as well. Stay safe but have fun.
A very good video - most interesting. Probably the best way to follow the old route is either cycling or walking.
Absolutely loved all the information on the canals there in Swindon. I walked over a bit it myself and I always wondered about it. I am lucky enough to live near the Oxford canal still in use. I love finding old canal and train track remains. Shame they did not turn more the old canals and train tracks into cycle ways. Thanks Richard
I appreciate the research you put into this. For me your presentation compliments what I see on "Cruising The Cut".
Thanks, Ronn (from the Colonies! :)
Sandy , what an amazing adventure you took me along today ! Cheers from California
Thanks Olin
Excellent series. Look forward to the next episode.
A beauty of a ride Sandy, lovely weather too, thanks for taking us along.....Cam
Weather was chilly to start Cam but much warmer later in the day
Another great history journey well done
Though I hope to one day see Swindon and that countryside with my own eyes, it is a such a gift to see it now through yours. Your videos, in all of their facets and adventures, are a true gift. Thank you!
This series is just great, Sandy. 👍I'm also pretty impressed with the stabilization on the GoPro. The bike riding is super smooth. 🙂
Yes it works well. It's a Gopro hero7 black
Hi Sandy
I've just found your channel am just working my way through your videos
Have really enjoyed them so far I must be one of your nearest followers I leave about 5 minutes from you
Keep up the video's
Nice ride on the old canals route Sandy , pity they are gone for good but still a trace of them to be found :-)
Very interesting how places change and develop over time Sandy, thanks for the bike ride. 😊 👍
Hi Damian
Over the years Swindon has almost completely changed. It would be very interesting to go back in time and see how it was
A nice view of Swindon there Sandy, I've never visited it but I live on Swindon Street in Bridlington.
I love this little historical series 🙂 thanks for making them
Thank you for sharing your adventure!
We just rode 185.5 miles along the C&O canal towpath last year on our bikes. It was great fun and I really appreciate seeing the canals on your side of the pond. Great to remember what it took to get where we are now. Sorry to lose the old for the new - I think at least some of it is worth saving - to share with the young ones. Well done!
Great little vid again sandy, we really enjoyed it. Some good exploring again by the looks of things sending lots of love to all the family stay safe and well. 👍❤️
Hi Marcus,
There's nothing like a good bit of exploration to freshen up the soul:)
Great video and love your fascination of Swindon's canal heritage and the detail you give. The big red building at the end of the lagoon was owned by Plesseys and Raychem was more at the start of the lagoon where you first looked at the water
Thankyou sandy for taking us on your journey through SWINDONS historic canal 👌
Very intresting loved the camera work
Great to see you getting out, say safe. Best wishes Dave chubb
Brilliant....brings back memories. I used to nightfish For Tench in the Lagoon when i was a kid 1979/80.
Lovely video. Enjoying watching the bike rides during lockdown. It feels like I’m getting out of the house twice.
Nice outing Sandy with an interesting narration on the history of Swindon’s canal 👍🏻🙂
Well done, another interesting little video. I too have made mistake of trying to cycle from Rodbourne to Raychem lagooon😊 while out exploring.
While you rode through bridge at Sheppard street, near to Station, on your left was the bulk of the GWR Works, but earlier in the 1900’s on the right was also the extended works, too, under the Oasis leisure Center, back in 1980, while an apprentice in the Dean street Training School, we were 3 days practical on the workshop floor training and 1 and a half days at the North Star annex College, as main college was in Regents circus (pulled down to build the retail and parking areas ,old Morrisons ). bottom of Victoria road (hill), when I was travelling to and from the old BR Hostel 56, Bath Road, we went down eastcott road , through town, onto bridge street, and through tunnel, it was open on the right side then a grassy slope, we used to go up there across the grassy open space between footpath and the college , jumping over long ditches(trenches) dug out be someone that we saw had old railway tracks and sleepers still attached, btw Wilts & Berkshire Canal trust maintain the area towards Witchelstow, to the Waitrose Supermarket, it in Water from Sunnyside road to Waitrose, the tow path still there nice walk see if you can see the fish in there , was a large possible Koi when i used to volunteer in 2009 ,worth the walk or cycle ,from Golden lion Statue, along Canal Walk to the bottom of Kingshill,
Thanks for making this. I really enjoyed it as someone who likes history and is from Swine-Dune (Pig Hill).
I always found it strange that they decided to build a mosque here.
Some find it strange that the citizens allowed a mosque to be built there.
Best football match I ever saw was The Robins versus Charlton Athletic... at the County ground 1969 ... 5 - 0 to The Robins. In fact , one of very few games I ever saw. I was more of a Rugby lad.
Don Rogers, up-front and Downsborough in goal. I think that was the same year they beat Arsenal 3-1 in the League Cup Final.
Damn weird the odd bits that tumble from your memory when someone jogs it .
Yarrow is a plant Sandy ... Herb ... also ground up and was used to make medicine.
Pretty sure my cousins went to Hreod School. They lived on Cheddar Rd in Moredon many moons ago .
Your vids sometimes give me some right blasts from the past ...
My older brother Steve arranged a football match between some of Swindons old players and the village team at Shrivenham where I grew up.
Don Rogers also has a shop in Swindon and I can remember going there back in 1977 to see if he had any air rifles and he did, he used to sell Relum Tornadoes and Telly 2 air guns:)
I believe the shop is still there but no longer sells guns
Another good one - this was a follow on link in YT today. Around 0:49, it’s worth noting that Transfer Bridges are relatively modern, as they are now. I can vaguely remember when there was a major blockade on the railway while it was set up. No doubt you’re aware that the main road was deliberately lowered to create sufficient clearance for certain vehicles. Thus the NR bridge structure on display is not that old. Don’t think they like Pigeons!
Around 22:47, the housing was the site of the old coal fired Moredon Power Station, fed by the MSWJ railway, the old route of which is now a footpath/cycleway in that area. The substations you passed by were originally part of the station, and now take power from the overhead cabling to the general area. The old power station was built in 1929, and demolished in 1979.
The canal under Purton Road around 24:16 was deliberately put there when the road was new in recent years. A cynic might observe that it was a rare example of long term planning!
Another WBCT link that may be useful: www.wbct.org.uk/enjoy-discover/interactive-map
Thanks John, very interesting
Keep em coming Sandy. I've thoroughly enjoyed them all. 👍👍👍
Thanks for the lovely tour Sandy it's nice to see your neck of the woods all green I hope you and the Mrs. are well all the best 73 Danial ve3tvb
Great information and very interesting to see a canal in disrepair, I live in Cheshire and all our canals are navigable ..... well worth a look if you get chance. I have a Canadian canoe and spend time exploring them. Thanks for making these great informative videos 👍🏼
Your very fortunate to have those canals Al
Great video again Sandy. However, the blue line on the map you were following is the proposed line for the restoration of the canal. In town the junction would have been in front of Debenhams and at Cheney Manor it went pretty much straight up Cheney Manor Road and Darby Close to join the bit that you can see on Google maps behind the Recycling centre. The next section to the power station area is under the line of trees that runs behind the school. I hope you don’t mind me updating you. For the section in town there are four old large scale maps published by David & Charles. They are fascinating viewing. Cheers
Yes Graham I believe you are correct. You can clearly see the route now on Google maps. Thanks for the update.
I'm not an expert at all, just looking for a bit of nostalgic adventure during these strange times
Very interesting, every day is a school day thanks for sharing Sandy . Your bike saddle must be more comfortable than mine 😁🇬🇧
Thank you for the lovely adventure. 💚 🧙♂️ 🇧🇦
Thanks again for another fabulous journey !
When I was an apprentice in Swindon Railway Works I was told that Raychem Lagoon was retained as a source of water for the GWR engine sheds adjacent to Swindon Works, not too far from where the modern Swindon College site is today. On the canal north of Morden the galleries on the lock are recesses for the canal gates when open, with the raised brick "plinth" at the base of them being the "cill" that denotes the different water levels at each end of the canal (you can work out the rise and fall direction of a canal from them).
GWR paid the Wilts and Berks Canal Company for water for many years.
These exploration videos are fun, thank you!
A lovely cycle adventure * Thank you :-)
Thanks Sandy for the tour!! Enjoyed the history on this 👍
There's a lot of history in the UK Amante. In places it goes right back thousands of years.l The canal network in my home town dates from the 17th Century
It’s quite impressive !!
Hi sandy grateful video stay safe mate
Nice and interesting bike ride Sandy, my how time has changed Swindon compared to the old photos, atvb mate.
another great video sandy keep up the great entertainment . I love it
i’m loving these videos! never knew Swindon had such a rich history
Thank you that was fascinating, you are really shining a light on Swindon. Well done, more please.
im loving these videos at the moment Sandy, really relaxing
Thanks Andy, I'm trying to make the most of the quiet roads during lockdown. I'll stay away from the town when it gets busier
Hi Wilstshire Man, so interesting to watch the Swindon canal video. I lived in Deacon St off Commercial Road for a few years back in the 90's when I worked for Anchor Foods and never even knew that I would probably have walked on top of the canal many times. Now all those old bridges make sense ! Also, being a bit dim I never twigged why Canal Walk was named as such, doh. Great video, thanks for taking the time to put it up. I miss Swindon in a lot of ways having since moved back to Wales. I went back a few years ago just to visit my old haunts and see my friends. It has definitely changed a lot in 15 years ! i hope the Glue Pot pub is still open. Really strange to see the town so deserted during the lock-down. Coincidentally, I have also just bought a white 2018 Himalayan last week and expecting delivery when we are back to some sort of normality.
Lovely videos Sandy I did watch it I did watch it last year but have got more to take it in today sat in my van in the pouring rain not attempting to do any work🙈 can't wait to get out in sping
Thanks Daniel Same here, looking forward to getting out too
Looks a lovely area Sandy. Interesting video stay safe
That was some kind of ride Sandy. I was following you on the map. Raychem lagoon is 600 meters long. That's fairly big. Yeah good ride. All the best. Mark
Thanks Mark, It would make a good swimming place when no one is around:)
@@WiltshireMan It sure would Sandy. I bet the open water swimmers get in there already.
As I live in Hampshire it is probably not for me to do, but I think Swindon Borough Council could do a wonderful for little cost. and that is to paint coloured lines through the town showing the route of the two canals along its road and walkways. It would certainly improve local historic education and would generate more interest and help preserve those bits of the canals that remain. If you live in Swindon and like the idea please put it to you local councillors.
Great work, Sandy. I know Swindon like the back of my back. I know it's there, just mot seen it. Many places here I have not seen considering I was born and bred here lol
If your able to Ian try and get out when you can and go and find these places. It's good exercise and fun
I’m really enjoying this cycling series with a history content, stay safe. I hear the terrible number of deaths over there,we are fortunate in having an extremely low mortality rate here in Australia.
Personally I don't know of that many, I guess most of the high mortality is in the larger towns and cities, it certainly isn't so bad here in Swindon from what I know
@@WiltshireMan I think people have over reacted to the situation. The mortality rate predictions have been massively over exaggerated. More people could die from poverty now. I'm not against keeping up the lockdown for the elderly. But you should never be around elderly people even if you have mild symptoms of a cold anyway. Elderly often die because a child relative interacts with them and the child will just be showing physical symptoms of a runny nose.
Cheers sandy for the nice little jolly I enjoyed that .
Thanks so much for making this! Me and one of my best friends met up (social distancing) and cycled along this route. I ended up being out for like 4 hours, it was a great time! :D
Welldone Sophie,
The fresh air and exercise will do you good:)
There are some nice rides round Swindon. My favourite was lawns to croft woods then up jacobs ladder to four mile clump and come back through barbury hill. lovely
Another fascinating tour. It's interesting to see the evolution of a place that has had human habitation for hundreds (thousands) of years. Those of us who live in places that were wilderness not much more that 100 years ago aren't used to that kind of change.
splendid ride Sandy , , , thoroughly enjoyed it , , looked like a good spot for a bit of 'stealth camping' here and there , , I thought that swan was gonna make trouble for you , , beautiful creatures , , but with a painful pinch with the beak , , fair make you holler it will lol : - )
Great video mate. Hope Mandy is doing better now.
Tom She is on the mend thankfully. I'm seeing Swindon in a different light these days. Some interesting history here
Hi Sandy just watched the second part of your canal journey I worked at square D for 5 years next to Raychem ,and I didn’t even know that was there😁 and on another note be careful going through those long tunnels ,they’re used to be a bloke who lived there ,apparently he was a certified psychopath 😔😔😔😁👍.
Great historical ride 👍🍻
Great video, you missed a little piece of evidence of the canal when you were stood in front of the power station. When you stood looking directly at power station with your back towards Akers way, to your left just in the bushes/trees you can see the top of a wall sticking out of the ground. It's the remains of a lock and you can see the socket for the lock gate still. Also when I worked for the council we removed a line of old Hawthorn trees along the side of Fleming way near York rd bridge. I was always led to believe that these trees once lined the canal.
Another video for me to watch on night shifts Sandy! Thanks..........!
LOL Lets hope you have a quiet shift John
Very interesting enjoyed it
Really enjoyed this video of the history of the canal bro. Got no interesting walk or cycle ways here other than the one they are doing between our town and the next, about 25 kms. Only on new case of the virus in the last 24 hours so things a looking good there. Stay well to you both
This series is so interesting
Great job, thanks.
I am actually learning more about your local area than I know of mine! Keep it up Sandy and for all you folks out there in YT land, this should motivate you to go out and really explore your own surroundings - it does me!
Hi Dan,
Thanks. I am enjoying my ride outs when I can. I felt I had to get out and do this now as soon the lockdown will be over and the roads a lot busier again:(
amazing how green Swindon is only ever seen it from the main roads interesting canal history . Thanks
I wonder whether the canal could be restored, such a shame. I love the canals especially the old bridges.
Great vid nice part 2 of the canal I am always interested in the history of Swindon as I have seen a lot of changes in over 40 years Swindon has grown and changed so much
It's almost completely changed in the last 100 years
i needed that thanks sandy
The canal terminates at Latton junction where it joins the Thames and Severn canal. The Thames and Severn starts at Lechlade and makes its way to the Gloucester and Sharpness canal. Much restoration work has been done at the western end around Stroud and is well worth a visit.
thank you for sharing, Wiltshire Man 🌲🦅🌲
Love your vids 👍
There is a hidden tunnel I discovered in the 1980s, the entrance is on the right bank of the picture at exactly 11:55. The hole was later dug over, so is probably under about a foot of dirt now.
Loved your video ❤️ it's amazing 90% of the route is still there and easy to follow. We filmed the far section a few weeks back, and hope to research the Cricklade part soon.
Take a look at our Wilts and Berks video Sandy. There's a superb section (W@B) in Sidington well worth a visit, you can trace that back to Latton, were Latton Lagoon would turn back to the North Wilts ❤️❤️
I'll check out your video on the canal, it's very interesting to learn about the canals of Swindon.
@@WiltshireMan I've put all our Canal trips in a play list now, easier to locate.
ua-cam.com/video/v9-3Fh-6PLI/v-deo.html
The sky is so blue and clear!
It is good. I hope it stays that way!
Interesting glimpse at Swindon's industrial past. A little surprised you haven't run in to the rail works yet though.
I might get around to it, but I'm guessing it will be full of shoppers when it reopens. Currently it's all shut up due to this lockdown
@Grant Jones Many thanks Grant. That's a shame. Seeing as it is one of the things Swindon is most known for and an interesting part of British Industrial heritage.
Lovley thank you
Lovely video Sandy, amazes me how joined up your talking is whilst cycling. I find it difficult not to um and ah when I’m totally focused on the audio. All the best. Hardy
I think it's just practice and a bit of careful editing
great vid, new sub here. 11.26 yeah i remember when i was a nipper, 1979 ish there was large cables all along that part, used to be the railway works over the wall so i guess something to do with that, to the right was all waste ground rocks and twisted steel great for playing around on back when kids used to play outside and use imagination
Kids don't play like that anymore. Thanks for subbing, I hope you find some of my videos interesting.
I grew up in Watchfield and Shrivenham in the 60's. Live in Upper Stratton now
That was great, thanks
Very interesting 👍
A lot of history in our old towns John.
Wow never knew the canal went right by my house
What a sad state our once glorious town centre is