Kennet and Avon Canal Museum

A real rarity: a 'Falling' or 'Safety' gate recovered from the canal at Winsley. A pair of such gates would lie flat at the bottom of the canal, these being a 'mirror image' of each other, hinged on a cill, ready to be raised for maintenance, or, it was hoped, to rise automatically in the event of high flow due to a breach in the canal. Principle ascribed to James Brindley

A variety of exhibits, including an interesting model representing the location of locks. Fish-bellied rail below

Model of hand crane at Burbage Wharf

Wooden Archimedean pump, and photo of it in use in 1910

Ball bearing turntable from a footbridge over the canal

A 'Newbury Float', used to float towropes downstream from Newbury Lock to Newbury Wharf, there being no towpath

Rakes for canal weed, and a dredging bucket

Mason's twist drill forged from an old file

Canal Centre, Couch Lane, Devizes, Wiltshire.

A small museum with a very interesting collection of exhibits, and a café. Located by the canal in the centre of Devizes.

• Website.

See Also

Loading...