Bath Locks
Bath Locks (grid reference ST756643) are a series of locks situated on the Kennet and Avon Canal, at Bath, England.
Bath Bottom Lock, which is numbered as No 7 on the canal is the meeting with the River Avon just south of Pulteney Bridge.[1] Alongside the lock is a side pond and pumping station which pumps water up the locks to replace that used each time the lock is opened.[2]
The next stage of Bath Deep Lock is numbered 8/9 as two locks were combined when the canal was restored in 1976. A road constructed while the canal was in a state of disrepair passes over the original site of the lower lock.[3] The new chamber has a depth of 19 feet 5 inches, making it Britain's second deepest canal lock.[4]
Just above the 'deep lock' is an area of water enabling the lock to refill and above this is Wash House Lock (number 10),[5] and soon after by Abbey View Lock (number 11), a grade II listed building[6] by which there is another pumping station and in quick succession Pulteney Lock (12) and Bath top Lock (13).[7]
Above the top lock the canal passes through Sydney Gardens where it passes through two tunnels[8][9] and under two cast iron footbridges dating from 1800. Cleveland tunnel is 173 feet long and runs under Cleveland House, the former headquarters of the Kennet and Avon Canal Company. A trap-door in the tunnel roof was employed to exchange paperwork between clerks above and barges below.[10] This is now a grade II* listed building.[11]
Many of the bridges over the canal are also listed buildings.[12][13][14][14][15][16][17]
The locks were restored in 1968 by a collaboration involving staff from British Waterways and volunteer labour.[18]
References
- ^ "Bath Bottom Lock". Images of England. Retrieved 2006-09-04.
- ^ "former engine house". Images of England. Retrieved 2006-09-04.
- ^ "Second Lock". Images of England. Retrieved 2006-09-04.
- ^ "Deepest Canal Locks in England". Pennine Waterways. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
- ^ "Wash House Lock". Images of England. Retrieved 2006-09-04.
- ^ "Abbey View Lock". Images of England. Retrieved 2006-09-04.
- ^ "Top Lock". Images of England. Retrieved 2006-09-04.
- ^ "Tunnel under Beckford Road". Images of England. Retrieved 2006-09-04.
- ^ "Tunnel under Cleveland House and Sydney Road". Images of England. Retrieved 2006-09-04.
- ^ Pearson, Michael (2003). Kennet & Avon Middle Thames:Pearson's Canal Companion. Rugby: Central Waterways Supplies. ISBN 0-907864-97-X.
- ^ "Cleveland House". Images of England. Retrieved 2006-09-04.
- ^ "Footbridge Adjoining Top Lock". Images of England. Retrieved 2006-09-04.
- ^ "Footbridge adjoining Wash House Lock". Images of England. Retrieved 2006-09-04.
- ^ a b "Footbridge over Canal". Images of England. Retrieved 2006-09-04.
- ^ "Canal Bridge". Images of England. Retrieved 2006-09-04.
- ^ "Bridge over Canal". Images of England. Retrieved 2006-09-04.
- ^ "Canal Bridge (Pulteney Gardens)". Images of England. Retrieved 2006-09-04.
- ^ "Kennet & Avon Canal". Inland Waterways Association. Retrieved 17 May 2011.