Kennet and Avon Canal
engineered by John Hore and later John Rennie the Elder, 87 miles long with 105 locks

History and General Knowledge of the Kennet and Avon Canal

The Kennet & Avon Canal runs from the River Thames at Lower Caversham to Bath from where the River Avon carries on to the western outskirts of Bristol.

The canal part of the Kennet & Avon runs East to West and largely parallel to the River Avon until Bath where the River Avon takes over.

Construction began in 1718 under the engineer John Hore to make the River Kennet navigable from Newbury to Reading. The Kennet Navigation, opening in 1723 to much opposition. 

John Hore also supervised the installation of six locks between Bristol and Bath on the River Avon.

The gap between the two needed to be closed. Engineers Barns, Simcock and Weston proposed a route that would have taken the canal through Marlborough, Chippenham, Calne and Melksham. However, water supply was an issue and in 1793, John Rennie the Elder altered the route further south through Devizes, Trowbridge and Newbury and in 1794 Royal Assent was granted. Finally work could begin.

In 1810, the final section, Caen Hill Locks, was completed. Boat traffic from Bristol to London was now in full swing.

Constructed between 1794 and 1810. As with a lot of Britain's canals, it fell into disrepair as the railways took over. In the late 20th century, it was restored largely by volunteers.

Making a link between the Rivers Avon and Thames was discussed way back in Elizabethan times. When finally completed, it allowed for goods to be shipped between Bristol and London. A highly popular route that makes its way through Wiltshire and the Cotswold's.

Travelling East from Bristol towards the River Thames at Reading locks 1 to 54 are uphill, with the summit at Bruce Tunnel. From there locks 55 to 107 go downhill.

The famous Caen Hill Locks (22 to 50) at Devizes, locks 29 to 45 are an impressive sight with 16 locks in a straight line rising up towards the northern point of Devises. A very welcome Caen Hill Cafe at the top is a very popular refreshment spot. Caen Hill Locks rise a total of 237 feet.

Kennet and Avon Canal Locks are numbered 1 to 107 on our map for locks between Hanham Lock near Kaynsham to Blakes Lock at Newtown (East Reading) Lower Caversham. Lock 98 (Ufton Lock) has no gates and allows boats to go straight through due to Towney Lock (97) being deepened in the 1970's.

Locks 8 & 9 were combined, during restoration in 1976, into a single deep lock with a rise of 19 feet 5 inches.

History of the Kennet and Avon Canal

A historic waterway located in southern England, connecting the River Kennet in Reading to the River Avon in Bath. The canal was constructed in the late 18th century to transport goods such as coal, timber, and stone to the growing industrial centers of southern England. It played a vital role in the industrial revolution, connecting major commercial centers and providing a reliable transport route for raw materials and finished products.

The idea for the Kennet and Avon Canal was first proposed in the mid-18th century, but it was not until the 1790's that construction began. The canal was designed by John Rennie, a prominent civil engineer who also worked on the London Bridge and other important projects of the time. The initial stretch of the canal ran from the River Avon at Bath to the River Kennet near Newbury, a distance of around 57 miles.

The construction of the Kennet and Avon Canal was a significant engineering feat for its time, involving the excavation of one tunnel, several aqueducts and locks. Bruce's Tunnel, was over 500 yards in length and took more than three years to complete. Despite the challenges, the canal was officially opened in 1810, with the arrival of the first boat carrying coal from the local collieries.

The Kennet and Avon Canal quickly became an important transport route for goods, linking Bath with other industrial centres such as Bristol, Reading, and London. The canal's success led to the construction of several branches, including the Wilts and Berks Canal and the Somerset Coal Canal. By the mid-19th century, the Kennet and Avon Canal Company was one of the largest and most successful canal companies in the country, with a fleet of over 400 boats.

However, with the advent of the railway in the mid-19th century, the importance of the Kennet and Avon Canal began to decline. Many of the goods that had previously been transported by canal were now being carried by train, and the canal struggled to compete. In the early 20th century, traffic on the canal had dwindled to a fraction of its former levels, and it was eventually closed to commercial traffic in 1951.

Since then, the Kennet and Avon Canal has been restored and reopened for recreational use. Today, it is a popular destination for boaters, walkers and cyclists, offering a glimpse into the region's industrial past and the important role that canals played in the development of the modern world. The canal is also known for its stunning scenery, with picturesque villages and historic landmarks that attract visitors from around the world.