History in Claverton.

We were only going a short way today but there were a lot of boats moving before we left. After about an hour we arrived at Claverton. We knew that the pumping station was closed for the year. It is the only one of it's kind as it is a two water wheels that pumps up water from the River Avon up to the canal. It worked from 1813 to 1952. It broke down then so a diesel pump was installed. The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust volunteers restored it but it is having new teeth placed in the cogs this year.

Claverton Pumping Station.

There is a series of weirs just nearby and there were people swimming in the river and picnicking. We were hoping that there were stepping stones to the other side of the river but instead there used to be a ferry, but it is no more. I had to select another route. 

We walked to the Dundas Aquaduct. It was built by John Rennie in 1804 and was named after the first Chairman of the Kennet and Avon Canal company. It nearly finished the canal as in 1980 it needed major repair work.

Looking north down the Avon Valley from the aquaduct.

The basin at the bridge. To the right the Somerset Coal Canal left the Kennet and Avon. The Coal Canal was opened in 1805 and abandoned in 1904. It was a narrow gauge canal.

We walked back to Claverton and visited the village. I have never seen such a detailed bust of Victoria on this board school.

We visited St Mary's the Virgin Church and found the mausoleum to Ralph Allen. We had learned from our walk in Bath that that city would not be as it is today without this man. He was from Cornwall and became a Post Master at an early age. He realised that the postal system could be reformed and so decided to take a seven year contract to run the postal service. It took him a few years but then he made a fortune and changed the post for ever and saved the Government money too. He then used his money to buy quarries when John Wood started his vision for Bath with the Circus and the Royal Crescent it was Allen that supplied the stone that unifies the sight of Bath. It was Beau Nash that brought the people to the city.

Inside the church was this beautiful tomb. It was for Basset who died in 1629 and his daughter who did the year before and her baby who died ten days later.

I had also never seen the broken cross above the  porch. It is supposed to be like that as it represents the suffering of Christ. The rain ware is dated 1626.

Also on the wall of the porch is this Saxon sun dial. Another first for me.

We walked back to the boat and got this lovely view of 'Holderness' and the view across the valley.

It was such a lovely evening that I decided to paint in the blacking on the port side. It always makes the boat look better and doesn't take too long. The blacking I have left is getting very thick now but there is just enough to do the other side to match.