West Mills Newbury Tank Tops

The view from the towpath next to the old Weavers' Cottages at West Mills in Newbury, West Berkshire. Peaceful now, this was once a hive of activity with corn mills using the river's water to turn their waterwheels. The mill here was bought by Hovis in 1921 and was eventually sold in the 1950s. The tall building opposite was once the granary. On the right is the swing bridge over the navigation leading to the lock and town centre.To the left are the mill 's sluice gates.

The tranquil view from the towpath near the Weavers Cottages in West Mills, Newbury belies the once-bustling corn mills powered by the River Kennet. Hovis bought the mill in 1921, which was then sold in the 1950s. The tall granary building across the river stands as a testament to its industrial history. The swing bridge on the right leads to the town centre, while the mill's sluice gates can be seen on the left. The reflections of the mill buildings and trees on the calm water of the Kennet and Avon Canal.

The Kennet and Avon Canal as it makes its way westwards out of Newbury in West Berkshire. Here it joins with the River Kennet which at one time provided the water to power the corn and woollen mills along here. Newbury was renowned for its woollen industry and just ahead here is a row of weavers' cottages from the earlier days of cottage industry. The canal was used to transport wool, woollen goods as well as other commodities east to London via the Thames or west to Bath and Bristol.

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.

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.

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 Kennet and Avon Canal as it passes through Newbury in Berkshire. This scene, taken from the West Mills swing bridge shows the canal as it heads towards the centre of the town, about to pass through Town Lock. On the right bank is the site of West Mills - Newbury was once a busy agricultural and woollen textile manufacturing centre. The tower of St Nicolas church, restored during the early 1500s stands above the surrounding buildings.

A narrowboat on the River Kennet moored just above the town lock at Newbury, West Berkshire. This is the West Mills area, so called because once there were corn mills here - the sluices for them are on the left of the image. The mills were owned by Hovis from 1921 until the 1950s. Further on and past the swing bridge, the Kennet Navigation as it is properly called, becomes the Kennet and Avon Canal, taking us all the way to Bristol.

The scene as the Kennet and Avon Canal approaches the western end of Newbury in West Berkshire. This area, West Mills, was once a hive of activity where wool and woollen products were loaded and unloaded to and from canal boats to be transported to London via the Thames at Reading or to Bristol and its docks to be exported abroad. Now warehouses and workshops have been reaplaced by or converted into flats and houses and the boats are for leisure.

The Kennet and Avon Canal as it passes through Newbury in Berkshire. This scene, taken from the West Mills swing bridge shows the canal as it heads towards the centre of the town, about to pass through Town Lock. On the right bank is the site of West Mills - Newbury was once a busy agricultural and woollen textile manufacturing centre. The tower of St Nicolas church, restored during the early 1500s stands above the surrounding buildings.