IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Marston Meysey, SWINDON, SN6 6LL

The public footpath to Marston Meysey Roundhouse (see Image]) leads, not down the drive, but through the farmyard, as the notice on the drive gate makes clear. It rejoins the drive at a stile fifty metres further down. The entrance to the footpath is not marked on the gate to the farmyard, and access is gained by slipping through an unmarked gap in the fence to the side.

On the minor road from Kempsford to Cricklade.

This private drive leads to the disused canal round house.

The road has been widened at this location to provide a safer access to a new gravel bed. The A419 is about 4 kilometres further on.

The quarries do not appear on maps yet, although they are on Google streetview

Grade II Listed former canal roundhouse and bridge on the disused Thames & Severn Canal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thames_and_Severn_Canal near Marston Meysey. http://www.cotswoldcanals.com/pages/locks-bridges-structures/bridges-and-buildings.php The roundhouse http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-317896-round-house-marston-maisey- is one of five famous former lengthsmen’s cottages on the Thames & Severn Canal. It was built circa 1790. Although the listing describes it as being constructed of pebbledashed brick with limestone dressings to doors and windows, a survey for the Cotswold Canals Project says that it was built of rendered rubblestone with ashlar band courses at the upper floor levels and stone ‘Gothic’ surrounds to windows and doors. http://www.cotswoldcanalsproject.org/_documents/2_HS_241-258_Marston_Meysey_Bridge.pdf It originally had a funnel-shaped lead roof to channel rainwater for use in the cottage. The ground floor was used for stabling, with the upper two for living accommodation. There is a fireplace on the first floor and a staircase to the top floor within the wall thickness. When the canal company no longer needed the building after the lengthsman had been transferred to a new house at Eisey Lock in 1831 (see Image]), the roundhouse became derelict. Marston Meysey bridge (seen here just to the right of the roundhouse, see also Image]) is a Grade II Listed accommodation bridge http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-317897-marston-meysey-bridge-marston-maisey- over the disused Thames & Severn Canal, built at the end of the 18th century at the point where the towpath formerly crossed over the canal. The bridge is built in red brick with stone copings and stone springers for three rings of half-brick arches. As well as including a gatepier, the listing mentions traces of a former lock below the bridge, but Cotswold Canals Trust does not list a lock between Eysey Lock (no.41) and Dudgrove double lock (nos. 42 & 43). http://www.cotswoldcanals.com/pages/locks-bridges-structures/bridges-and-buildings.php A picture of the bridge showing what might be construed as the remains of a lock can be seen at http://www.cotswoldcanalsproject.org/_documents/2_HS_241-258_Marston_Meysey_Bridge.pdf In 1986 an 'extension' was added to the roundhouse. Both bridge and roundhouse are now in the grounds of private property, and the footpath has long since been re-routed. http://www.cotswoldcanals.net/rh_mm.php At the time of my visit, the only viable footpath in the vicinity was that running south to them from the road; the footpaths leading away north-west and east having both been rendered impassable or maybe even destroyed by gravel extraction.

Grade II Listed former canal roundhouse on the disused Thames & Severn Canal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thames_and_Severn_Canal near Marston Meysey, (see also Image]). The roundhouse http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-317896-round-house-marston-maisey- is one of five famous former lengthsmen’s cottages on the Thames & Severn Canal. It was built circa 1790. Although the listing describes it as being constructed of pebbledashed brick with limestone dressings to doors and windows, a survey for the Cotswold Canals Project says that it was built of rendered rubblestone with ashlar band courses at the upper floor levels. This photograph shows the ‘Gothic’-style windows. http://www.cotswoldcanalsproject.org/_documents/2_HS_241-258_Marston_Meysey_Bridge.pdf It originally had a funnel-shaped lead roof to channel rainwater for use in the cottage. The ground floor was used for stabling, with the upper two for living accommodation. There is a fireplace on the first floor and a staircase to the top floor within the wall thickness. When the canal company no longer needed the building after the lengthsman had been transferred to a new house at Eisey Lock in 1831 (see Image]), the roundhouse became derelict. Out of the picture on the other side of the roundhouse is Marston Meysey bridge, a Grade II Listed accommodation bridge http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-317897-marston-meysey-bridge-marston-maisey- over the disused Thames & Severn Canal (see also Image]). In 1986 an 'extension' was added to the roundhouse. Both bridge and roundhouse are now in the grounds of private property, and the footpath has long since been re-routed around them. http://www.cotswoldcanals.net/rh_mm.php At the time of my visit, the only viable public footpath in the vicinity was this one running south to them from the road and around the north-east of the property.

The Thames and Severn Canal lock at Marston Meysey is now fenced off and in private ownership. It is still possible however to see the distinctive lock keeper's roundhouse, a unique characteristic of the Thames and Severn Canal, from the adjacent Public Footpath.

The Thames and Severn Canal lock at Marston Meysey is now fenced off and in private ownership and hidden behind this fencing, as seen from the adjoining public footpath. Restoration of the canal past this point will probably require a small diversion, although compared with some of the other challenges to be addressed this is probably a relatively minor inconvenience.

Grade II Listed hump-backed bridge and former canal roundhouse on the disused Thames & Severn canal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thames_and_Severn_Canal near Marston Meysey. http://www.cotswoldcanals.com/pages/locks-bridges-structures/bridges-and-buildings.php Marston Meysey bridge is a Grade II Listed accommodation bridge http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-317897-marston-meysey-bridge-marston-maisey- over the disused Thames & Severn Canal, built at the end of the 18th century at the point where the towpath formerly crossed over the canal. The bridge is built in red brick with stone copings and stone springers for three rings of half-brick arches. As well as including a gatepier, the listing mentions traces of a former lock below the bridge, but Cotswold Canals Trust does not list a lock between Eysey Lock (no.41) and Dudgrove double lock (nos. 42 & 43). http://www.cotswoldcanals.com/pages/locks-bridges-structures/bridges-and-buildings.php A picture of the bridge showing what might be construed as the remains of a lock can be seen at http://www.cotswoldcanalsproject.org/_documents/2_HS_241-258_Marston_Meysey_Bridge.pdf The Grade II Listed roundhouse, see also Image], is one of five famous former lengthsmen’s cottages on the Thames & Severn Canal. It was built circa 1790. Although the listing http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-317896-round-house-marston-maisey- describes it as being constructed of pebbledashed brick with limestone dressings to doors and windows, a survey for the Cotswold Canals Project says that it was built of rendered rubblestone with ashlar band courses at the upper floor levels and stone ‘Gothic’ surrounds to windows and doors. http://www.cotswoldcanalsproject.org/_documents/2_HS_241-258_Marston_Meysey_Bridge.pdf It originally had a funnel-shaped lead roof to channel rainwater for use in the cottage. The ground floor was used for stabling, with the upper two for living accommodation. There is a fireplace on the first floor and a staircase to the top floor within the wall thickness. When the canal company no longer needed the building after the lengthsman had been transferred to a new house at Eisey Lock in 1831 (see Image]), the roundhouse became derelict. In 1986 an 'extension' was added to the roundhouse. Both bridge and roundhouse are now in the grounds of private property, and the footpath has long since been re-routed. http://www.cotswoldcanals.net/rh_mm.php At the time of my visit, the only viable footpath in the vicinity was that running south to them from the road; the footpaths leading away north-west and east having both been rendered impassable or maybe even destroyed by gravel extraction.