Britain’s 18th and 19th century network of canals was dug out, by hand, by labourers, often Irish immigrants, who became known as navigators and then navvies.

Their modern-day equivalents, who are digging an extension to the Wichelstowe Canal in the southern Swindon expansion scheme will be glad of modern machinery as they add hundreds of metres of navigable waterway.

At the moment there are two canals in the development – one which runs past the village centre and ends just south of it, and the Wichelstowe canal which runs parallel to the north of Black Horse Way and the M4 and comes to a halt just west of the bridge of Foxham Way.

That is the waterway now being extended, with the plan to take it as far as Mill Lane where it crosses the M4.

Councillor Kevin Small, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for finance, said the new extension was part of the next phase of building of the expansion zone.

He said: “In line with our plan to address long-term housing needs, we recently transferred further land to Wichelstowe LLP  - the joint venture between Barratt David Wilson Homes and Swindon Borough Council - as part of the landmark Wichelstowe housing development.

“The current phase of infrastructure work includes an extension of the existing canal from East Wichel to Mill Lane. This will be the first step in connecting the area to the district centre.

“This development is an exciting project that is leading not only to more housing but also our mission to build a better and greener Swindon with expansive public green spaces.”

The canal works themselves are being undertaken by companies contracted by the housing developers.

The new phase of development will see 616 new homes to expand the Canalside, Wichel Fields, Orchards Rise and Orchards View area, with 80 houses and flats offered as affordable housing, either through shared ownership schemes or for rent through an affordable housing provider.

The Wichelstowe joint venture says the new houses will include hundreds of swift bricks, bat boxes and hedgehog highways built into the homes and more than 500 street trees will be planted.

Navigation of the Berks & Wilts canal north from the centre of the village is possible for only a reasonably short distance, although the Canal Trust continues to run boat trips.

A dispute over ownership of the land the canal traverses and who is liable in case of an accident has meant farmer David Watkins has closed the waterway to boat traffic, although the footpath alongside it is still passable.