Lock restoration required.
basil | 11/12/2005 | 11:24 am
Old lock on Droitwich Barge Canal, in need of attention.
Lock at junction with the Severn at Hawford.
When this lock was built the river was tidal with a rise and fall of 5 feet, Brindley said it was his most proud work. The bottom cill is 10 feet down, using wood and leather pumps to keep the lime mortar dry until it set.
This enabled a sixty-ton boatload from Droitwich to moor in the lock. Then the ‘Makeweight’ moored above the top gate and 30/35 tons would be wheel barrowed along the towpath into the hold, then it was sheeted and battened to make a boat as watertight as a submarine, which it had to be around the coast. Makes me tired writing about it.
At the mouth of the lock on the towpath side wing wall there was a pulley block and a line from the stern of the trow was led through and back to the horse on the path. When ready to go the horse was kicked up the A***e and it shot uphill. The Trow equally shot out of the lock with the crew deftly releasing it as they passed the bottom gate, and then they could cross the river to Bevere Lock or if the water reached a certain mark on the wall they turned left and shot the weir which saved lock dues. This was a dangerous operation and I have records of two crew being swept off the stern deck by the 15-ft tiller swinging across and drowning them in Bevere weir standing wave. Max
Bevere Weir Flooded.
Derelict Lock 8 on Droitwich Barge Canal, near junction with Severn at Hawford, 2005
Barge Canal Lock 8 on to the River Severn in November 2005. One of the problems facing crews from Droitwich. Max.
