Kennet & Avon Canal

What is it?

Wikipedia: The Kennet and Avon Canal is a navigable waterway in southern England. The River Kennet was made navigable to Newbury in 1723, and the River Avon to Bath in 1727. The canal between Newbury and Bath opened in 1810 and is 57 miles (92 km) long. The two river navigations and the canal total 87 miles (140 km) in length, linking the River Thames at Reading and the Floating Harbour at Bristol.

Where is it in Bath?

The canal leaves the River Avon in Widcombe and climbs through a series of locks as it passes to the east of the city centre. To celebrate the 200th anniversary of its opening, a commemorative sun dial was erected on the towpath just to the south of the Horseshoe Walk road bridge. The sun dial was designed by a local artist, Alan Dun, and was officially unveiled on Saturday, 30 October, 2010:

The text on the plinth reads:

"Time is the waterway of all our days
We are dreamers on it banks
The Kennet & Avon Canal 1810..2010"

Each side of the gnomon carries raised lettering as follows:

Left Side of Gnomon

Porter
Peat Ash
Turpentine
rs Oilcake
Sugar
Paper
Grain
Bricks
Tallow
Tin Plate
Limestone
Whiting Hor
Perry Leather
Fertilizer
Timber
Lead Fullers Earth
Corn Hay Vinegar Seed
Cheese Iron Bottles Coal
Furniture Bacon Chalk Malt
Oil Soap Copper Rags Wool Pitch Flint
Eggs Gravel Hurdles Millstones Fruit Slate

Right Side of Gnomon

Makers
Navvies D
Engineers
Simcock
Harnes
Maker
Mason
Smiths
Joiners
Puddlers
John Hore
Surveyors
Gongoozlers
Charles Dundas
Rennie Number Ones
Obbins Lane & Pinnega
Bargemasters William Smith
Lockeepers Lengthsmen Garrish
Navigators Lightermen Stothert Cast by R Bowditch
K & A Canal Trust British Waterways Bath & North East Somerset Council
Alan Dun Sculptor

Location map of Kennet and Avon Canal plaque:

 

 

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