Category: Waterscape

Born close to Brunel’s broad gauge at South Marston, While Richard Jefferies measured the red brick growth Of New Swindon’s terraced street advance Towards ‘The Gamekeeper at Home’, You studied express trains from farm and field, Hammering on their way to Paddington, Dr read more

It was The Times’ obituary of Benjamin Disraeli Where the phrase ‘angels in marble’ appeared: Disraeli was credited with discerning the outline Of the working class Tory voter, As yet unformed and inchoate, But one that could be fashioned Through ‘One Nation’ Conservati read more

Oyve troyed ter live a Christian loyfe but me path ay bin rowsy. Oyve ad foyve mowths ter fade at ome an an usband on the riva who wantid is dinna on  the taybul when he cum ome, or corld. E wuz a steersmun on them botes gewin to Bristol down that Riva Sevurn.  Normally read more

In the reign of good King George the Third it was enacted ‘That any Person who shall wilfully or maliciously damage the works of this Canal, shall be deemed guilty of Felony, and be punishable by Transportation, or otherwise, as the Court shall adjudge.’ So be careful, read more

Reflections derived from a reading on the train of The Thames and Severn Canal History and Guide by David Viner Richard Musto earned four guineas on payday in March 1795, for his previous year’s assiduous mole catching along the canal length; welcome money in that year read more

Novelists, Poets and the Thames and Severn Canal and the River Thames (Referenced by David Viner) Crotchet Castle by Thomas Peacock 1831 ‘Leaving Lechlade, they entered the canal that connects the Thames with the Severn; ascended by many locks; passed by a tunnel, three read more

I love walking the canal towpath at winter twilight When evening lights are reflected in the waters, Or walking in a winter wind, Watching the rain drops on the stippled surface, Glancing up at beech trees etched against the sky Or feeling darkness shroud the old man’s read more

I came across this reference to a local transportation when re-reading The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes: ‘Mrs. Lycot, wife of “a gentleman of considerable landed property,” wrote in May 1819 to the local magistrate in Minchin Hampton, Sir George Paul, begging clemency f read more