Semington

The Semington Brook, a westward-flowing tributary of the Avon, forms the east and north boundaries of the parish. Sometime after 1818, the central part of the northern boundary was realigned to follow the Kennet and Avon Canal. Semington is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire. The village has two locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal, known as the Semington Locks, and nearby is the start of the disused Wilts and Berks Canal. Anciently, Semington and Littleton were each tithings of Steeple Ashton parish (Semington village being about 2 1⁄4 miles north of Steeple Ashton village). In the late 19th century the civil parish of Semington was formed from the two tithings, and in 1894 the ancient parish of Whaddon was added to it. Whaddon was transferred to Hilperton in the late 20th century. This camera was installed and is maintained by the Environment Agency and can be viewed here. All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0  During the Second World War, Semington was on GHQ Line which followed the path of the canal. Semington was designated as a centre of resistance: extensive anti-tank ditches were constructed to the east, south, and west of the village, these were overlooked by a number of pillboxes. The defences were constructed as a part of British anti-invasion preparations. The Kennet and Avon Canal crosses marshy ground on an embankment on the northern edge of the village. The two Semington locks were built between 1794 and 1802 under the supervision of the engineer John Rennie. They have a combined rise/fall of 16 ft 1 in. The two locks at Semington are known as Buckley's (numbered 15) and Barrett's (16).  Next to the locks is the point at which the Wilts & Berks Canal left the Kennet and Avon. The Wilts & Berks is disused but the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust is restoring it. East of the locks, the canal travels across the 2004 Semington Aqueduct, built to allow the A350 to bypass Semington village. Another aqueduct carries the canal over Semington Brook. The canal, towpath and adjacent hedges are good for wildlife and in August 2007 water voles were seen.