Editing Kennet and Avon Canal (section)

===River navigations===
{{Main|Kennet Navigation|Avon Navigation}}
Plans for a waterway were shelved until the early 18th century. However, in 1715, work was authorised to make the [[River Kennet]] navigable from [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]] to Newbury. Work commenced in 1718, under the supervision of surveyor and engineer [[John Hore]] of Newbury. In 1723, despite considerable local opposition, the Kennet Navigation opened, comprising stretches of natural riverbed alternating with {{convert|11|mi|km}} of artificially created lock cuts.<ref name="hist"/>

The [[River Avon (Bristol)|River Avon]] had historically been navigable from [[Bristol]] to [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]], but construction of [[watermill]]s on the river in the early years of the 13th century had forced its closure. In 1727, navigation was restored, with the construction of six locks, again under the supervision of John Hore. The first cargo of "Deal boards, Pig-Lead and Meal" reached Bath in December.<ref name="hist"/><ref name=allsop4>{{harvnb |Allsop |1987 |p=4}}</ref>

The two river navigations were built independently of one another, in order to meet local needs, but they eventually led to plans to connect them and form a through route.