2013

SU0781 : Templar's Firs slipway, Wilts & Berks Canal, Royal Wootton Bassett

taken 10 years ago, near to Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, England

Templar's Firs slipway, Wilts & Berks Canal, Royal Wootton Bassett
Templar's Firs slipway, Wilts & Berks Canal, Royal Wootton Bassett
A restored stretch of the Wilts & Berks Canal ends abruptly here at the Templar's Firs slipway. The slipway was built in 1995 for launching the trip boat of the local branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, but trips were found not to be financially viable, so were discontinued. LinkExternal link LinkExternal link
Wilts & Berks Canal :: SU0981

The Wilts & Berks Canal was promoted from 1793 as a means of providing cheap transport. The Bill empowering construction of the canal received Royal Assent in 1795 and the canal was cut from the Kennet & Avon Canal at Semington, near Melksham, to the River Thames at Abingdon during the years 1796 to 1810. A link from Swindon to the Thames & Severn Canal at Latton (near Cricklade) was completed in 1819. This link, known as the North Wilts Canal, allowed traffic to bypass the difficult River Thames navigation between Lechlade and Abingdon.
The main line of the canal was 52 miles long, with six miles of branches and nine miles of the North Wilts Canal. It was cut to take narrowboats 72 feet long and seven feet wide, carrying 35 tons. There were 42 locks on the main line, 11 on the North Wilts Canal and three on the Calne branch. There were three short tunnels.
The canal enjoyed a period of prosperity between 1817 and 1841. However, with the coming of the Great Western Railway in 1841 decline set in. Stanley Aqueduct between Chippenham and Calne collapsed in 1901, stopping through traffic, and the canal was abandoned by Act of Parliament in 1914. LinkExternal link LinkExternal link


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Vieve Forward and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Canals other tags: Tow Path Canal Wilts & Berks Canal Footpath Slipway Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · Wilts Berks Canal Trust [6] ·
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SU0781, 53 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Vieve Forward   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Tuesday, 8 October, 2013   (more nearby)
Submitted
Wednesday, 16 October, 2013
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SU 0728 8156 [10m precision]
WGS84: 51:31.9741N 1:53.7865W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SU 0731 8157
View Direction
WEST (about 270 degrees)
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Image classification(about): Geograph
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