Using and Working the Canal - Ancillary Trades

In its heyday the canal brought prosperity to the areas through which it passed, changing small rural villages such as for example Pewsey in Wiltshire, into relatively prosperous towns.

Not only did the canal provide an effective means for the transport of a myriad of goods, but it also enabled a number of ancillary trades and activities to flourish.

Waggoners

Some of the most prominent of these were the waggoners, who provided an essential service delivering goods to and from the wharves, and the wheelwrights who manufactured and repaired wheels for the carts and other vehicles that carried those goods.

Wheelwrights

At Great Bedwyn there was a wheelwright's shed on the wharf, and the last wheelwright operating from there ceased to trade in the 1940s.

Blacksmiths

Other associated trades included blacksmiths who not only produced much of the ironwork used on the canal but also provided the regular function of shoeing horses.

Stabling for horses

Horses also needed stabling and some of the original stable buildings are still in evidence along the canal, although most are now used for other purposes.

Boat building

Boat building was also an important ancillary trade, and in addition to large boat building concerns such as Robins, Lane and Pinniger at Honeystreet, it is likely that some craft were simply built on the side of the canal in a position where they could be easily launched side on.

Timber trade

Boats and barges for use on the K&A were mainly built using local timber from the Savernake Forest and from around the town of Hungerford.

Timber was labouriously reduced by sawing over sawpits, and knees and other acutely bent timbers were fashioned from branches which had naturally grown to the shape required.

Pit saw (Kennet and Avon Canal Museum collection)

The heavy oak timbers used for planks, were bent where required by steaming until supple enough to be forced into place around the boat or barges frames.

All this work was carried out with a minimum of tools and required great skill in application.

Plenty and Sons

Other local firms whose products supported the canal trade were Plenty and Sons of Newbury, who produced steam engines for pumping and other applications, and various sail and rope makers from whom canvas tarpaulins and sheeting to protect cargoes, and ropes for a myriad of uses, were purchased.

Acramans Cranes

Crane makers such as Acramans of Bristol also provided essential equipment, and installed their products on wharves along the canal.

The one remaining Acramans crane can still be seen at Dundas Wharf at Brassknocker Basin where it has stood since around 1830.