Bradford-on-Avon.

0 Locks, 5 Miles, 1 swing bridge. Now moored at Bradford-on-Avon Wharf.
437 locks, 556½ miles, 17 Tunnels, 18 swing bridges and 9 lift bridges since Nov 2006

The overnight storm that was predicted certainly missed this area and there was only an overcast sky when we set off this morning.
The only thing worthy of note was the new housing development at Hilperton Marsh built around the marina which looked very smart.
When we arrived at Bradford as they call it around here we found the 48 hour moorings which we thought we might have trouble with as they are only clay bank along the towpath. We have generally found that there is a lack of depth on this type of mooring. Just around the corner is the 24 hour moorings with wharf edging and mooring rings. Luckily there were 2 spots available just right for the both of us.
After lunch we wandered into the old town and what a quaint place it is. Narrow roads and footpaths were the first thing to greet us with traffic passing within inches.

Buildings dating back to the 15th and 16^th century and the old town hall which collapsed in 1826 where the stocks, pillory and whipping post were to be found plus the market place. The site is marked by a plaque on an adjoining building.
Yesterday we received an email from Adrian Hanham who works in Semington and has a boat at Hilperton marina. He very kindly gave us a lot of info about what to expect and see between Semington and Bath. Very useful info it is, so thanks for that Adrian.

The old derelict buildings around here are enumerable and at least one old mill building has been converted to retirement apartments with another covered in scaffolding and plastic sheeting under going some sort of restoration. It would be a shame if these buildings were to be demolished but some of them appear to have been empty for a very long time.

Other buildings of note were the Holy Trinity church hall circa 1500 and the Saxon church of St Laurence which is known to have been in existence in 1120 but is thought to date back to AD 709. The church was restored throughout the 1800’s and is still used to this day with a ladies flower roster prominently displayed on the notice board. The Holy Trinity church circa 1120 is just across the road.
As you stand by the railway station, which is as it was in Great Western days, and look up the hill the buildings seem to have been built higgledy piggledy all over the place as they are all at different levels.
Even the canal wharf area is very much alive with 2 pubs and 3 café’s or coffee bars. The town can only be described as a tourist Mecca well worth visiting.