Avon Hoodies

The view from the bridge over the Kennet and Avon Canal at Kintbury in West Berkshire. The canal passes through the village by way of Kintbury Lock, taking us to Hungerford, Devizes, Bath and Bristol. This peaceful scene would once have been busy with canal boats taking goods, especially Bath stone, to Reading and London, together with agricultural goods and produce. This was the view in late October with the water vreflecting the golden foliage of the surrounding trees.

The towpath by the Kennet and Avon Canal leading eastwards into the town of Hungerford in West Berkshire, England. During the mid 1800s, this was a thriving industrial area lined with canalside industrial buildings. Boats would have been busy loading and unloading goods such as Bath stone for building the new mansions in London. The canal was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to link the Thames at Reading with Bristol, enabling goods to be transported smoothly from London to Bristol. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

An artistic view of Padworth Lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal in West Berkshire in early February.. This lies just downstream from Aldermaston Wharf. It was constructed between 1718 and 1723 under the supervision of local engineer John Hore of Newbury. Originally a turf sided lock, as many were on this stretch of the waterway, it was rebuilt with brick sides between 1982 and 1984 as part of the canal restoration project. It has a rise and fall of 5ft 1inch (1.55m). Kikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

The Kennet and Avon Canal as it passes through the town of Newbury in Berkshire. This image, captured during an afternoon in early February is just upstream from the Town Lock. On the right is the site of West Mills reminding us that Newbury was a centre for agriculture and for textile manufacture. The canal itself was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to provide smooth transport between Bristol and London via Reading. It was fully restored from the mid 1900s, being fully reopened in 1990. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

A canal boat moored just below Aldermaston Lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal. This is known as a 'winding hole' where narrowboats as long as 72 feet can turn round. The building on the left was once Strange's Brewery - giving the lock its alternative name - Brewery Lock. The area here is called Aldermaston Wharf and was once a hive of industry with boats loading and unloading their cargoes. Now it's busy with leisure traffic!

The wooden swing bridge on the Kennet and Avon Canal near the village of Sulhamstead in Berkshire, found on the stretch of water between Tyle Mill and Theale. There are a number of swing bridges along the canal, some like this one linking two fields, enabling livestock to be moved from one to the other. The K&A dates from the early 18th century when it was constructed to link the River Avon in the west to the River Kennet in the east so that boats could travel between Bristol and London.

The Town Bridge, or as it is known locally, The Water Bridge, crossing the Kennet and Avon Canal in the centre of Newbury in Berkshire, England. The River Kennet was made navigable from Reading to Newbury in the early 1700s under the supervision of the engineer John Hore of Newbury, work commencing in 1718. It was extended further west to Hungerford in 1798. The bridge probably dates from this period. The canal was finally opened to connect with Bristol in 1810.

Blake's 7 Avon Tribute

Original artwork by Andrew Reid Wildman

An inviting door in to Joan Hart's cottage - a 2 bedroom cottage attached to William Shakespeare's childhood home, in the heart of Stratford upon Avon. Born in 1564, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway in 1582 and continued to live in the house with his parents. Digitally transformed in to an oil painting from an original photograph of mine.

The towpath by the Kennet and Avon Canal leading eastwards into the town of Hungerford in West Berkshire, England. During the mid 1800s, this was a thriving industrial area lined with canalside industrial buildings. Boats would have been busy loading and unloading goods such as Bath stone for building the new mansions in London. The canal was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to link the Thames at Reading with Bristol, enabling goods to be transported smoothly from London to Bristol. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

Walking along th towpath and approaching the bridge over the Kennet and Avon Canal at Pewsey in Wiltshire, England. On a hot summer afternoon vnarrowboats are moored along the bank and an artist is painting a watercolour of the bridge. The Kennet and Avon Canal was constructed between 1794 and 1810, this section dating from 1810. The coming of the railway resulted init falling into disuse until the mid 1900s when it was restored. It was fully opened again in 1990. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

The view from Aldermaston Lock downstream to Aldermaston Wharf on the Kennet and Avon Canal in West Berkshire. Just below the lock is the winding hole - big enough to be able to turn a 72ft narrowboat, Beyond that is the lift bridge carrying the A340 from the A4 Bath Road to Basingstoke. The Wharf was once a hive of industry, busy with canal boats loading and unloading cargoes. Here were also the workshops necessary to maintain the waterway. A digital pencil drawing from my original photograph.

The parish church of St Lawrence at Hungerford in Berkshire, England. The church is just to the west of the town next to the swing bridge crossing the Kennet and Avon Canal. It was totally rebuilt in 1814 in the Regency Gothic Revival style using Bath Stone which was transported along the canal. Further refurbishment then took place in the mid 1800s. The canal itself was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to link the cities of Bristol and London, joining the Thames at Reading,

Snowing on the oxford canal looking through the Newbold tunnel, Rugby, Warwickshire, UK the number on this bridge is 49 looking through the tunnel is falls bridge number 48. canon Eos 600D featured in Northern landscape,

St Botolph's Church, Newbold-on-Avon, Rugby, Warwickshire, England, UK in the snow. The church dates from the fifteenth century and is built on the site of an earlier church. Canon 600D

Black and white image of St Botolph's Church, Newbold-on-Avon, Rugby, Warwickshire, England, UK in the snow. The church dates from the fifteenth century and is built on the site of an earlier church.

A pair of swans at Greenham Lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal near Newbury, Berkshire. This section of the canal - or navigation (combined river and canal) began its construction in 1718 under the supervision of engineer John Hore of Newbury and in 1724 the stretch between Reading and Newbury was opened. The entire canal joining the Avon Navigation from Bristol and the Kennet Navigation in Berkshire was completed in 1810 allowing goods to be transported smoothly from Bristol to London. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

The Kennet and Avon Canal on the stretch above Woolhampton in Berkshire, England. Captured on a late afternoon in October with the almost bare trees reflected in the water. The Kennet and Avon Canal, 87 miles long, was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to link the Kennet and Avon rivers and thus provide a smooth transport link between Bristol and London via Reading. It fell into disuse due to the Great Western Railway but was completely restored and reopened in 1990.

The scene looking east approaching the top gate of Hungerford Town Lock. This is on the Kennet and Avon Canal very near the centre of the town of Hungerford in West Berkshire, England. The Kennet and Avon Canal, 87 miles long, was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to link the Kennet and Avon rivers and thus provide a smooth transport link between Bristol and London via Reading. It fell into disuse due to the Great Western Railway but was completely restored and reopened in 1990.

The Weavers Cottages stand on the towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal in Newbury, Berkshire, just upstream from West Mills. Newbury was once famous for its cloth making with both the wool and finished product being transported along the canal by narrow boat.

A swan family on the grassy slope of the wharf near the town centre of Hungerford in Berkshire, England.This lovely market town, famous for its many antique shops has the Kennet and Avon Canal flowing through its centre. In the mid 1800s the wharf area would have been a hive of activity with boats loading and unloading at the industrial buildings here The canal, 87 miles long, was constructed in 1794 -1810 to link Bristol with the River Thames at Reading giving a direct link to London.

The towpath running alongside the Kennet and Avon Canal between Hungerford in Berkshire and Marlborough in Wiltshire, England, captured on a sunny autumn afternoon. The Kennet and Avon Canal was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to link the Thames at Reading with Bristol, enabling goods to be transported from London to Bristol. It fell into disuse due to the Great Western Railway but was and reopened in 1990 and is once more busy - now with leisure craft.

A walk along the towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal at Midgham in Berkshire on a sunny September day. Here narrow boats are moored just above Midgham Lock (no 92).

The footbridge over the River Kennet next to Greenham Lock near Newbury, Berkshire. The bridge forms the entrance to a boatyard and dry dock. This section of the canal - or navigation (combined river and canal) began its construction in 1718 under the supervision of engineer John Hore of Newbury and in 1724 the section between Reading and Newbury was opened The remainder of the Kennet and Avon to join Bristol and Reading was built between 1794 and 1810. It was fully reopened in 1990.

An artistic rendition from my original photograph of houses by the Kennet and Avon Canal in Newbury, Berkshire. The canal is approaching the town from the west, the scene being captured from its West Mills bank. This was oce the centre of the town's textile and agricultural industries with warehouses, workshops and mills lining the banks. From here the canal makes its way to Reading and the River Thames and eventually London from where woollen cloth could be exported throughout the world.

These canalside grade 2 listed cottages in Newbury, West Berkshire were once home to the town's prosperous weaving community. Today, their stoic beauty is captured in a monochrome view, framed by the rippled water of the Kennet and Avon canal. The tranquil scene conjures images of a bygone era when boats transported cloth to the bustling capital city.

William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon".

The Kennet and Avon Canal at Kintbury in West Berkshire. This is the view looking eastwards from the bridge towards Kintbury Lock on an autumn afternoon. Carry on eastwards from here and you eventually reach Reading and the River Thames, Behind us the canal continues through Berkshire and Wiltshire to reach Bath and Bristol.

Plenty of activity at Lock 93, Heale's Lock, on the Kennet and Avon Canal just above Woolhampton in Berkshire, England. One narrow boat, heading downstream is waiting whilst another, coming upstream is locking through.This lock was built between 1718 and 1723 under the supervision of engineer John Hore of Newbury. Originally a turf-sided lock it was rebuilt in brick when the canal was being restored in the 1980s. After many years of neglect,The Kennet and Avon was fully reopened in 1990.

An inviting door in to Joan Hart's cottage - a 2 bedroom cottage attached to William Shakespeare's childhood home, in the heart of Stratford upon Avon. Born in 1564, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway in 1582 and continued to live in the house with his parents. From 1847, following a campaign led by Charles Dickens, the property was purchased by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and has been cared for by them to this day.

This elegant footbridge, No. 83, crosses over the Kennet and Avon Canal is at Hungerford in Berkshire, England. It's found to the east and just downstream of the town's wharf and road bridge, In the early to mid 19th century the canal was once busy with commercial traffic transporting goods such as Bath stone for the grand buildings then springing up in the area. The canal, 87 miles long, was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to provide a link between Bristol and London avoiding the rough roads.

Blake's 7 Quote - Avon

An artist creating a watercolour of the scene through the canal bridge at Pewsey Wharf in Wiltshire. Here the Kennet and Avon Canal passes through on its journey between the Thames at Reading and the Bristol Channel. It incorporates parts of both the Rivers Kennet and Avon in parts known as 'navigations'. The canal was constructed between 1724 and 1810 and was a commercial waterway until the coming of the Great Western Railway. It was restored in the mid 1900s and was finally reopened in 1990. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

Walking along Kennetside in Reading on a sunny day in early autumn. This is almost at the point where the River Kennet meets the Thames. In front is the bridge taking the railway line to London Waterloo over the river and in the background are the gantries of the Great Western line to Paddington which crosses the river a little further on. Just past the first bridge on the right is the site of the old Reading gasworks, the last gasholder being demolished in March 2022.

Blake's 7 - Scorpio