Somewhere in that company, the old Logo was found, that used to be on the Brentford building. Unfortunately, it had deteriorated quite a bit, but it now is restored and is due to get a place of honour again. Now there are a lot of stories about the Brentford building, but unfortunately not much proof. Guided walks and talks are available by appointment as well, which will explain the Nynehead Aqueduct over the carriageway of Nynehead House and the close proximity of Brunel’s railway.

We recently took delivery of three of the Scammell training films from the IWM. The quality of them is top hole. Walk ahead through the field, boundary to your right, leaving the road behind. You soon pass through a scrubby field boundary. Keep on in the same direction beside the right-hand hedge, passing beneath the electricity wires. Near the end of the field the path continues in the same line, going beneath trees in the field corner to reach a kissing gate. Find someone to kiss, as appropriate, then continue as before, re-crossing the River Tone. The Nynehead Boat Lift, built by James Green in the 1830’s, is probably the earliest boat lift in the UK and it’s on the Grand Western Canal. Would you believe he built 7 of these substantial structures, but the remains at Nynehead are the most we have left of them. A colleague of mine recently left our company, to start working for Firestone Europe (Firestone Industrial Products Europe, ARNHEM, The Netherlands). Recovery vehicles: Talks about some trailers but some really good stuff on the 20 and 30 ton Pioneers - including the painful process of separating the trailer from the tractor.. There is also some stuff on the 40 ton trailers towed by Diamond Ts if you are into that sort of thing.After 30 odd years though the ever growing threat of the rail became real and as soon as 1869 they had become commercially unsuccessful, purely due to the decline in use of the canals. Beautiful trees flank the route of what was the Grand Western Canal. The nearby railway rendered the canal commercially unviable. This section is now a lovely footpath (Image: submitted)

Cross the large field in the direction shown on the fingerpost; we were walking through wheat here but a clear and pleasing path had been left through the crop for walkers. Ahead a stone bridge spanning the River Tone comes into view and you may hear trains in the distance as they travel between London and the West Country.

Would you believe he built 7 of these substantial structures, but the remains at Nynehead are the most we have left of them.

Cross the aqueduct and follow the footpath as it drops downhill. At the bottom of the slope go left to find a notice board, situated beside historic remnants of the canal’s lower pond and lifts, which explains the engineering in fascinating detail. Go through another kissing gate, swiftly followed by yet another. Walk through the next field, still beside the right-hand hedge, towards a small but perfectly-formed sewage works – sorry!! (It is very small, as was the whiff when we passed). Pass this works on your left and go through the gate just beyond it. For local government purposes, since 1 April 2023, the village comes under the unitary authority of Somerset Council. Prior to this, it was part of the non-metropolitan district of Somerset West and Taunton (formed on 1 April 2019) and, before this, the district of Taunton Deane (established under the Local Government Act 1972). From 1894-1974, for local government purposes, Nynehead was part of Wellington Rural District. [8] The restoration of this delicious relic is due to the hard work of the former owner, Denis Dodd, with a little help from his friends!

The lovely sunken path now goes through the verdant woodland of Stedham’s Covert; follow it, ignoring any animal paths going off. The path bends right then left, and in less than 200m emerges from the trees. Ignore a right fork (if you see it) and stay ahead on the path, which gradually bears left then swings more distinctly left. To the right of the path is a treed boundary with a field beyond and houses on the outskirts of Wellington beyond that. You may also spot a passing train.Pause here. To the left is the other end of the avenue of young trees; to the right you can look down on the remains of the carriageway that once led to Nynehead Court. The bridge over to the right was built by Brunel to carry the railway over the carriageway. The aqueduct on which you are standing was part of an elaborate feat of engineering, which lifted the canal and its boats up and over the carriageway. And what about those fabulous pre war petrol filling stations where vehicles drove in underneath and the pumps were located inline with the pillars holding up the overhead first floor structure. Some exist down in Devon on the old A38 and elsewhere, more than likely now with a car dealership or some other non automotive function now in place.