Avon Mugs

The Weavers Cottages stand on the towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal in Newbury, Berkshire, just upstream from West Mills. Newbury was once famous for its cloth making with both the wool and finished product being transported along the canal by narrow boat.

A swan family on the grassy slope of the wharf near the town centre of Hungerford in Berkshire, England.This lovely market town, famous for its many antique shops has the Kennet and Avon Canal flowing through its centre. In the mid 1800s the wharf area would have been a hive of activity with boats loading and unloading at the industrial buildings here The canal, 87 miles long, was constructed in 1794 -1810 to link Bristol with the River Thames at Reading giving a direct link to London.

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.

A narrow boat moored on the branch of the Avon just before joining with the River Severn at Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. This is just by the lock which enables boats to pass onto the Avon and travel to Stratford - home of Shakespeare. Tewkesbury is an ancient market town dominated by its medieval Abbey, dating from the C12th. The Battle of Tewkesbury fought near here in 1471 during the Wars of the Roses was decisive with the House of York being victorious under Edward - to be crowned Edward IV. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

The scene looking east approaching the top gate of Hungerford Town Lock. This is on the Kennet and Avon Canal very near the centre of the town of Hungerford in West Berkshire, England. The Kennet and Avon Canal, 87 miles long, was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to link the Kennet and Avon rivers and thus provide a smooth transport link between Bristol and London via Reading. It fell into disuse due to the Great Western Railway but was completely restored and reopened in 1990.

A pair of swans at Greenham Lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal near Newbury, Berkshire. This section of the canal - or navigation (combined river and canal) began its construction in 1718 under the supervision of engineer John Hore of Newbury and in 1724 the stretch between Reading and Newbury was opened. The entire canal joining the Avon Navigation from Bristol and the Kennet Navigation in Berkshire was completed in 1810 allowing goods to be transported smoothly from Bristol to London. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

The Kennet and Avon Canal on the stretch above Woolhampton in Berkshire, England. Captured on a late afternoon in October with the almost bare trees reflected in the water. The Kennet and Avon Canal, 87 miles long, was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to link the Kennet and Avon rivers and thus provide a smooth transport link between Bristol and London via Reading. It fell into disuse due to the Great Western Railway but was completely restored and reopened in 1990.

A walk along the towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal at Midgham in Berkshire on a sunny September day. Here narrow boats are moored just above Midgham Lock (no 92).

The Kennet and Avon Canal at Kintbury in West Berkshire. This is the view looking eastwards from the bridge towards Kintbury Lock on an autumn afternoon. Carry on eastwards from here and you eventually reach Reading and the River Thames, Behind us the canal continues through Berkshire and Wiltshire to reach Bath and Bristol.

An artistic rendition from my original photograph of houses by the Kennet and Avon Canal in Newbury, Berkshire. The canal is approaching the town from the west, the scene being captured from its West Mills bank. This was oce the centre of the town's textile and agricultural industries with warehouses, workshops and mills lining the banks. From here the canal makes its way to Reading and the River Thames and eventually London from where woollen cloth could be exported throughout the world.

These canalside grade 2 listed cottages in Newbury, West Berkshire were once home to the town's prosperous weaving community. Today, their stoic beauty is captured in a monochrome view, framed by the rippled water of the Kennet and Avon canal. The tranquil scene conjures images of a bygone era when boats transported cloth to the bustling capital city.

This elegant footbridge, No. 83, crosses over the Kennet and Avon Canal is at Hungerford in Berkshire, England. It's found to the east and just downstream of the town's wharf and road bridge, In the early to mid 19th century the canal was once busy with commercial traffic transporting goods such as Bath stone for the grand buildings then springing up in the area. The canal, 87 miles long, was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to provide a link between Bristol and London avoiding the rough roads.

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

The Kennet and Avon Canal as it passes through the town of Newbury in Berkshire. This image, captured during an afternoon in early February is just upstream from the Town Lock. On the right is the site of West Mills reminding us that Newbury was a centre for agriculture and for textile manufacture. The canal itself was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to provide smooth transport between Bristol and London via Reading. It was fully restored from the mid 1900s, being fully reopened in 1990. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

The wooden swing bridge on the Kennet and Avon Canal near the village of Sulhamstead in Berkshire, found on the stretch of water between Tyle Mill and Theale. There are a number of swing bridges along the canal, some like this one linking two fields, enabling livestock to be moved from one to the other. The K&A dates from the early 18th century when it was constructed to link the River Avon in the west to the River Kennet in the east so that boats could travel between Bristol and London.

An inviting door in to Joan Hart's cottage - a 2 bedroom cottage attached to William Shakespeare's childhood home, in the heart of Stratford upon Avon. Born in 1564, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway in 1582 and continued to live in the house with his parents. From 1847, following a campaign led by Charles Dickens, the property was purchased by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and has been cared for by them to this day.

Plenty of activity at Lock 93, Heale's Lock, on the Kennet and Avon Canal just above Woolhampton in Berkshire, England. One narrow boat, heading downstream is waiting whilst another, coming upstream is locking through.This lock was built between 1718 and 1723 under the supervision of engineer John Hore of Newbury. Originally a turf-sided lock it was rebuilt in brick when the canal was being restored in the 1980s. After many years of neglect,The Kennet and Avon was fully reopened in 1990.

Looking westwards from beneath the canal bridge over the Kennet and Avon at Pewsey in Wiltshire,England. An artist has set up his easel and is capturing the scene in watercolours. Along the north bank narrowboats are moored whilst the towpath winds alongside the canal's southern side. This K & A canal was constructed between 1794 and 1810, this section being completed in 1810. This meant that goods could be smoothly transported to and from Bristol via Reading to London, the midlands and the north. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

An artist creating a watercolour of the scene through the canal bridge at Pewsey Wharf in Wiltshire. Here the Kennet and Avon Canal passes through on its journey between the Thames at Reading and the Bristol Channel. It incorporates parts of both the Rivers Kennet and Avon in parts known as 'navigations'. The canal was constructed between 1724 and 1810 and was a commercial waterway until the coming of the Great Western Railway. It was restored in the mid 1900s and was finally reopened in 1990. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

Walking along Kennetside in Reading on a sunny day in early autumn. This is almost at the point where the River Kennet meets the Thames. In front is the bridge taking the railway line to London Waterloo over the river and in the background are the gantries of the Great Western line to Paddington which crosses the river a little further on. Just past the first bridge on the right is the site of the old Reading gasworks, the last gasholder being demolished in March 2022.

Blake's 7 Quote - Avon

Blake's 7 - Scorpio

Blake's 7 Scorpio Design

Well it's a picture of Shakespeare with an orange background. Dip pen and orange paint.

A narrow boat has just passed through Woolhampton lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal at Woolhampton in Berkshire, England. This lock was constructed between 1718 and 1723 under the supervision of the engineer John Hore of Newbury. It was part of the Kennet Navigation - that is part river and part canal. The Kennet and Avon canal was constructed to join Bristol and London via Reading making the transport of goods smoother. It closed due to the Great Western Railway but was reopened in 1990.

Masons Court is a stunning example of a medieval hall, located right in the centre of Stratford Upon Avon. Built in 1481, the house is recognised as the oldest house in Stratford Upon Avon and many original features remain.

Belmar Sunrise

Approaching the bottom gate of Garston Lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal near Theale in Berkshire, England, Only reachable on foot by the towpath it is close to a busy bridge carrying the M4! This is one of only two turf-sided locks still in existence on this waterway and is a Grade 2 listed construction. Part of the original Kennet Navigation between Reading and Newbury, it was constructed in 1718-23 under the supervision of engineer John Hore of Newbury. The entire canal was completed in 1810.

A lived-in narrowboat moored on the Kennet and Avon Canal at Hungerford in Berkshire, England. This image was captured on a sunny autumn afternoon with the still water reflecting the trees. The Kennet and Avon Canal, 87 miles long, was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to link the Kennet and Avon rivers and thus provide a smooth transport link between Bristol and London via Reading. It fell into disuse due to the Great Western Railway but was completely restored and reopened in 1990.

Narrow boats on the Kennet and Avon Canal moored at Aldermaston in November. The summer season has finished and the boats now have to be made ready for the spring and summer. The Kennet and Avon Canal links the rivers Kennet and Avon, providing a navigable route from Reading to Bristol. It was constructed between 1794 and 1810 and was a busy commercial waterway until the opening of the Great Western Railway after which it fell into decline. Restored in the latter half of the 1900s it is now busy with leisure traffic,

A stretch of the River Kennet at Burghfield in Berkshire, England, ,as it winds its way towards Reading. This is a navigable stretch of the river which forms part of the Kennet and Avon Canal. Here it is quiet after flowing under the roaring traffic of the M4. A little further on it passes Burghfield Mill, a large Georgian building now converted to flats. The Kennet and Avon was constructed in the early 1800s to connect Bristol with London via Reading, mainly to carry Bath stone for buildings. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

Tyle Mill Lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal near the village of Sulhamstead in Berkshire. It was originally built between 1718 and 1723 when the K & A was constructed. It has a rise and fall of 6ft 4 ins (1.93 m). The canal was made to link the two rivers, Kennet in the east and Avon in the west to enable goods to be carried from London to Bristol. It fell into disuse due to the Great Western Railway but was restored in the late 1900s and is now a busy leisure waterway.

Pattern of nail polish bottles inspired by avonbywhacky

The Kennet and Avon Canal seen from the historic site of West Mills in Newbury, Berkshire, England. In times past this was a hive of activity with the mills drawing their power from the River Kennet. Several wiers and sluices show where they once were. The Kennet and Avon Canal, constructed in the early 1700s to connect Bristol and London via Reading, would have been the means of transporting the mills' raw materials and end products. Now. after restoration in the later 1900s, it is busy with leisure boats.

The wharf at Hungerford on the Kennet and Avon Canal in Berkshire, England. This view is from the town bridge looking upstream to the lock. A pair of boats are about to moor at the wharf. During the mid 1800s, this was a thriving industrial area lined with buildings. Boats would have been busy loading and unloading goods such as Bath stone for building. The canal was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to link the Thames at Reading with Bristol, enabling goods to be transported from London to Bristol.

Two narrowboats on the Kennet and Avon in the winter sunshine just downstream from the swing bridge at Woolhampton in Berkshire. This section of the waterway is the Kennet Navigation as it is partly river which has been made navigable. 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. The opening of Brunel's Great Western Railway - which runs next to the waterway - started its steady decline and by the mid-1900s it was in a sorry state! Following restoration from the 1950s onwards it was fully reopened to traffic in 1990 and is now busy with leisure craft as well as those who live on the canal. ...