Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Dundas Wharf looking towards the end of the former Somerset Coal Canal, now a spur used for moor-
ings
.
Weather-boarded buildings and brick cottages make up Honey Street, where there are also
a warehouse and the ruins of a boatbuilding yard that launched canal craft and sailing trows
sideways into the canal, the remains of one being
Harriett
among the Purton hulks. Up un-
til 1948 there was still a floating bridge across the canal on the right of way leading to the
Tan Hill fair, replacing an earlier ferry. Also important is the popular Barge Inn, which had
a brewery, bakery and slaughterhouse and is now a rock-and-roll pub. After burning down in
1858, during which time the locals attempted to consume the cellar's contents, it was rebuilt
in six months. It also has a room devoted to crop circles, with details posted as they become
known. Typically, ten circles are reported on successive days at the beginning of June and
enthusiasts from around the world gather in this building to get the latest news. Activity tends
to centre around Avebury with the canal being situated along the southern edge of the area of
sightings.
There was a large 7th century Iron Age settlement with iron smelter and storage pits at
All Cannings Cross. A Neolithic-style long barrow was built at All Cannings in 2014 to hold
300 urns of modern cremation ashes. The 14th century All Saints church has an 1867 High
Victorian chancel. The canal banks are lined with blackberries and convolvulus.
The canal loops round Horton, part of a 38km
2
Crown estate. A high footbridge crosses
the canal to Bishops Cannings, named so because it belonged to the bishops of Salisbury. St
Mary's church is like a miniature Salisbury cathedral and has a spire rising to 41m, a cruci-
form plan, rich stone carvings and Early English traces from 1150.
The village has thatched and half-timbered cottages, including the 17th century thatched
farmhouse of the Old Manor and the 17th century timber-framed Old School House. The tale
of Moonrakers, locals claiming to be raking the moon from the surface of a piece of water
when surprised by excisemen, comes from various places around the country but Bishops
