Leaving Lincombe.
basil | 12/19/2005 | 1:19 pm
Leaving Lincombe.
Lincombe Lock, the highest on the Severn is situated one and a half miles downstream from Stourport.
The weir and lock are in an artificial channel.
The original embankment stopping up the old channel was washed away by floodwater during construction work. The breach was filled by loading eight barges with stones and sinking them pointing upstream as a foundation.
The depth of water on the sill was the lowest encountered by oil tankers going to Stourport at the time when regular trips were made from Avonmouth. It was the practice of the lock keeper to phone the depth in the morning to that port. This determined the quantity of oil loaded, a tolerence of one inch being allowed.
There are six sets of locks on the Severn situated between Stourport and Gloucester
locks are Lincombe, Holt Fleet, Bevere Diglis, Tewkesbury and Gloucester.
Lincombe Lock near Stourport.
This superb 1909 photograph of Lincombe Lock was taken by a photographer who must have taken his plate camera to the top of a tree. The Worcester Birmingham Canal Commitee boat “Harriet” named after the Dowager Lady Windsor from Tardebigge was an iron boat built in the 1880’s. In 1909 following repairs at Abdela and Mitchels yard at Brimscombe, Gloucester, she became the “Droitwich” a steam tug/icebreaker towing laden trows from Droitwich to the Severn. Presumably she was broken up when the salt barges stopped in 1916. Max.
Lincombe Weir.
Leader Williams inspects Lincombe Lock.
1890’s Sir Edward Leader Williams, Chief Engineer for the River Severn Commissioners, inspects work at Lincombe Lock.
Clay filled old wooden boats, known as “Joeys” are being sunk to reinforce the banks above the lock. Other contemporary photos show the commitee and their wives in all their finery. My late wifes Great Uncle Thomas Southall was Secretary to the Commissioners.
