18 12. Ardingtonmead Farm SU 426913 Visited:- 7.5.60: 6.8.60: 26.8.62: 2.9.62 Access:- TP from SU 424903 (easiest) or from ardington lane, FP access fields Photograph Nos:- 268, 269, 270 Observations:- 1:25000 map gives name as 'Canalside Cottages'. Line well defined very tall trees either bank. Footbridge (modern timber) crosses here from towpath to farm. Small one storey cottage beside towpath between farm and railway (apparently inhabited, 6/8/60), but connection with canal not obvious, building style does not seem of period. (10.9.60) learned from owner of [a house on the west bank, near Grove,] (old inhabitant of Grove) that this was the cottage of last lock keeper [Not so; this was probably Uncle Jim's cottage. See article by Chris Naish. dgs.], beat extended from Ardington Marsh (?) to Grove Top, junction Wantage Branch. Name J Steele. (26.8.62 & 2.9.62) No appreciable change.

C.E. Faulkner Field Excursions 1958-66

35 also for time taken to construct this part. No cuttings, except for about a quarter of a mile near Marcham. 4. LOCKS: All accessible, can be seen except (a) Abingdon (b) Caldecott. Ruined gates remain at Ardington Top, Spirit and Grove Common. No paddle gear left anywhere. Grove Bottom, Smallmarsh and Grove Top filled in more or less. Masonry and brickwork generally fair (Ardington Marsh best). 5. BRIDGES: Mostly timber swing or draw type, all gone, //tings filled and some culverted. Fixed Bridges probably at Caldecott (A34), New Cut Mill, 'Cow Common' and Grove (A338). Only Cow Common intact, probably because too much trouble to demolish, there are long approach embankments both sides. (see page 55) 6. BUILDINGS: Best period original is erstwhile canalside inn at Grove (A338) west // of // cottage, less characteristic. Ruined cottage at Ardington Top, and later small building on towpath nearby. Wharf House' Abingdon likely mid-19" century rebuild, similar Longcot new (wharf?). Same builder? But as good // as Wantage's. 7. REMARKS: No milestones found, they may be there but search impossible because of dense Growth. * But see Sec.I.5.

C.E. Faulkner Field Excursions 1958-66

51 Longcot Top Lock and Old Wharf SU 275893 Visited:- 7.8.60: 10.9.60 Access:- From Uffington Photograph Nos:- 335 Observations:- Lock probably just west of bridge, but no remains seen. Remaining parapet (low) of bridge in existence, but arch filled with masonry //. Line west very overgrown with reeds etc.. Two buildings:- (a) cottage northeast of bridge, apparently period. (b) somewhat older(?) cottage northwest.

58 18. Bourton Wharf SU226879 Visited:- 13.5.61: 16.8.64 Access:- A 420 Photograph Nos:- 362, 363, 364, 499 Observations:- Line east to road well defined, slightly more overgrown on west line. Bridge filled in and railed. Interesting group of buildings. Wharf house, stables etc., but not examined in detail. Wharf house somewhat renovated (modern roof, windows etc.). Small stone built shed on canal bank probably original. (16-8-64) No change.

65 Bottom perhaps exists, but overgrowth too dense to verify. BRIDGES: Thirteen fixed road bridges on main line plus one on Longcot Branch, and two railway bridges. Best remaining (for obvious reasons) is G.W.R. at SU 218875: that at Longcot filled, but some brickwork remaining. Best road bridge is Shrivenham Arch (intact with towpath under it). Traces of original masonry at East Challow, Uffington (Wharf), Longcot Old Wharf, and Bridge B4508. Remainder probably small brick type; all filled and demolished: slight humping at Stockham and Bowles's. No swing or draw bridges, all crossing filled (but passable) BUILDINGS: Good contemporary wharf cottages at Old Longcot and Uffington, Bourton group (q.v), and mid 19th century Wharf House at Longcot new, with row of small cottages (v. abingdon: ormond terrace). Good lock cottages at Longcot Top and South Marston Top (this with later additions). 7. REMARKS: Milestone (Semington 39) found west of Kingston Common Bridge. Various WBCC boundary marker stones seen at South Marston wharf site.