Beacon Hill Mine, Cornwall
Around the World - The British Isles
South Western England
from Devon through Dorset, Somerset, Wilts and Gloucestershire
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The Transport and Industries of South-Western England

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Devon

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Here, There and Everywhere

Morwellham Quay

Seaton Tramway

Tiverton, the Grand Western Canal - SS 9628 1237

The terminus of the Grand Western Canal

The Dart Valley - River and Railway

Paignton

Along the line

Kingsweir

Along the River Dart


Dorset

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Weymouth harbour tramway


North Gloucestershire

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The East bank of the Severn Estuary

Aust Quadrant Tower - ST 5718 9003

The ruins of a Quadrant Tower and arrow. A 'quadrant tower' was a navigation device (like a sextant but simpler) used to measure the angle between the horizon and the sun to check the height and range of bombers using a bombing range in the Severn Estuary. Plus the Severn Ferry pier and sewage works !

Sharpness and Purton - SO 6880 0445

Sharpness Docks and the well-known hulks of Severn barges at Purton (the Purton on the East bank of the estuary...). These photos were all taken from the other Purton on the West bank of the estuary.

Saul Junction - SO 7563 0929

Saul Junction is one of the few flat crossings of two canals, the Gloucester Sharpness Canal and the Stroudwater Canal. The GSC is in regular use but the Stroudwater is disused and out of water either side of the junction. Sections are being restored but it will be a long job. The GSC runs North - South with the Stroudwater running East - West.

Stroud, The Thames and Severn Canal at Capels Mill - SO 8536 0468

The Thames and Severn Canal at Capels Mill was filled in for a new road link so a diversion has been built under Capels Mill Viaduct, Stroud.

Stroud, The Thames and Severn Canal at Bowbridge - SO 8571 0429

Along the Thames and Severn Canal between Capels Mill and Bowbridge, Stroud

Sapperton, The Thames and Severn Canal tunnel - SO 9422 0329

Walking up to the Western portal of Sapperton Tunnel on the Thames and Severn Canal, once the longest canal tunnel in the UK. This is the reach from the 'Daneway Inn' to the tunnel portal.

Stonebridge, The Stroudwater Canal and Bonds Mill - SO 7933 0525

The Stroudwater Canal and Bonds Mill

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway - SP 0500 3236

A ride from Toddington to Broadway and back to Cheltenham


Somerset

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Cheddar Valley Railway at Axbridge

Combe Hay

Frome

Limpley Stoke - ST 7825 6215

A world-famous aqueduct on the Kennet and Avon Canal plus the junctions of the Somerset Coal Canal with the Kennet and Avon Canal and the Camerton branch of the Bristol & North Somerset Railway with the GWR Bath - Westbury line.

Midford

Two railways and a canal crossed here on different levels, The Somerset & Dorset, the Camerton branch and the Somereset Coal Canal.

Midsomer Norton

Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust and the SDJR trackbed towards Radstock

Minehead

WW2 pillboxes along the coast path

Paulton - ST 6566 5762

The terminus Paulton and Timsbury basins of the Somerset Coal Canal

Weston-Super-Mare

Birnbeck Pier, with fond memories of day trips on the paddle steamers from Cardiff Pier Head, crumbles away as you watch.
Plus a collection of old Somerset County Council fingerposts at Sand Bay.

The West Somerset Railway

from Minehead to Bishops Lydiard


Wiltshire

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Bradford-on-Avon - ST 824606

A Ramblers walk around Bradford-on-Avon with the Kennet and Avon Canal and a couple of glimpses of the GWR Westbury line through the trees.The Avoncliff Cloth Mill dates from the early 18thC and was converted from corn to cloth in 1763. A WW2 pill-box guards the aqueduct with its decidely drooping main arch.

Kingsdown Quarry (Swan Quarry), Kingsdown - ST 810670

Kingsdown Quarry or Swan Quarry at Kingsdown is a small quarry in the grand scheme of Bath Stone quarries but there's a lot of interest. Begun towards the end of the 19th century, it was unusual in that several companies were working it at the same time. The last workings finished in 1939 and, avoiding requisition during the war, the quarry hasn't worked since, despite a number of plans and ideas. The surviving complete crane was used by 'Marsh Sons and Gibbs'. There are a lot of artifacts displayed through the system and many quarrymen's calculations of the work done written on the walls. It's avery interesting little system.

Box Quarry, Wiltshire - ST 842691

A trip I missed, the Gwent Caving Club visited Box Quarry and found all sorts of bits and pieces. I'd already been committed to a cold, wet, misty walk with the Ramblers. Having seen these pictures I probably chose unwisely... Another time, hopefully. Thanks to Andrew Sheehy for the photos.


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