Work on rebuilding Beavans Bridge over the Wilts and Berks canal south of Swindon will be completed by mid-August, two hundred years after its was first built, bringing the dream of linking the town into a restored canal network a step closer.

Thanks to a £360,000 National Heritage Lottery Fund grant to the Wilts and Berks Canal Amenity Group, a mile long stretch of canal has been dredged and towpath made from Kingshill to the bridge, and a further stretch will be dug out following the original route of the canal to the M4.

Originally built around 1800 as a farm accommodation bridge, using Bath stone quarried in Old Town, the new Beavens bridge is largely the work of semi-retired bricklayer Ron Robertson, his son Bill, and Derek Stewart from Grange Park, who have used old photographs and existing footings to recreate an exact copy from as much original stone available plus Portland limestone brought in from Swanage.

Since work on the overall project started in June 1999 the Amenity Group project team have had to overcome a number of problems, including negotiations with Thames Water to move a water main and a delay caused by a landslide into the canal which required piling.

Henry Smith, chair of the Swindon branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal Amenity Group said, "completion of this project is a major step forward towards connecting Swindon into a much larger network of canals. It shows what can be done, but there is so much more to do." An official opening of the bridge will take place at an event planned for the autumn.

Planning permission has been obtained to rebuild a second bridge close to the M4, but funding has to be obtained. This may come about if proposals to develop the Front Garden proceed, or the new Swindon Town stadium is built nearby. The group has received major support from Swindon waste disposal merchants Crapper and Son for its work on the Moredon section of the canal, where a section has been dug out and a lock restored. The Northern Development Company is committed to creating a channel for the canal under Moredon Road when work starts on the Northern Orbital Road between October and July next year.

The Wootton Bassett branch of the Amenity Group has restored a section of canal. The very long term plan is to link the Kennett and Avon canal at Melksham to the Thames north of Cricklade via the Wilts and Berks canal, past Wootton Bassett and Swindon.

The Swindon branch meets on the first Tuesday of the month, 8pm, in the King's Arms, Wood Street. For more information contact Henry Smith on 01793 875775 or go to http://web.ukonline.co.uk/dg.small.index.htm

How to find Beavans Bridge: Walk or cycle along the Old Town railway path. Drop down from the railway bridge where it crosses the restored canal and head west. Or walk/cycle from the Kingshill service station. By car, park off Mill Lane between Old Town and Wroughton.