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See us on the net @ www.swindonlink.com The Link Magazine • August 2000 29
New lifespan for canal landmark
Work on rebuilding Beavans Bridge over the Wilts and Berks canal south of Swindon will be completed by mid-August, two hundred years
after its was first built, bringing the dream of linking the town into a restored canal network a step closer.
Thanks to a £360,000 National Heritage rebuild a second bridge close to the M4, but
Lottery Fund grant to the Wilts and Berks funding has to be obtained. This may come
Canal Amenity Group, a mile long stretch of about if proposals to develop the Front
canal has been dredged and towpath made Garden proceed, or the new Swindon Town
from Kingshill to the bridge, and a further stadium is built nearby.
stretch will be dug out following the origi- The group has received major support
nal route of the canal to the M4. from Link advertisers, waste merchants
Originally built around 1800 as a farm Crapper and Son for its work on the More-
accommodation bridge, using Bath stone don section of the canal, where a section has
quarried in Old Town, the new Beavens been dug out and a lock restored. The
bridge is largely the work of semi-retired Northern Development Company is com-
bricklayer Ron Robertson, his son Bill, and mitted to creating a channel for the canal
Derek Stewart from Grange Park, who have under Moredon Road when work starts on
used old photographs and existing footings the Northern Orbital Road between Octo-
to recreate an exact copy from as much ber and July next year.
original stone available plus Portland lime- The Wootton Bassett branch of the Amen-
stone brought in from Swanage. ity Group has restored a section of canal.
Since work on the overall project started The very long term plan is to link the Kennett
in June 1999 the Amenity Group project and Avon canal at Melksham to the Thames
team have had to overcome a number of north of Cricklade via the Wilts and Berks
problems, including negotiations with canal, past Wootton Bassett and Swindon.
Thames Water to move a water main and a The Swindon branch meets on the first
delay caused by a landslide into the canal Tuesday of the month, 8pm, in the King's
which required piling. Arms, Wood Street. For more information
Henry Smith, chair of the Swindon branch contact Henry Smith on 875775 or go to
of the Wilts & Berks Canal Amenity Group http:/ /web.ukonline.co.uk/dg.small.index.htm
said, "completion of this project is a major
step forward towards connecting Swindon How to find Beavans Bridge:
into a much larger network of canals. It Walk or cycle along the Old Town railway
shows what can be done, but there is so path. Drop down from the railway bridge
much more to do." where it crosses the restored canal and
An official opening of the bridge will take head west. Or walk/cycle from the
place at an event planned for the autumn. Beavans Bridge in 1900 L Y_ Kingshill service station. By car, park off
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