Avoncliff
| Avoncliff | |
|---|---|
 Canal aqueduct | |
  Avoncliff Location within Wiltshire | |
| OS grid reference | ST804600 |
| Civil parish | |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BRADFORD-ON-AVON |
| Postcode district | BA15 |
| Dialling code | 01225 |
| UK Parliament | |
Avoncliff is a small village in west Wiltshire, England, in the north of Westwood parish about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) southwest of Bradford-on-Avon.
It is the point at which the Kennet and Avon canal crosses the river and railway line via the Avoncliff Aqueduct, which was built by John Rennie and chief engineer , between 1797 and 1801. The aqueduct consists of three arches and is 110 yards long with a central elliptical arch of 60 ft (18.3 m) span with two side arches each semicircular and 34 ft (10.4 m) across, all with V-jointed arch stones. The spandrel and wing walls are built in alternate courses of ashlar masonry, and rock-faced blocks.[1] The central span sagged soon after it was built and has been repaired many times.[2]
There is a picturesque weir on the River Avon where permission for a micro hydro electric scheme was applied for from the Environment Agency in 2009, but this is still awaited in 2013.[citation needed] This is a popular starting point for walks along both the canal and the river, and also to Barton Farm Country Park at Bradford-on-Avon. Avoncliff is covered by two Parish Councils; Winsley[3] on the north side of the river and Westwood[4] on the south side.
The Cross Guns Inn was built in the late 17th century and is a Grade II listed building.[5]
Railway[]
Avoncliff has a tiny railway station, with a one-carriage-length platform in each direction, which used to be called Avoncliff Halt since it was a request stop, requiring people on the platform to wave down the trains. It has become, as of 2011, a regular stop. Services are hourly, run by Great Western Railway, and generally continue on to Westbury and Weymouth in a southerly direction, or Bristol Temple Meads and Gloucester in a northerly direction.[6]
References[]
- ^ "Avoncliff Aqueduct". Avoncliff. Archived from the original on 10 February 2007. Retrieved 10 September 2006.
- ^ Allsop, Niall (1987). The Kennet & Avon Canal. Bath: Millstream Book. ISBN 0-948975-15-6.
- ^ Winsley Parish Council
- ^ Westwood Parish Council
- ^ "The Cross Guns Inn". historicengland.org.uk. English Heritage. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ National Rail Enquiries - Station Facilities for Avoncliff
- Avoncliff – the Secret History of an Industrial Hamlet in War and Peace, McCamley, Ex-Libris Press 2004
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Avoncliff. |
- Villages in Wiltshire