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Looking upstream from the road bridge to Goring over the River Thames at Streatley. On the left are the newly refurbished buildings of the Swan Hotel. Its origins date from the C17th when it was apparently opened by the first owner, Francis Swan. In 1970 it was famously bought by Danny La Rue. The present owners have recently extensively refurbished it. The Thames path skirts the hotel before continuing along the river bank to Cleeve Lock and on to Wallingford.

The old weavers' cottages stand by the towpath of the Kennet and Avon canal in Newbury, West Berkshire. During the Middle Ages Newbury was noted for its cloth trade but this diminished rapidly in the late C16th and more so after the Civil War. Being on the Kennet Navigation (opened in 1723) towards London meant that cloth could be transported easily to the Capital via Reading. The canal, seen here, from Newbury to Bath and the port of Bristol was opened in 1796.

A narrowboat on the River Kennet moored just above the town lock at Newbury, West Berkshire. This is the West Mills area, so called because once there were corn mills here - the sluices for them are on the left of the image. The mills were owned by Hovis from 1921 until the 1950s. Further on and past the swing bridge, the Kennet Navigation as it is properly called, becomes the Kennet and Avon Canal, taking us all the way to Bristol.

Strolling along the towpath of the Kennet at West Mills Newbury in Berkshire. Here a wide boat rather than the more familiar narrow boat is moored just below the swing bridge. Peaceful now, this was once a hive of activity with corn mills using the river's water to turn their waterwheels. The Kennet Navigation, becoming the Kennet and Avon Canal above the bridge, would have been busy with boats loading and unloading everything from grain and flour to Bath stone for building.

The River Kennet, here part of the Kennet and Avon Canal, flowing eastwards through the centre of Newbury in Berkshire on its way to join the Thames at Reading. Here it has just passed through the Town Lock and is flowing under the Town, or Water Bridge. Newbury, the administrative centre of West Berkshire, was, in medieval times, famous as a centre for making woollen cloth. The canal was opened between Reading and Bristol in 1810, providing a smooth route between the Bristol Channel 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, Berkshire. 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.

The view from the lift bridge over the Kennet and Avon Canal at Aldermaston Wharf in Berkshire. Beautifully peaceful now with a visitors' centre and teashop but once this was a hive of industry! The scene would have been busy with the wide Kennet boats loading and unloading their cargoes of farm goods, coal, building stone etc. Here were also the carpenters so necessary for maintaining the locks and bridges as well as forges for shoeing the horses. A digital coloured pencil drawing.

The wharf at Hungerford on the Kennet and Avon Canal in Berkshire, England. This view is from the town bridge looking upstream to the lock. A pair of boats are about to moor at the wharf. During the mid 1800s, this was a thriving industrial area lined with buildings. Boats would have been busy loading and unloading goods such as Bath stone for building. The canal was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to link the Thames at Reading with Bristol, enabling goods to be transported from London to Bristol.

A digital sketch of the scene looking past the top gates of Padworth Lock in West Berkshire, - just below Aldermaston Wharf. This lock, no.96, was originally built between 1718 and 1723, supervised by local engineer John Hore of Newbury. It was turf-sided but was rebuilt in brick in 1982-4. The canal was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to link the Thames and Avon rivers, providing a smooth transport link between Bristol and London via Reading and the Thames.

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).

Just below the swing bridge carrying the road over the Kennet and Avon Canal at Sulhamstead in Berkshire, England. The surrounding buildings are reflected in the water and the whole scene is bathed in late afternoon sunlight. The Kennet and Avon Canal, 87 miles long, was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to link the Thames and Avon rivers, providing a smooth transport link between Bristol and London via Reading. The canal, once almost derelict, was restored in the late 1900s, being fully opened in 1990.

A meadow in the the village of Tidmarsh in West Berkshire, England after a fall of snow. This is close by the River Pang and Tidmarsh Mill, once the home of Lytton Strachey and Dora Carrington - part of the 'Bloomsbury Set'. The path here runs through the meadows joining the villages of Tidmarsh and Sulham. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

The upstream approach to Padworth Lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal just below Aldermaston Wharf. This lock, no.96, was originally built between 1718 and 1723 and was supervised by local engineer John Hore of Newbury. It was turf-sided but was rebuilt in brick in 1982-4. Very few turf-sided locks now remain. The canal was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to link the Thames and Avon rivers, providing a smooth transport link between Bristol and London via Reading and the Thames.

The Kennet and Avon Canal as it passes through Newbury in Berkshire. This scene, taken from the West Mills swing bridge shows the canal as it heads towards the centre of the town, about to pass through Town Lock. On the right bank is the site of West Mills - Newbury was once a busy agricultural and woollen textile manufacturing centre. The tower of St Nicolas church, restored during the early 1500s stands above the surrounding buildings.

A black and white image of narrowboats moored for the winter on the banks of the Kennet and Avon Canal at Newbury, Berkshire. Here the waterway is flowing past the town towards Greenham and then on to Reading and the Thames. The canal boats once carried Bath stone for the fine buildings in London.

A quiet spot for cattle to drink on the River Pang just south of Pangbourne in West Berkshire. Here the riverside footpath leads south from Pangbourne to Tidmarsh. The Pang, one of England's ecologically valued chalk streams, starts its life on the Berkshire Downs near Compton (depending on rainfall!) and supports a wide variety of wildlife. This is a digital drawing from my original photograph.

A digital pencil drawing from my original photograph of Guyers Lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal near Newbury, Berkshire. The lock was constructed between 1718 and 1723 under the supervision of local engineer John Hore. Behind the lock is Enborne Bridge, enabling the horses towing the boats to cross the canal as the towpath changed sides here. This image was captured one evening in early summer.

The gatehouse of Donnington Castle near Newbury, West Berkshire seen from the adjacent footpath. The castle was constructed in 1386 by Sir Richard Abberbury the Elder. It was eventually destroyed following a siege by the Parliamentarians during the Civil War having been held by Royalist forces. It was then 'slighted' - ie dismantled to prevent further use - with only the gatehouse left standing.

The gatehouse of Donnington Castle near Newbury, West Berkshire seen from an adjacent footpath. The castle was constructed in 1386 by Sir Richard Abberbury the Elder. It was eventually destroyed following a siege by the Parliamentarian troops during the Civil War having been held by Royalist forces. It was then 'slighted'- ie dismantled to prevent further use - with only the gatehouse left standing.

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.

The gatehouse of Donnington Castle near Newbury, West Berkshire seen from an adjacent footpath. The castle was constructed in 1386 by Sir Richard Abberbury the Elder. It was eventually destroyed following a siege by the Parliamentarian troops during the Civil War having been held by Royalist forces. It was then 'slighted'- ie dismantled to prevent further use - with only the gatehouse left standing.

The footpath leading up to Donnington Castle near Newbury in West Berkshire.The castle was constructed in 1386 by Sir Richard Abberbury the Elder. It was eventually destroyed following a siege by the Parliamentarian troops during the Civil War having been held by Royalist forces. It was then 'slighted'- ie dismantled to prevent further use - with only the gatehouse left standing.

The church of St Mary in the village of Sulhamstead Abbots in Berkshire, England. This beautiful parish church with its distinctive white wooden belfry stands on the edge of the village surrounded by farmland overlooking the Kennet Valley.There seems to have been a chapel here in the 1100s which was apparently owned by nearby Reading Abbey but by 1240 it had become a church. The present building is largely 13th century with restoration carried out in the 15th and 19th centuries.

The church of St Mary in the village of Sulhamstead Abbots, Berkshire. This beautiful parish church with its distinctive white wooden belfry stands on the edge of the village surrounded by farmland overlooking the Kennet Valley.There seems to have been a chapel here in the 1100s which was apparently owned by nearby Reading Abbey but by 1240 it had become a church. The present building is largely 13th century with restoration carried out in the 15th and 19th centuries.

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Looking out over the beautiful Thames Valley from the North Wessex (or Berkshire) Downs. This view was captured just above Streatley-on-Thames and looks north towards the Chiltern Hills. This is an area of lush farmland. Cultivated fields lie next to green meadows - frequently inhabited by sheep.

River Thames, Cookham, August 2020 A cruiser passes a couple of rather attractive boat houses on the River Thames at Cookham (Berkshire, England). Date: 5th August 2020.

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.

Spring is bursting out along the River Kennet at Newbury, Berkshire. Here the river splits into several channels - and just to the right, just out of sight, is the Kennet and Avon Canal. This section of the river leaves the main waterway just behind us and plunges through a weir to run swiftly along here. This is a quiet spot away from the canal's towpath. This image has been finished in the style of a coloured pencil sketch.

Two narrow boats on the Kennet and Avon Canal moored just downstream from Woolhampton in West Berkshire,England. The image was captured in early March on a bright and calm late winter afternoon. 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. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

A wooden footbridge crossing the River Pang in the woodland at Moor Copse near Tidmarsh in Berkshire. The River Pang is one of England's much valued chalk streams which are rich in wildlife. The river starts its life on the Berkshire (North Wessex) Downs near the village of Compton and winds its way through West Berkshire to finally meet the River Thames at Pangbourne.

An imressionistic study of a gateway into a meadow from my original photograph. A plank bridge takes the footpath over an overgrown stream into the meadow. This idyllic scene was captured during a summer evening countryside walk near Tidmarsh in West Berkshire.

Holy Trinity Church, Cookham, August 2020 Cookham (Berkshire, England) is an historic village on the River Thames, not far from Maidenhead. Holy Trinity Church is of Norman design, and is about 1000 years old, but was probably built on the site of an earlier, Saxon place of worship. Date: 5th August 2020.

Walking along the towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal near the village of Sulhamstead in West Berkshire in early autumn. Here we approach Tyle Mill Lock from the upsteam side. This canal was constructed to link two rivers, the Thames in the east and Avon in the west, enabling goods to be carried from London to Bristol. It fell into disuse due to the Great Western Railway being built but was restored in the late 1900s and is now a busy leisure waterway.

The scene along the towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal in West Berkshire. Here it is more properly called a Navigation as it is largely the river made navigable. Here we find narrowboats and other canal craft moored along the banks. Continued walking in this direction will eventually take us to the Thames at Reading.

The Kennet and Avon Canal just above the village of Woolhampton in Berkshire, England pictured late in the afternnon on an Autumn day. 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 largely to the building of the Great Western Railway which runs alongside, but was completely restored and reopened in 1990. It is now busy with leisure craft.