History of the Wilts & Berks Canal
The Wilts & Berks Canal - its full title, as set out in the original Act of Parliament - ran from the Kennet & Avon Canal at Semington, via 42 locks and 51 miles of essentially rural surroundings, to the River Thames at Abingdon. Various branches and minor offshoots took the overall length of the waterways to around 67 miles.
The canal was conceived late in the period of Canal Mania, and the Napoleonic War further delayed the main line opening until 1810. Intended for both the carriage of coal from the Somerset coalfields and agricultural use, it was never particularly profitable. Constructed to narrowboat dimensions rather than the broad beam of the Kennet & Avon Canal, it was handicapped from the start and proved particularly vulnerable to the arrival of the Great Western Railway.
By 1900, virtually all traffic had ceased. Its fate was sealed in 1901 when the Stanley Aqueduct, about the only structure of any sophistication, collapsed. Throughout the 20th century, the line was variously infilled, neglected, built on and even used for bombing practise during World War II. The original junction at Semington is lost and the Melksham section requires a completely new cut. The Wilts & Berks attracted the dubious distinction of being the longest unrestored canal in Britain - but despite this, several sections remain remarkably intact.
In 1977 a group of enthusiasts formed an amenity group to preserve what was left of the line. Preservation became restoration as the potential benefits of a rejuvenated canal, fuelled by events such as the 'Big Dig' of 1991, became increasingly evident.
In 1997 the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust was formed, and announced a study that showed restoration would be both technically and environmentally feasible. The sections returned to water now total several miles, with locks and bridges rebuilt, and the towpath reinstated. Initiatives such as the Melksham Canal Trail, an enjoyable stroll signposted throughout by specially commissioned waymarkers, have encouraged local people to take pride in their canal.
The rapid progress of the nearby Cotswold Canals project, restoring the canal route from the Thames to the Severn, has had spin-off benefits for the Wilts & Berks. The two will be joined by the North Wilts Canal, from Cricklade to Swindon. This will form an impressive 'Wessex Ring' comprising the Kennet and Avon Canal, Wilts & Berks Canal, River Thames and Thames & Severn Canal.
