Towpath T-Shirts

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

A digital painting from my original photograph of the scene above the lock at Aldermaston Wharf on the Kennet and Avon Canal (or Navigation) in Berkshire. A lovely tranquil scene - hard to imagine the industry here over 100 years ago! Then the whole area was busy with working canal canal boats loading and unloading their cargoes. Here too were the workshops and forges necessary for the running of the canal.

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 Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal as it passes through the village of Talybont on Usk in Powis, South Wales. This isolated canal which meanders through the Brecon Beacons National Park was originally designed to carry coal and iron to Newport on the Welsh coast. At present the section from the canal basin at Brecon to Pontnewydd is the only navigable part but plans are in place to eventually extend this to Newport.

Regent's Canal towpath by Kingsland Basin, London, UK

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.

The Regent’s Canal offers an oasis of calm in the capital. It was once London’s best kept secret, but now we’re spreading the word with walkers, boaters, commuters and everyone looking to escape the busy city streets.

Graffiti street art along the Regent's canal near Camden Lock in London England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

Graffiti street art along the Regent's canal near Camden Lock in London England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

Graffiti street art along the Regent's canal near Camden Lock in London England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

Graffiti street art along the Regent's canal near Camden Lock in London England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

Standing on the bridge over the Kennet and Avon Canal at Hungerford in West Berkshire on a bright, frosty morning in early December. This is the view looking eastwards. Carry on along here and you reach Reading, the Thames and eventually London. Hungerford is a picturesque old market town near the border with Wiltshire, famed for its antique shops. Peaceful now but once busy with working boats carrying their loads between Bristol and London.

Graffiti street art along the Regent's canal near Camden Lock in London England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

Graffiti street art along the Regent's canal near Camden Lock in London England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

A frosty December morning at Hungerford in West Berkshire by the Kennet and Avon Canal. The sun has lit up the old canal bridge where a distant figure is walking along the towpath towards the Wharf. Hungerford is a picturesque market town near the border with Wiltshire and is well known for its many antique shops. Ahead the waterway takes us on to Bath and Bristol whilst behind us lie Reading and the Thames. Digital art from my original photograph.

Graffiti street art along the Regent's canal near Camden Lock in London England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

Graffiti street art along the Regent's canal near Camden Lock in London England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

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.

Towpath Bridge Cathiron Warwickshire leading from Brinklow Marina to the Oxford Canal. Bridge 39 Canon Eos 600D

Seen from the Thames path between Marlow and Henley-on-Thames, the church of All Saints in the riverside village of Bisham in Berkshire, just upstream of the National Sports Centre. The Grade 2 listed church dates from the 12th century, the oldest remaining part being the tower. A digital drawing from my original photograph.

A digital pencil drawing of the scene looking upstream at Midgham Lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal. This lock, no.92, is between Thatcham and Woolhampton in West Berkshire' It was constructed between 1718 and 1723 under the supervision of engineerJohn Hore who managed the building of all the locks in this area. It has a rise/fall of 7ft 7ins. Just behind us is the road bridge carrying the Beenham Road over the waterway.

Vicarage Bridge, a fine single arched brick footbridge, spans the Kennet and Avon Canal at Kintbury in West Berkshire. It leads from the towpath to the parish church of St Mary and the village itself. On the towpath side of the bridge's brickwork are two railway tracks seen on the left hand side in the image. These were put in place to strengthen the whole structure. The bridge dates from c1810 and was designed by the noted engineer John Rennie.

An impressionistic image of the Kennet and Avon Canal as it approaches the town centre at Newbury in West Berkshire. This was once a centre of the woollen cloth trade and next to the canal bank here are the old weavers' cottages. Further on, through the swing bridge at West Mills the waterway glides through the middle of the town to head eastwards to Reading and the River Thames. The was built between 1794 and 1810 to enable goods to be smoothly transported between Bristol and London.

An impresisionist style photograph of the Kennet and Avon Canal from the Station Road Footbridge at Hungerford in West Berkshire. This was captured just before Christmas on a frosty morning. Behind us is the Town Bridge and Hungerford Wharf. Ahead of us the waterway flows through Newbury before carrying on to Reading where it meets the Thames.

A narrowboat is moored next to the Thames Path At Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. On the left is Rod Eyot (or Ait), an island with several chalets and a brick cottage - only accessible by boat! Further ahead is Marsh Lock and weir. The Thames Path is a long-distance National trail from the Cotswolds to London. Picturesque Henley is most noted for the annual Royal Regatta which attracts top rowers from all over the world. This is a digital pencil drawing.

A narrowboat making its way upriver at Henley-on-Thames and approaching Marsh Lock. The wooden walkway to the lock can be seen centre right. This photograph was captured from the Thames Path, a long-distance National trail following the Thames from Cricklade in the Cotswolds to the Thames Barrier in London. Henley-on-Thames is famous for the annual Royal Regatta which attracts rowers from all over the world. A digital drawing from my original photograph.

The view looking upstream towards the lock at Sonning-on-Thames in Berkshire. The first pound lock here dates from 1773, this present one being constructed in 1905. Sonning is a picturesque village just further downstream from the major town of Reading, and was described by Jerome K Jerome in 'Three Men In A Boat' as 'the most fairy-like little nook on the whole river' The village is now home to a number of celebrities.

A digital drawing of a narrowboat moored on the Thames riverbank at Henley in Oxfordshire. On the opposite bank is Rod Eyot (or Ait), an island in mid-river with several chalets and a brick cottage - only accessible by boat! Further downstrem is the town of Henley itself most noted for its annual Royal Regatta which attracts top rowers from all over the world. The Thames Path against which the boat is moored is a long-distance National trail leading from the Cotswolds to London.

Just upstream of Aldermaston Lock is this footbridge which spans the Kennet and Avon Canal linking two areas of housing but there is no access to it from the towpath. Along this stretch canal boats are moored. Just behind us is Aldermaston Lock and Aldermaston Wharf, once a busy industrial area with canal boats loading and unloading cargoes of agricultural goods, coal, wood, groceries and building materials. Here too were the smiths' and carpenters' workshops. A digital pencil drawing from my original photograph.

The Kennet and Avon Canal - or Kennet Navigation as it is here - att Woolhmpton in West Berkshire. This was captured during a walk along the towpath i late January. Narrowboats are moored along the banks bathed in bright winter sunshine. 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. It was restored during the late 1900s and was fully reopened in 1990.

The regatta course for the Henley Royal Regatta. Along the towpath (aka the Thames Path) at Remenham in Berkshire, is a post marked for a quarter of a mile. The regatta coiurse is 1 mile 550 yards long and starts just downstream from Temple Island (in the background), finishing just downstream of Henley Bridge. Temple Island, seen here, is named after its folly, built as a fishing lodge in 1771. It is now owned by Henley Royal Regatta and is used for corporate events etc. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

An old brick bridge taking the towpath over a stream at Cookham, Berkshire. It's certainly seen better days but the Thames Path skirts it so you don't have to walk over it! The Thames Path is a long-distance trail which follows the river all the way from Cricklade in the Cotswold Hills to the Thames Barrier in Greenwich, London. Cookham, on the banks of the Thames is a village lying in the furthest north-east corner of Berkshire, England. Here the artist Sir Stanley Spencer lived and painted.

Looking upstream from the top gate of Kintbury Lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal in West Berkshire. The Lock is close to the centre of Kintbury village which lies between Newbury and Hungerford. Ahead of us the canal leads to Hungerford, Bath and Bristol while behind us are Newbury, Reading and the Thames. This image was captured on quite a busy autumn afternoon.