SHAW RIDGE

Features: Aqueduct Old Railway Bridge Purton Road Culvert

DESCRIPTION

The Canal continues alongside the existing footpath, once the course of the Midland & South Western Junction Railway.
It crosses the River Ray again; the remains of the Railway bridge can still be seen here; this raises questions of the relative elevations of the Canal and the river at this point.
A little further on the line goes under a bridge, which appears to be a former railway bridge, but I am unable to tell which railway.
After this the Canal turns left and leaves the railway path, and goes across a field to Purton Road, where it rejoins the old line.
The Canal will keep fairly close to the rising railway embankment; this will probably necessitate re-routing a short section of the River Ray.

Purton Road Culvert The first road bridge to be reconstructed on the whole Canal. The bridge was built in 2001 by the developers of the adjacent housing development, under a contract from Swindon Borough Council. The right tunnel is the Canal, the left is the combined towpath and cycle track. The division down the centre premits the towpath to be at a lower level than the Canal, to give greater headroom. The developers do not seem to have anticipated the final configuration of the Canal and towpath in the present construction.   Picture taken 13.1.2005

WATER SUPPLIES

None on this section. Water will have to be supplied by lockage from the summit pound.

RIGHTS OF WAY

The Railway Path is a public right of way.

HOSTELRIES

None in the area.