This was the first real Rural explore that I went on. I'd seen the place on a website called
Dereliction in the Shires so after contacting the owner we arranged a day and set off starting at East Hanney and walking the route to Wantage. This stared off as a bit of an embarrassment due to us getting lost a bit and instead of following a footpath to the site we ended on the road but ended in the right place after following the footpath.
From the road this is where you start a bridleway with WIlts & Berks Canal on it
On the other side of the road a track which is the line of the old canal, follow the footpath and you should come to the A34 passing the remains of a lock, I'm not sure it runs under the A34 though as I have not been along this section
If you follow the footpath you should come to a bridge and see remnants of the canal
The footpath and track tell you it was the canal at one time
And this bridge is a big give away, the Great Western main line ran over it
Another footbridge will bring you to the first lock
Which looked in remarkably good condition considering it has been derelict for over 100 years, the lock gate hanging there I found amazing
Parts of the lock
I love the way nature takes over
Tree roots everywhere
And trees growing out of the lock itself
Onto the next one
Passing the remains of a lock side building
You will find the next lock not far away
And the remains of a building
The lock is covered in vegitation
going near the edge is dangerious near the ivy and trees block your path
The lock chamber
In the chamber
Chamber and lock gate
Unusual find is a milestone by the lock
The footpath will take you to the road from Lanes Barn to Grove and you will hav eto walk back along it to find the place a bridge would have been, its now culverted and the bridge removed.
From the top you can see where the canal used to be.
Parts where we followed the footpath
The next lock near grove
This one had water running through it
Which disappeared though the damaged brickwork
coming out in the main chamber
The chamber
Various parts of the lock
The lock
Last look at the lock
On to the next at Grove
This is one of the grove locks mostly filled in with rubbish and cable husks that have been dumped there
Trees have bee hard at work here as well
Doing there bit to demolish the lock
There is a bridge at the next lock
Which has been restored and is in use
Not sure there is much hope for the lock
Roots take hold in the walls
Holding cans in them
It looks in a very sad state
As you walk towards Grove you will pass a section that has bee restored with a weir and dummy lock gate
After that section you come to the Wantage spur
Which may have been a basin as well for barges to turn
You will pass the remains of a bridge
with old graffiti on it
You will eventually end up here where there were houses and building which may have been to do with the canal
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Which as you can see has been fully restored.
The reason for the spur ending here may have been for the flour mill which was in operation till 2022 when it closed and was taken over. I do not know what the places I visited are like now but if you want to find out it is and interesting explore
The last part of the Wilts and Berks canal. I'll post a part two at a later date.
