Thames and Severn Canal

The bridge by Ile's Mill Lock, Chalford

Those garages will have to go! Site of Ballinger's Lock, Chalford.

Belvedere Mill on the Frome, Chalford

Chalford Roundhouse at Chalford Wharf. The round houses were originally lengthmen's houses.

Sluice gear between the canal and Belvedere Mill

Blockage just above Chalford Wharf. The sign above the culvert reads "Wallbridge 4, Inglesham 24"

Bronze elephantine sculptures at Pangolin Editions's foundry on Chalford industrial estate

Chalford Chapel lock. There is a short blockage here where the road crosses the line of the canal.

Remains of Chalford Chapel Lock

Just below the blockage where the A419 crosses the canal at Chalford

Remains of Bell Lock by the A419 crossing

The New Red Lion Inn. A nice pub, serving BOB, Hook Norton and 6X when we visited. Pleasant garden.

Red Lion Lock

Red Lion Lock

Bridge at Valley Corner. Note the red WRG van!

The railway runs close to the canal along most of its route. Above Chalford, it climbs away before entering its own tunnel about a km from the entrance to the Sapperton tunnel.

Restoration work at Golden Valley lock. When we passed, KESCRG were carrying out work on the bywash.

Work in progress on the bywash. The person in the background with yellow helmet is Martin Ludgate.

Baker's Mill Lower Lock

Footbridge over Baker's Mill Upper Lock

Mill Pond adjoining the canal at Baker's Mill

Puck Mill

Puck Mill Upper Lock. The large cavity under the cill is found on all of the locks on the upper reaches of the Thames and Severn. It originates from when the locks were shortened as a water-saving measure. The canal was originally built to take 85 foot boats from the Thames as far as the Stroudwater canal, with transshipment to the shorter 70 foot standard of the latter taking place at Brimscombe Port. The original gate gear was retained, with a new pair of gate being built inside the locks. The cill was extended with a passage underneath for the water from the top paddles to discharge into the lock.

Whitehall Lower Lock. Above here are open water meadows where the Frome meanders close to the canal.

Whitehall Bridge. The canal has now entered woodland, which continues most of the way to Daneway.

Whitehall Upper Lock

Bathurst's Meadow Lock. The canal now climbs steeply through a flight of six locks to the summit pound. The locks are heavily overgrown.

Wharf Lock, just below the Summit Lock. The grassed area behind the lock is the site of the former Daneway Basin.

The remains of the entrance to the Daneway Basin. The basin now looks like a croquet lawn. Not much chance of restoring it!

The Daneway Inn. A fine Wadsworth pub, with several small, cosy bars.

The Daneway Inn's car park covers the site of the Summit Lock.

The Daneway Inn, looking towards the Sapperton Tunnel

The entrance portal to the Sapperton Tunnel. The tunnel is about 3.5 km long, and is blocked in several places by roof falls. It passed through unstable ground, including some of the strata of Fuller's Earth which are common in this part of the Cotswolds.