Where was Adelante 13/08/19

[whole diary]

[Adelante_CCT]

Any guesses as to where I have been this morning?

[johnneyw]

Interesting clues and before I commit any further, a qualifier if I may? Somerset somewhere?

[Adelante_CCT]

Not Somerset I'm afraid, but within GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) land

[CyclingSid]

I might have a chance for once.

The last picture is part of the line in what used to be the old Courage Brewery, new a housing area. I cycled over it this afternoon.

The first two are the Coley Goods branch that ran from Southcote Junction round to the Coal Yard and the brewery. I normally cycle down it once a year. The track comes out at the Matalan car park, and the new (relatively) relief road follows the track of the old railway to the Inner Distribution Road.

[Adelante_CCT]

Well done CyclingSid, you are absolutely spot on, the first picture being as the former line crosses the Holybrook

[CyclingSid]

I thought that was probably the Holy Brook, sometimes known as the Holly Brook.

The Holy Brook was the Reading Abbey mill stream. Intriguing to follow, starts near Theale (separates from the Kennet). Runs either side of the railway about Southcote. In Reading from about the old Brewery it is largely underground until it rejoins the Kennet by the Abbey/Huntley and Palmers Cut. You can see it near Castle Street, by one of the entrances to the Oracle and either side of the Reading Central library.

[stuving]

The last picture is part of the line in what used to be the old Courage Brewery, new a housing area. I cycled over it this afternoon.

It's more Simonds' brewery, with only the malthouse left and turned into flats. The Courage brewery - the one they built in the 70s - also known as the "Bright Beer Factory" - is now the Tesco warehouse/logistics centre by M4 J11.

[CyclingSid]

I've been in Reading long enough to remember it as the Courage Brewery in Bridge Street, but not long enough to know it as Simonds' Brewery. And the fizz factory at Worton Grange was nothing to remember.

[stuving]

I've been in Reading long enough to remember it as the Courage Brewery in Bridge Street, but not long enough to know it as Simonds' Brewery. And the fizz factory at Worton Grange was nothing to remember.

Bridge Street was of course Simonds for a lot longer than it was Courage. The Simonds family have a web site about the businesses, with lots of pictures and maps.

(PS: some of those pictures give a striking impression of how heavily indistrial Reading was in 1900.)

Even the Worton Grange brewery had its uses ... at least after it closed. Some of my colleagues used it, while it was awaiting demolition, for trials into "radio propagation in a highly-cluttered indoor environment" (which it was).

[bobm]

I remember as a child going into Reading on a Saturday.  Parking in the Yield Hall Lane car park (where the Oracle Shopping Centre now is) and being able to smell the brewery.  Must have got to my Dad too because we often stopped for a drink in the George before going home.

[Marlburian]

...
The first two are the Coley Goods branch that ran from Southcote Junction round to the Coal Yard and the brewery. I normally cycle down it once a year. The track comes out at the Matalan car park, and the new (relatively) relief road follows the track of the old railway to the Inner Distribution Road.

Over the past five decades I've visited a great deal of former railway infrastructure throughout Berkshire and several other counties but never the Coley Goods Branch, just 80 minutes' walk from my house - until this morning.  I approached from Wensley Road, with my map suggesting that the right-of-way was along the northern foot of the embankment, but I saw that I could scramble up onto the embankment itself. I hadn't realised that it was an informal route for cyclists and walkers.

After 600m I scrambled down again and headed for Fobney water works, but the path got wetter and wetter, so I retraced and clambered back onto the route of the line and made my way to Matalan.

[CyclingSid]

You can get to the northern end from the footpath betewen Wensley Road and Southcote Farm Lane.

You have to be careful because the path/trackbed has been worn away on the north side of the bridge over the Holy Brook. You might also have to dodge the large holes (badger setts?) in the path.

The path through the Fobney water works is waterlogged/flooded most of the year. It is part of the flood plan so I suppose it is doing want it is supposed to do.

[Marlburian]

I walked along the Coley route this morning, having to cast around to find the entrance on to it from Matalan. (Previously I've come the other way.)  Halfway along there's a very large hole four feet deep, with some sandy spoil around it that didn't seem enough to have come from the hole. I walked around it with some care.  Bit difficult to fill it up, dunno if a muck-truck full of aggregate etc could be taken along the path.

[CyclingSid]

I get the impression there is possibly some badger activity along the route. Whether the hole is where the locals have been trying to dig them out, who knows.