AN historic canal roundhouse has been bought by British Waterways as part of an £82m project to restore an old canal network near Swindon.

The roundhouse at Inglesh-am is one of five unusual structures along the line of the Thames and Severn canal which passes through the Cotswold Water Park.

The 29-mile long canal, and the seven-mile stretch of Stroudwater Navigation it links up to, forms what is known as the Cotswold Canals, which, when re-opened will again connect the Rivers Thames and Severn.

In July 2001 British Water-ways and The Waterways Trust published a feasibility study, which stated that restoration of the canals would bring badly needed social, economic and environmental benefits to the area.

It is claimed that it would attract 1.8m visitors a year who would spend £8.5m locally.

As a result of that study, the £82m restoration project was launched and the purchase of Inglesham roundhouse is seen as an important part of that plan.

The mystery to canal enthusiasts is why the roundhouses built as lengthsmen's dwell-ings were round in shape.

Local historian and canal expert David Viner said: "The most commonly heard story of why these now famous canal workers' cottages were round is that they offered no corner for the devil to hide in.

"Another less practical but more aesthetic explanation is that their design was based on the roundhouse folly at Ciren-cester Park following the wishes of landowner Earl Bathurst, a supporter of the canal, that its buildings should be attractive and in-keeping with the area's architecture.

"It was in fact an 18th century form of planning permission."

The Thames and Severn Canal was completed in 1789 and the roundhouses were built shortly afterwards in 1790-91.

Ingesham is at the eastern end of the canal where it joins the River Thames above Lechlade.

The Inglesham roundhouse is one of three roundhouses with an inverted funnel-shaped roof which acted as a rain water catchment area which was then piped off and stored nearby by.

Andrew Stumpf, who is British Waterways Programme manager, said: "We have purchased this delightful property because of its heritage value, the access it provides to the canal and its proximity to the head of the Thames Navigation.

"The passing of the ownership of the Inglesham roundhouse into public hands is another important piece of the restoration jigsaw."