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Many of you will be aware work on Top Lock is on hold at the moment but we have been lucky enough to find a Project Manager for the Lock Keepers cottage at Pewsham in Andrew Worsnop. Andrew is a new branch member with experience in high rise buildings in the Middle East so a Lock Keepers cottage will be no problem :). The proceeds of this year’s Trust Prize Draw will go towards the drawings needed to compile accurate costings for the project and then fund raising can commerce in ernest. Work on clearance of a stretch on canal near the A4 is coming along a pace and we are heading for a March 31st deadline to finish this clearance Unfortunately our HLF bid was not successful, after 3 years of hard work, but we are intending to submit another and the team have already met and have arranged a meeting with our new HFL coordinator in late March. Click on the Access Guide on the right for the location of Pewsham Locks. If you an MCC branch member and would like to receive our bi-monthly newsletter or monthly reports please email me for more details.   Dave Maloney Branch Chair Dave.maloney@wbct.org.uk

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What do we do ?

We work towards the restoration for navigation of the Wilts & Berks Canal which was abandoned in 1914 just prior to the outbreak of the First World War, through traffic having ended in 1901. The Canal ran from the Kennet and Avon Canal near Semington in Wiltshire to the River Thames at Abingdon via Melksham and Swindon. Branches were constructed to serve Chippenham and Calne. In addition the North Wilts Canal ran from Swindon to connect the Canal with the Thames and Severn Canal at Lechlade.

On the closure of the Canal the ownership of the land was lost and our work now is dependent on the kind permission of the current landowners.

Our Branch covers that part of the Canal from Semington Junction to Pewsham including the Branches to Calne and Chippenham..

We have Branch Meetings once a month and Work parties restoring the Canal on local sites at least twice a month. We also organize fund raising social events including an annual Quiz Evening in February and a Sponsored Walk in April.

Of great importance recently has been the foundation work to set out a line for a new route for the Canal. The Trust has funded a number of feasibility studies and a final route using the River Avon is now in place. This will bring the Canal back to The Bell at Lacock which will once again be a canal-side pub.

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