For many it was the railway that forged Swindon's industrial development
in the 19th century yet before the trains came the canal. The Wilts and
Berks Canal ran between the Thames at Abingdon and the Kennet and Avon
close to Melksham passing below the old Swindon on the hill and through
the soon to be new town.
Ironically it was the railways they helped to build which led to their obsolescence and abandonment at the turn of the 20th century.
Thankfully there are still signs of where the canal went and a short stretch to the south of the town about three-quarters of a mile from the town center which has been restored. You can take a lovely walk along the restored part of the canal from the
bottom of Kingshill (about a mile from the town center) past the new Waitrose store and the housing development, to within a
stones throw of the M4.
The M4 being in the way currently prevents this restored section going any further. Campaigners like the Canal Trust hope it would be the spring board to bringing canal barges back to the town center which I think is a wonderful aim though I doubt the will politically will ever be there.
