On the Western K&A

Picturing the Past: NarrowBoat, Autumn 2024

Christopher M Jones

Chris M. Jones studies two images of the Kennet & Avon that reveal details of trade near Bristol

Chris M. Jones Collection Keynsham Lock, on the Great Western Railway-owned River Avon section of the Kennet & Avon, was the penultimate lock before Hanham Lock, where the navigation’s jurisdiction passed to Bristol Corporation. The corporation-owned section was 5 miles long to Bristol Docks. At Keynsham there was much less local industry than further downstream beyond Hanham as the whole area was liable to flooding. This caused silting and the formation of mud banks along canalised river sections between Bath and Keynsham, bringing complaints from carriers. Even so, during the latter half of the 19th century, tonnages passing these locks increased. There was some local industry, including a large brass works, situated on a big bend in the river and just visible on the extreme right of the image beyond an arched stone road-bridge called Keynsham Bridge. Further east above the lock was a chemical and soap works, plus some limestone quarries and kilns. Coal was brought fr…