River Kennet Pillows

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.

Spring is bursting out along the River Kennet at Newbury, Berkshire. Here the river splits into several channels - and just to the right, just out of sight, is the Kennet and Avon Canal. This section of the river leaves the main waterway just behind us and plunges through a weir to run swiftly along here. This is a quiet spot away from the canal's towpath. This image has been finished in the style of a coloured pencil sketch.

A wooden footbridge taking pedestrians and cyclists over the River Kennet in Newbury, Berkshire. Here an arm of the river has left the main stream - the Kennet and Avon Navigation - and after passing through a sluice gate rushes along just below the main waterway with further weirs adding to it. The river, through the sluices effectively controls the level of water in the canal. This section of the waterway was created between 1718-24 under the supervision of the engineer John Hore of Newbury. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

An old brick railway bridge spanning the River Kennet at Reading, Berkshire. This is very near the mouth of the Kennet where it joins the River Thames. The bridge carries the line from Reading to Waterloo. The area here is Kennetside - in the past an industrial area of the town. Just further along and under the bridge is the old gasworks and a bit further still takes us to where Huntley and Palmers once made their biscuits.

A stretch of the River Kennet as it flows through Reading on its way to join the Thames. This area was important in medieval times, being the main transport link for the huge and powerful Reading Abbey, founded in 1121 by Henry I. Later known as the Kennet Navigation, it was a stretch of navigable waterway between Reading and Newbury constructed between 1718-23. This became part of the Kennet and Avon Canal opened in 1810 to link Bristol and Reading - and on to London via the Thames. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

A scene just above Woolhampton in Berkshire on the the Kennet and Avon Canal. Narrow boats, several with log fires burning on board, moored above the lock. This was photographed on a sunny March afternoon. The Kennet and Avon or K&A was constructed in the first half of the 18th century to joinn London to Bristol. After falling into disuse from the end of the 19th century, it was restored in the late 1900s and is now busy with leisure boat traffic

Strolling along the towpath of the Kennet at West Mills Newbury in Berkshire. Here a wide boat rather than the more familiar narrow boat is moored just below the swing bridge. Peaceful now, this was once a hive of activity with corn mills using the river's water to turn their waterwheels. The Kennet Navigation, becoming the Kennet and Avon Canal above the bridge, would have been busy with boats loading and unloading everything from grain and flour to Bath stone for building.

Two narrow boats on the Kennet and Avon Canal moored just downstream from Woolhampton in West Berkshire,England. The image was captured in early March on a bright and calm late winter afternoon. 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. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

A digital pencil drawing of the cottages which sit next to the swing bridge over the River Kennet in the heart of Newbury, West Berkshire. This is the West Mills area as once there were corn mills here utilising the water from the river to drive the millwheels. Here the Kennet Navigation is about to become the Kennet and Avon Canal taking boats to Bath and Bristol. To the right is Newbury's Town Lock taking boats eastwards to Reading and the Thames.

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.

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

A white painted cottage sitting by the Kennet and Avon Canal near Woolhampton in West Berkshire. The K&A which is 87 miles long was constructed to link Bristol with the River Thames at Reading giving a direct link to London. However, with the arrival of Brunel's Great Western Railway which runs next to the canal at this point, it gradually fell into disuse, many stretches becoming un-navigable. The canal was reopened for boat traffic in 1990. Nikon D7100

Pictured late on a spring afternoon, swing bridge no 35 on the Kennet and Avon Canal just upstream from Woolhampton in West Berkshire. The K&A which is 87 miles long was constructed to link Bristol with the River Thames at Reading giving a direct link to London. However, with the arrival of Brunel's Great Western Railway which runs next to the canal at this point, it gradually fell into disuse, many stretches becoming un-navigable. The canal was reopened for boat traffic in 1990.

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 Newbury, Berkshire. It's early spring: the trees are just beginning to bud and the boats moored alonside the bank are getting ready for the summer. This section of the canal began its construction in 1718 under the supervision of engineer John Hore of Newbury and in 1724 the length between Reading and Newbury was opened. The entire canal from Reading to Bristol was completed in 1810 allowing goods to be transported from Bristol to London. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

The scene along the towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal in West Berkshire. Here it is more properly called a Navigation as it is largely the river made navigable. Here we find narrowboats and other canal craft moored along the banks. Continued walking in this direction will eventually take us to the Thames at Reading.

Seen from the bridge by Newbury Wharf, the River Kennet, here part of the Kennet and Avon Canal, as it flows through Newbury on its way to Reading and the Thames. Newbury is a bustling market town and is the administrative centre of West Berkshire. The Kennet and Avon Canal or Kennet Navigation was begun in 1718 under the supervision of John Hore of Newbury and in 1724 the section between Reading and Newbury was opened. The remainder of the length to Bristol was completed between 1794 and 1810 under the surveyor John Rennie.The canal fell into decline with the coming of the Great Western Railway. However, following a restoration project in the mid-1900s, it was fully reopened to traffic in 1990. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

The scene on the River Kennet, here part of the Kennet and Avon Canal at Newbury in Berkshire - just downstream from the Wharf and road bridge. Here there are a number of boatyards, now in March getting ready for summer hiring. 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 section between Reading and Newbury was opened The remainder to Bristol was built between 1794 and 1810. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

The scene on the River Kennet, here part of the Kennet and Avon Canal at Newbury in Berkshire, England This is just downstream from the Wharf and road bridge carrying the ring road.. Here there are a number of boatyards, now in March getting ready for summer hiring. 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 section between Reading and Newbury was opened The remainder to Bristol was built between 1794 and 1810 under John Rennie. The canal gradually fell into disuse after the coming of the Great Western Railway but during the mid-1900s a restoration project resulted in the reopening of the entire waterway in 199...

The River Kennet, here part of the Kennet and Avon Canal, flowing eastwards through the centre of Newbury in Berkshire on its way to join the Thames at Reading. Here it has just passed through the Town Lock and is flowing under the Town, or Water Bridge. Newbury, the administrative centre of West Berkshire, was, in medieval times, famous as a centre for making woollen cloth. The canal was opened between Reading and Bristol in 1810, providing a smooth route between the Bristol Channel and London.

Canal boats - including cruisers and narrowboats moored along the banks of the Kennet and Avon Canal just above Aldermaston Lock in Berkshire. This is the view as seen from the towpath. Below the lock is Aldermaston Wharf which was once busy with working boats loading and unloading cargoes of stone, coal, agricultural goods and produce and groceries. Since restoration in the second half of the 1900s and the reopening of the waterway in 1990, most boats are now for leisure or are lived in.

Walking along the towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal near the village of Sulhamstead in West Berkshire in early autumn. Here we approach Tyle Mill Lock from the upsteam side. This canal was constructed to link two rivers, the Thames in the east and Avon in the west, enabling goods to be carried from London to Bristol. It fell into disuse due to the Great Western Railway being built but was restored in the late 1900s and is now a busy leisure waterway.

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.

A digital sketch of the scene looking past the top gates of Padworth Lock in West Berkshire, - just below Aldermaston Wharf. This lock, no.96, was originally built between 1718 and 1723, supervised by local engineer John Hore of Newbury. It was turf-sided but was rebuilt in brick in 1982-4. The canal was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to link the Thames and Avon rivers, providing a smooth transport link between Bristol and London via Reading and the Thames.

Approaching Sulhamstead Lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal in Berkshire. It was originally constructed between 1718 and 1723 under the direction of the engineer John Hore from nearby Newbury and has a rise and fall of 4ft 1 inch. The canal was designed to join the Avon and Kennet rivers allowing goods to be transported between Bristol and London via Reading. It fell into disuse in the early 20th century but was restored later in the century and is now busy with leisure boats.

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.

A narrowboat heads upstream on the Kennet and Avon canal near Woolhampton in Berkshire, England. This image was captured on an autumn afternoon with the trees lining the banks turning to gold. 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 digital pencil drawing of the scene looking upstream at Midgham Lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal. This lock, no.92, is between Thatcham and Woolhampton in West Berkshire' It was constructed between 1718 and 1723 under the supervision of engineerJohn Hore who managed the building of all the locks in this area. It has a rise/fall of 7ft 7ins. Just behind us is the road bridge carrying the Beenham Road over the waterway.

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 River Kennet, here part of the Kennet and Avon Canal, flowing eastwards through the centre of Newbury in Berkshire, England - on its way to join the Thames at Reading. Here it has just passed through the Town Lock and is flowing under the Town, or Water Bridge as it is known. Newbury, now the administrative centre of West Berkshire, was, in medieval times, famous as a centre for making woollen cloth. The K&A canal seen here was finally opened between Reading and Bristol in 1810.

Standing at County Lock near the centre of Reading, Berkshire, looking across the Kennet to the old stabe block, once belonging to Simonds Brewery which occupied this entire area. The Kennet Navigation here would have been busy with narrow boats and brewers' drays transporting barrels of beer to the local area and beyond. The Kennet Navigation and canal was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to link Bristol with the Thames and London, the brewery making full use of this highway. 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.

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.

The River Dun as it flows through the town of Hungerford in West Berkshire. Hungerford is probably better known for the Kennet and Avon Canal which passes close to its centre but it is the Dun which is its river, the Kennet flowing round the edge of the town. Here a house is reflected in its waters on a morning in late November. The river rises in Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire, and joins the River Kennet here at Hungerford.

Digital pastel art developed from my original photograph of the River Dun as it flows through the market town of Hungerford in West Berkshire. Hungerford is probably better known for the Kennet and Avon Canal which passes close to its centre but it is the Dun which is its river, the Kennet flowing round the edge of the town. The image was captured by the town's war memorial in late November. The river rises in Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire, and joins the River Kennet here at Hungerford.

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,