This is quite definitely not a standard K&A swing bridge, which suggests strongly that it was a private construction for accommodation purposes by the farmer at the nearby Newtown Farm. It does, however, carry a public footpath - possibly a concession required by the canal company to permit its construction.

This aqueduct is reported to be the first navigable aqueduct to be built in the south west for almost 200 years and is built from concrete and containing 529 tonnes of steel reinforcement. It is part of the £12m Semington bypass project carrying the A350 around Semington and avoiding a narrow hump bridge over the canal further to the west - a hazard for long vehicles.

The new Semington aqueduct over the A350 Semington bypass opened in
2004 - Note the dual carriageway on the canal, even the road doesn't have that luxury. MEP

This view of the bypass was taken from the Semington Aqueduct ST9060 : Semington Aqueduct.

The bypass opened in 2004 to re-route the A350 around the village of Semington. The A350 is the primary North-South route into/out-of Dorset and so particularly in summer months can become extremely busy. The image shown here contains both typical and atypical content: as usual the southbound lane contains a line of traffic moving at less than the speed limit, most unusually the northbound lane is empty.

Taken from the tail of Semington Top Lock - No.16 - Buckley's - No.15 - is at the other end of the pound with Semington Bridge behind. There is a small boatyard and drydock about half way to the lock on the left.

A drydock is essential for boaters who need to carry out work on the outside of the boat below the waterline. These jobs include blacking the hull, repairs to the propeller and rudder, etc.

Locks on the Kennet & Avon Canal were build without bywashes. The bywash allows surplus water to pass the lock and avoid flooding in the pound above the lock.
It has long been the custom among boaters using the canal to leave a bottom paddle open when leaving a lock - this applies travelling in both directions. Surplus water passes over the top gates and out of the lock through the open paddle.
British Waterways are in process of building bywashes. They leave notices similar to this on locks which have not yet been dealt with.

I'm presuming this is the Lock Keeper's Cottage at Semington by lock 15 on the Kennet & Avon Canal. The photographer is stand just where the Wilts & Berks canal joined the K&A. It was abandoned in 1941 but there are now plans to re-open the canal, some of which has disappeared under modern Swindon.

Looking west from Semington Bridge. There are two locks at Semington - the other, No 16 (Barratt's) being about a quarter of a mile further away.