The spillwier was designed by Richard Hignett, who supervised its construction during a Canal Camp in Summer 1998
STATUS
The southern part of the section is not available for restoration. but part of it can be walked on a public footpath.
The northern part, including the Dauntsey Canal Settlement, originally Joseph Barnes' coal wharf, has been fully restored but there is no public access.
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What Jack Dalby said in 1985. "At 985796, the site of City Bridge, the canal reappears and is clear for 1.3km up to the A420 at Dauntsey Lock. To the west of the road the wharf and canal houses built for Joseph Barnes, one of the principal users of the canal, lie derelict." |
North of City Bridge the Canal is in a shallow cutting, overgrown with
trees etc. It contains a little water in places. I have only explored the
first 300 yds. in this direction. A public footpath follows the Canal for
the first field length, apparently along the edge of the adjacent field,
though there is an entrance to the towpath from City Bridge. The towpath
can be walked with difficulty. The public footpath then crosses the second
field diagonally and goes over a railway bridge. It appeared unused when
I walked it (Midsummer Day 1993).
A dam has been built across the Canal at 989799, near an electricity
pylon.
Immediately above this is
The first work done on this section was one and a half days' scrub-bashing
during the first Christmas Camp in 1988.
In 1993 the north eastern half mile of the section was purchased by
the Wilts & Berks Canal Company.
Serious clearance of the northern length started during the Christmas
Camp 1993.
Clearance continued during the early months of 1994, and stumps were
pulled during summer 1994.
Restoration of the cottages and clearance of the hinterland also started.
December 1996. The cottages have now been restored, and the
Canal dredged outside them, with the towpath edge piled.
July 1999. Dauntsey South Spillweir built.
Dredging is now complete from the spillweir to Dauntsey Bridge, and
the Canal is in water
The remaining length, from the spillweir to City Bridge, is in single
ownership. We do not have permission to work here at present.
A small stream enters at 993802. There is also a pipe or culvert under the road at Dauntsey Bridge.
The towpath, or the field immediately adjoining, is a right of way for 300 yds. north from City Bridge; it then diverges from the Canal. The length opposite the cottages is private.It is planned to reinstate the towpath on the opposite bank of the Canal, with a bridge at a point below the cottages.
None until you reach the Peterborough Arms just above Dauntsey Bridge.
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